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Higher education

Talk to other parents whose children are preparing for university on our Higher Education forum.

Original poster

Warwick Uni (less face to face than last year!)

177 replies

Daisysway · 15/09/2021 16:48

For those students applying in 2022. Really think twice about applying to Warwick University for any of the Bioscience Courses.

My dd just going into year 2 and she's got less f2f teaching than last year! Only 50 percent of her tutorials are f2f this term, all lectures are online and she only has 6 LABS all year.

There apparent excuse is they have a larger in take this year so more tutorials.

Shocking behaviour from a top 10 University.

OP posts:
dreamingbohemian · 30/09/2021 15:50

No live online should not be counted as f2f

sartorius · 30/09/2021 15:55

@dreamingbohemian

No live online should not be counted as f2f
This ^ Because live or recorded it's STILL online 🤷🏼‍♀️
Fordian · 30/09/2021 16:05

I've cut to the end.

I think quite a few universities are in for a shock.

The recent independent report into HE, along with recommending a ceiling of £7500 fees (yay) is also recommending a culling of less academic courses. (Oh, and a cut to the repayment threshold of £23,000 😬)...

But I also suspect widespread student dissatisfaction at the unis teaching, as recorded in surveys will give government the opportunity to reduce the size of the sector considerably thus the colossal unrepayable student debt amassed.

Unis have become very complacent since Tony Blair. They may need the shakeup that's coming their way.

Newgirls · 30/09/2021 16:08

@Fordian

I've cut to the end.

I think quite a few universities are in for a shock.

The recent independent report into HE, along with recommending a ceiling of £7500 fees (yay) is also recommending a culling of less academic courses. (Oh, and a cut to the repayment threshold of £23,000 😬)...

But I also suspect widespread student dissatisfaction at the unis teaching, as recorded in surveys will give government the opportunity to reduce the size of the sector considerably thus the colossal unrepayable student debt amassed.

Unis have become very complacent since Tony Blair. They may need the shakeup that's coming their way.

I agree. More outsourcing of course materials and recorded lectures too. It’s madness this rush to move so much online - unions should be guarding the jobs!
Original poster
Daisysway · 30/09/2021 16:27

I get the impression Warwicks over enrolment was more a case of filling bedrooms than filling places (it's not about 9k but £15 to 17k inc rent) . They received at least £5m less income from the rent waivers last year and I know quite a few students rent striked so that must have also cost them dearly. They also must have been hit severely from the rent guarantees they provided in the past to local accommodation/property owners during the Covid period.

OP posts:
Newgirls · 30/09/2021 16:46

Yes the accom finances are a big factor.

Edin got a lot of stick on here for saying students were encouraged to be in the city but have failed to provide much actual face to face teaching. They want it both ways…

IcedPurple · 30/09/2021 16:50

Going back to a very rigid fully face to face timetable can be difficult for some students.

The universities aren't doing this due to student demand though. Let's be in no doubt about that.

Some students may prefer 'blended' learning, but the vast majority seem to prefer f2f. If unis are insisting on substantial parts of the course being 'delivered' online, that's for their benefit, not that of the students.

MarchingFrogs · 30/09/2021 21:25

Health & Safety at our work have said that as he is unvaccinated he poses more risk to our students so they have stopped him from teaching in person.

Well, hopefully they are still asking for twice weekly LFTs and reporting of results - that way, as soon as he's got over his almost inevitable Covid-19 infection (which, presumably, he's not too bothered about, having made the fully informed, grown-up decision not to be vaccinated), they can have him back at his dais, as he will no longer pose an increased risk to anyone else.

Newgirls · 30/09/2021 21:26

The very high vaccination rate among students would suggest they are quite keen for normality!

Original poster
Daisysway · 04/10/2021 17:20

Well as far as my dd is concerned the Bioscience education being offered by Warwick is a total joke and they have already confirmed that exams will most likely be online and also next year will probably be online. Yes they will be using prerecorded lectures from last year too!! This is meant to be a top University?

The students are livid.. to have the new head of undergraduate study turn around and say that they don't have the time or the facilities to teach f2f and apparently its NOT their fault they enrolled to many students.

I just feel for every student studying a life science subject at Warwick...

I don't suppose there is anyone here who knows whether student fees can be recalled through student finance on the basis that they don't represent the fair cost of the education being received?

OP posts:
Gizmo98765 · 04/10/2021 18:32

I’ve got a Ds applying to Uni in 2022. Warwick isn’t on his list but Durham is and is also really getting a bashing on MN.

I think maybe two or three pronged attack is maybe in order you or your DC’s contact the SU at the Campus, DC’s fo through their course rep and contact anyone else higher up
at the Uni who will listen go right up the chain of command via email and or telephone contact etc.

Newgirls · 04/10/2021 18:53

@Daisysway

Well as far as my dd is concerned the Bioscience education being offered by Warwick is a total joke and they have already confirmed that exams will most likely be online and also next year will probably be online. Yes they will be using prerecorded lectures from last year too!! This is meant to be a top University?

The students are livid.. to have the new head of undergraduate study turn around and say that they don't have the time or the facilities to teach f2f and apparently its NOT their fault they enrolled to many students.

I just feel for every student studying a life science subject at Warwick...

I don't suppose there is anyone here who knows whether student fees can be recalled through student finance on the basis that they don't represent the fair cost of the education being received?

That’s appalling. I’d be tempted to contact a newspaper to be honest. The Times education journos would love this.
CarryOnNurse20 · 04/10/2021 18:53

@Daisysway what year is your DD in? Could she transfer to another university for the last year if she’s very unhappy there? I would escalate it down all the routes you can however I doubt very much it will change, certainly not this academic year. Saying they ‘don’t have time’ is terrible. Our uni is doing a fair amount online but around 30% face to face. ALL online is via live zoom so interactive but they are recorded and uploaded if people miss them.
The logistics of suddenly going to face to face if they had planned the full year as online given the uncertainty before summer is huge and I think you perhaps don’t understand that it’s not possible to do a full switch at such short notice. But having virtually no face to face and the online as last years recorded lectures if completely unacceptable. Most unis/students have accepted a blended approach this year with a view to more normality in the future.

Newgirls · 04/10/2021 18:55

I think ‘more normality later’ is optimistic. The unis could have been more normal this year. Some are. I think the move towards online will continue unless students speak up and loudly

BakewellTarter · 04/10/2021 18:56

@dreamingbohemian

His son has deferred this year at a RG university on his father's advice as he honestly didn't see there being any change from this year to last year & he has been proven right

How has he been proven right?

My RG university has gone from 100% online last year to 100% f2f this year

Most RG universities I know of are at least half f2f

Fair enough to defer but most universities are not the same as last year

@dreamingbohemian my child's RG university says it's returned to face to face but the reality is patchy - they have several staff members saying they won't come in as it's unsafe. Her housemate has three face to face sessions all term and lectures are all pre recorded.

So although the official line says face to face the reality can be very different,

RampantIvy · 04/10/2021 18:59

DD is studying biomed at Newcastle, and has had several F2F lectures already this term. She says that F2F is so much better than online. Oddly enough seminars are still online.

Original poster
Daisysway · 04/10/2021 19:12

It's incredibly cruel, my dd is sharing a house with students on other courses who do have f2f and yet she's left at the student home watching prerecorded lectures from last year .... How can this be right?

OP posts:
CatherineCawood · 04/10/2021 19:33

DD at Sussex and all lectures are F2F. She is also doing a degree that requires lab time.

Her timetable is crap though. For example today she has 2 lectures of 1 hour each. 6-7pm and 7-8pm!!

CatherineCawood · 04/10/2021 19:34

@Daisysway

It's incredibly cruel, my dd is sharing a house with students on other courses who do have f2f and yet she's left at the student home watching prerecorded lectures from last year .... How can this be right?
Prerecorded from LAST YEAR!!!! Is that what she's getting for £9k! Bloody Nora that's dire.
sartorius · 04/10/2021 21:41

@Daisysway

It's incredibly cruel, my dd is sharing a house with students on other courses who do have f2f and yet she's left at the student home watching prerecorded lectures from last year .... How can this be right?
That's appalling @DaisyswayConfused Would your daughter consider pulling out? Transferring to another Uni? It they have too many students in the dept then it's unlikely to be much better next year!
Original poster
Daisysway · 04/10/2021 22:04

@sartorious... Sadly No, it's just a pants situation other than she can pull out of the Masters. I'd love her to spend her 3rd year in Industry but even that's too late (plus the fact she probably won't have the required skills) now she's sort of stuck with the shit show for the next 2 years. Although.. Im fully intending to try and improve the situation ...my dd blames the overall mgmt but I think its probably the life sciences department. The students are not aware of how their own department have let them down. It's just horrible... I've emailed the so called new head of undergraduate study (life sciences)... SadI'll probably end up forcing a situation which will speak volumes. I've emailed RSB already...which is pants the last thing my dd needs is accreditation removed too but this department needs shaming.

OP posts:
CarryOnNurse20 · 05/10/2021 12:43

@Daisysway you’ve done the right thing escalating- hopefully you will get a proper response with a plan going forward with how they intend to teach for the next 2 years.
It would be a very very bad move for the course to not be accredited by the RBS so hopefully that will make them sit up and take notice. Let’s hope this doesn’t impact on your DDs degree she comes out with.

Original poster
Daisysway · 06/10/2021 17:30

Just a quick update, I've had a response from the RSB who will take matters up and arrange a meeting with Life Sciences at Warwick University.

Im incredibly sad that I've ended up taking this action (as a parent), but I just felt that my daughter could not move this forward without repercussions and there seemed to be ongoing plans to completely remove f2f lectures. I do understand that some students don't attend lectures and not all students wish to attend every lecture. I'm not against blended learning but what Warwick were doing was unacceptable and significant changes should have been discussed with students.

OP posts:
EwwSprouts · 06/10/2021 17:33

Hopefully a lot of students will have cause to thank you.

Hdhdjejdj · 06/10/2021 17:42

DS who is a 2nd year had his first in person lectures this week and loved them. He said he felt like a proper student. He didn’t complain much about last year but it made me realise how strange things must have been for him.

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