Following our consultation on 21.8.20, inc. with @UniversitiesUK @UCU @timeshighered @nusuk, @IndependentSage's statement on Universities is published today.

For a #ZeroCovid university and Covid-Safe Student Experience, our key recommendations remain as follows:

1. University courses should be offered remotely and online, unless practice or laboratory based, with regular review points.

That is, a planned, data-driven, step-wise pivot TO in-person delivery rather than a rapid pivot AWAY from hybrid/dual modes.

2. Universities, with the support of government funding, must ensure that all students have the resources necessary to participate in online teaching and study.

3. When students and staff attend campus, a Covid-safe university should be secured through:

4. We recommend that national coordinated steps are taken by universities... While universities vary greatly in (geography, student body, facilities, etc) they should work together to develop guidance, policy, & practice, rather than ‘compete’ in their offers to students.

All the recommendations are unpacked in detail in the report.

In addition, the Appendices provide an example Social Agreement of Covid-safe behaviours, and an example overarching communication strategy relevant to universities and similar organizations.

These measures are essential to deliver the best education to students, while also preventing clusters of infection and transmission to local communities of Covid-19.

@Wonkhe @jim_dickinson @UniversitiesUK @ucu @USSbriefs @Phil_Baty