Read on Twitter
Thread: I just wish the press would stop referring to ‘the universities’ as though we are a homogeneous lump of money grabbing, thoughtless corporate activity. We are more than a collection of building, we are a diverse range of educated and experienced people...
..who have worked so hard over the last few months to make this coming semester work. We are now trying to make sense of the new challenges that face us every day with the students welfare and education at the heart of every decision we make...
Many programmes have gone online so that other programmes, such as the more hands-on teaching offered in my school, can go ahead in controlled, safe, face to face manner. The university, has spent a huge amount of time, and yes money, to make this happen....
...even those programmes who have put their teaching online only see this as a temporary measure and already have plans in place to get students back in the seminar rooms as soon as the situation improves. Online teaching is not the ‘easy option’ either...
...academic staff have had to learn new systems and methods for delivering teaching of a standard befitting the needs and requirements of their students. It is labour-intensive and every single teacher would rather walk into a room and teach face-to-face, it is simpler and much..
...more rewarding for all concerned. We are also concerned about those students who are now on campus and facing maybe weeks of online teaching. I know the university I work at (Leeds) will reach out to those individuals and help and support them as much as we can and...
...they still have access to facilities on campus, the libraries, computer clusters, study spaces, the Students Union, albeit in a restricted and controlled way. The university is not shut, it has not closed down, and many of us are still working on campus in order to keep it...
....going. The other thing to remember is that not all students have access to the spaces and equipment they need to study at home. At least if they are on campus they do, and as soon as things improve they will be able to take advantage of an expanded university access...
....immediately. If everyone goes home, for example, can you imagine the media frenzy that would ensue with students moving around the country again? There could be much tooing-and-frowing as the situation shifts. No decision is ideal but for the most part those of us in the HE..
...sector who are part of the decision making process are trying to make sense of things just like everybody else. We too have our anxieties and issues and trying to protect ourselves and our families as well as students and staff....
One last thing. Stop blaming students for this. Yes there are those who are flouting the rules but for the vast majority of them are being sensible and making sure that they and their fellow students stay safe. I have met many (virtually) over the last week and they are....
....engaged, eager to get started and are already talking to us about their aspirations, needs and concerns. We work as a community and they are central to that. It is a difficult time for all and I’m not sure what the fall-out to all this will be....
...but less finger pointing please. Everyone is trying their hardest and I hope that whatever happens this coming semester we all come out of it healthy and whole. We need to get through and past this and then consign it to history.
