Universities face ‘biggest challenge ever’ as students return to campus

For many students, this is the first full week at University after what can only be described as an unprecedented year. They’re being promised a great academic experience but school leavers have been out of formal education since mid-March and have also missed out on the opportunity to sit their final exams.

This is the longest transition period ever experienced between school and Uni and Universities say the impact of Covid-19 has spread far and wide and most will not have entered an educational setting in more than 6 months.

Universities UK, the representative organisation for the UK’s universities are coordinating national efforts to respond to many of the challenges facing universities including student mental health and welfare.

Universities are advising parents and the students themselves on how best to respond to issues including anxiety, wellbeing and resilience, which students are experiencing more than usual in a year where they have had an unprecedented gap in face-to-face support.

This support for new students includes study skills training, as well as examples of online lectures demonstrating how students will interact online with tutors and other students in their community. 

Ros disused this with Dr Ellen Buck, from the University of Suffolk:

Photo by Nathan Dumlao on Unsplash