My thoughts on universities refusing to move back to face-to-face

The news that 20 of the 24 Russell Group universities are planning to continue at least some of their undergraduate teaching online, with 5 universities planning to move all lectures online, is deeply troubling. As we return to normality in virtually all other areas of life and people see full stadiums and open nightclubs, there can be no justification for universities to keep their lecture halls locked to students.

I have spoken to lots of constituents – both parents and students – about this and they are very concerned, as am I. Not only does in-person learning result in better educational outcomes for students, it also helps to foster the community that makes a university experience worthwhile – enabling students to build a rapport and personal relationships with their lecturers and their peers. That support network can be so vital – particularly given that many students have spent the better part of 18 months with limited to no social interaction.

University is about more than just learning. The personal development that helps students bridge the gap between school and work comes just as much from the social aspect of it as the knowledge they gain from lectures. That personal development is put at risk when there are fewer students in lectures, on campus, and in that university environment.

What is even more outrageous, beyond the harmful effects that the decision itself would bring, is that universities want to provide a lesser service without doing anything to mitigate the impact on students. The Education Secretary was absolutely right to say that universities who do not go back to face to face learning should not charge full fees.

In a recent survey, fewer than half of students felt that their university took steps to support their mental wellbeing during Covid and student satisfaction is now at its lowest level on record. Universities must urgently re-think their decision not to resume face-to-face teaching, for the sake of our students and their own reputations as places where people can grow and learn.