Students have missed out on the ‘university experience’ due to Covid-19, admits minister

Universities are looking at how the ‘soft skills’ can be ‘built back’ amid the pandemic, says Michelle Donelan
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Michelle Donelan
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Anna Davis @_annadavis12 March 2021

Students have missed out on the “university experience” of socialising, forming relationships and making connections because of the pandemic, a minister has admitted.

Universities Minister Michelle Donelan said institutions are trying to catch up on the “soft skills” students have missed, as well as the academic work.

From this week, students on practical courses including science and creative arts can return to face-to-face teaching. They join students on critical courses such as medicine, teaching and social work, who have been able to carry on in-person teaching in the lockdown.

But about half of all university students are still at home learning remotely. Ms Donelan said this will be reviewed at Easter. Students will be given a week’s notice of their return date.

She added: “We have discussed the missed socialising time and the university experience which is a fundamental part of university. It’s where you can also make connections and relationships and develop some soft skills.”

Ms Donelan said universities are looking at how this can be “built back”.

But the minister added: “Nobody is going to be able to give back all of the time that has been lost in terms of the university experience and I don’t think anybody’s pretending that they can.”

Ms Donelan added: “Universities are aware of students feeling they have missed out on some of that student experience. Student unions have played a fantastic role organising events online, but it’s never quite the same.”

Asked if she thought it was unfair for students who are still learning at home to be paying full tuition fees, she said they could complain to their university and to the Office of the Independent Adjudicator.

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