AQW 4326/17-22
Mr Stewart Dickson
Alliance Party
East Antrim
Tabled Date: 28/05/2020
Answered On Date: 08/06/2020
Priority Written: No
Question:
To ask the Minister for the Economy whether her Department has had discussions with, or provided guidance to, Northern Ireland universities regarding the delivery of teaching online.
Answer:
Northern Ireland’s higher education institutions are autonomous and as such are responsible for the own policies regarding the delivery of teaching. However, the institutions have shared the following information regarding their plans for online teaching in the coming academic year. Information regarding The Open University is not included as provision is already delivered online. Ulster University Ulster University confirmed on Wednesday 27 May 2020 to students, prospective students, staff, and wider stakeholders that the first term of academic year 2020/21 will commence on 21 September 2020 with plans to deliver lectures and other teaching online for semester one. Where it is safe to do so, the University will be exploring face to face activities that can be held on campus following a robust risk assessment. Priority will be given to using campus spaces for practice-based learning activities including lab work. Ulster University staff members who can work from home will continue to do so until at least the end of August and after the summer, the University will look to move to a phased, managed return of all staff within public health guidelines and with the health, safety and wellbeing of staff and students as its primary concern. In order to actively plan for the return of some campus-based activities, there will be a safe, phased return to campus for some staff in early summer. Ulster University’s People & Culture team will be on hand to inform and support those colleagues through this transition. Queen’s University, Belfast Queen’s University has produced a draft working document outlining three main options for the re-entry of students on 21 September 2020. These options include: 1.) face to face teaching with measures of social distancing and blended learning; 2.) an option to graduate teaching to different groups of students taking account of social distancing and blended learning; and 3.) a contingency plan to move to online learning should physical re-entry not be feasible at that time. The first option is the University’s preferred course of action. The document is in working draft form and out for consultation and should be agreed in the next few weeks. Stranmillis University College At present Stranmillis University College is preparing to open in September using a blended learning approach with small groups on campus at any given time. Priority will be given to first year students coming on campus as on-campus experience is particularly important to enable them to adjust to third level study. Strict social distancing, sanitization and cleaning regime will be in place. This means that: All lecture materials will be online; Blended/Interactive learning for other classes as standard; Online delivery of practical/workshop classes if possible with the postponement of other practical classes to Semester 2, with priority given to on-campus delivery to Year 1 in Semester 1; In line with social distancing, consider rotated classes on campus; Online assessment and feedback to students; and Online evaluations as standard. Work is currently underway to assess the protocols and systems required to allow for the effective and efficient recommencement of restricted on-campus activity. However at the same time planning is underway to provide an effective connected learning approach for students in the event of on-site delivery being restricted or not permissible. St Mary’s University College If St Mary’s College is unable to open in September, they are planning: Interactive delivery for small groups (which are very common at the College); Google Classrooms, or equivalent, attached to each module; Online delivery of lectures to large groups; Formal assessment up to December 2020; Online access to Student Guidance and the Library; and Revisions to placement learning arrangements. I trust that you find this information helpful.
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