A safe return to on-site further and higher education and research

On 29 April 2021, the government made a commitment to a significant increase in on-site further education and training, higher education and research from the beginning of the next academic year.

Higher and further education and training, and research are essential activities, and so the plan for 2021 to 2022 continues to be for mainly on-site activity for all students, learners, and staff.

Due to the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic, a framework which allows for a safe return for all has been developed. The framework allows institutions to adapt to changing circumstances.

The return to on-site activity has taken place within public health guidelines and in line with Government’s roadmap, including the announcement on 19th October 2021 which advised that due to the rising incidence of the virus in the community, not all restrictions could be lifted at that time.

Along with the rest of society, the further and higher education and research sector will continue to move forward carefully to increase on-site activities for students, learners, researchers and staff in a safe way.

Early planning, well in advance of the beginning of the academic year, has allowed for ongoing review of the plan and adjustment in line with changes to public health guidelines.

Specific public health advice for the further and higher education and research sector states that:

Institutions should refer to the detailed planning advice in the agreed framework (see plan for a safe return at the bottom of this page).

In addition to the safe return to on-site activity, there are seven further objectives for this work. These are to:

• support ongoing public health requirements
• support the ongoing needs of students, learners and staff
• retain some scope for online teaching and scope for continuity for students and learners who cannot attend in person for health reasons
• ensure coherence and consistency in planning and the implementation of public health guidance across the sector
• support autonomy in the work of institutions and providers in the development of their plans
• enable a significant resumption of disrupted research activity and return of researchers to site
• enable a phased return for on-site learning during the summer period

A new framework has been developed for a safe return to on-site activity.

The framework allows institutions and providers to consistently and safely adapt to ongoing changes to COVID-19 guidance and circumstances.

Larger lectures can happen within limits linked to reducing the size or capacity of very large lecture halls and adjustments to the timetable to reduce the number of people on site at any one time. Institutions and providers will determine how best to do this in their own context.

The following have been taking place on site since September:

• laboratory teaching and learning
• classroom based teaching and learning
• tutorials
• workshops
• smaller lectures
• research
• workspaces
• libraries

The following have been operational in accordance with public health advice:

• canteens (in line with public health advice on workplace canteens)
• sports facilities
• clubs and societies
• bars

Institutions and providers will provide for the needs of individual staff and students who remain at risk of infection, in line with public health advice.

The publication of this plan was preceded by several months of work undertaken in partnership by the Department, institutions, student representatives and staff representatives.

Read further detail on the commitments that each partner has made and actions they will take are available.

These include specific commitments and actions in relation to:

• international students and researchers
• institution-owned student accommodation
• research

The new framework operates alongside and is supported by:

• the COVID-19 Adaptation Framework, which provides a structure, guidance and support for further and higher education institutions and providers
• the Practical Guidance for Further and Higher Education, to be updated in line with changes to public health advice
• implementation guidelines from each institution and provider
• a blended model of teaching and learning that is predominantly on-site, with the ability for institutions to amend at local level to meet local context and needs, and to respond to changes in the public health environment
• detailed planning and contingencies undertaken by higher and further education institutions and the communication of these to students, learners and staff

Recognising that it is difficult to change direction mid-programme or semester, using this common baseline, institutions and providers can continue to make adaptations throughout the year, making changes best suited to their own context and the needs of their staff, students and learners.

Institutions and providers can continue to use their discretion when deciding between on-site and remote for the scheduling of particular activities, while committing to the principle that as much activity as possible should take place on-site.

While reopening has proceeded well, there is still a need to be mindful of the ongoing pandemic and to be prepared for any possible outbreaks of COVID-19.

This preparation will include:

• facilitating and supporting the vaccination programme for students, learners and staff
• promoting symptom awareness and tracking, and self-management of their own health by students, learners and staff
• supporting pathways for symptomatic students, learners and staff to PCR testing
• engaging strongly with local and national public health advice and guidance

Recognising the importance of timely communication with students, learners and staff, and their families, plans, guidance and policies will be communicated as far in advance as possible, recognising that public health advice is subject to change and that some uncertainty will always exist.