Moving Further and Higher Education Forward Within Level 3

“I want to pay tribute today to our further and higher education institutions, their staff and the students and learners who have been so profoundly affected by the global pandemic. It has not been easy, but they have managed to keep up their high standards, deliver a full schedule of classes online not only through Level 5 but since March, keep some in-person essential learning going and make sure that support was there for those who needed it.

“I and my officials have worked with institutions and with student representatives to enable more clarity around next semester before the end of this one. As we move to Level 3 as a country, I am very glad that we can set out plans and priorities for the time ahead.

“The health and safety of students, learners and staff must always come first, and we will adapt as the situation changes, in line with the public health advice. Every effort must continue to facilitate social distancing and limit congregation, adhering closely to the guidance to safeguard the health and safety of everyone.

“However, we have every reason to be optimistic, and while it is inevitable that large-scale learning, like lectures, will be online for the rest of the academic year, it is our shared intention that face to face learning on campus will increase for some priority groups. It is our shared intention that, as a priority group, first year students will be invited to have more on campus activity, in line with the best public health advice and if the first year student wishes. Other priority groups include those who do not have suitable facilities or the right environment to access learning remotely, vulnerable or marginalised students and learners, and those studying in disciplines that are dependent on in-person small group learning and discussion.

“We are also planning that as restrictions ease, there should be greater opportunity to provide increasing levels of small group learning, and that we can consider restarting activities like sports, clubs and societies. Of course, all these activities will be planned so as to facilitate social distancing and limit congregation.

“While the majority of the semester will remains online, this plan will allow our students and staff the opportunity to experience college life once again, albeit in a different way.

“A great deal of hard work has gone into developing this plan and identifying priorities, and I want to thank all involved for their cooperation and the spirit of collaboration and communication that my department intends to continue working in.

“Further and higher education providers will now make their own plans, within the framework we have agreed, for how they move forward, and will communicate with their students, learners and staff on what next semester looks like for them.”