Going to university in 2020

absolutely- can you imagine how much worse for a foreign kid leaving home for the first time and without good English?

biba70

absolutely- can you imagine how much worse for a foreign kid leaving home for the first time and without good English?

That must be very stressful for him biba especially as things are changing so rapidly. Has the department not allocated him a buddy? Is there an office for international students he can contact should he need advice?

One thing today's students do have in their favour is social media. It certainly isn't the same as having real life contact, but it's a way of connecting and picking up information.

Whatever the ins and outs of all this, it is a massive shame that the current generation of young people at university are getting a raw deal in all directions. This should be one of the best times of their life, instead of which they are facing the prospect of reduced value on their courses, a limit on the amount of socialising they are allowed to do and the ever present threat of contracting Covid 19. Certainly not the 'time of your life' experience they hoped for.

Ellianne, I have no idea about the details. He is our carpenters son - I shall ask him how things are working out when he comes next week. Parents have never been away from home either, and do not speak a word of English either. I am amazed they allowed him to go in the circumstances- but I think they were just not aware of the situation in UK currently.

biba70

Ellianne, I have no idea about the details. He is our carpenters son - I shall ask him how things are working out when he comes next week. Parents have never been away from home either, and do not speak a word of English either. I am amazed they allowed him to go in the circumstances- but I think they were just not aware of the situation in UK currently.

Cardiff, along with Swansea, Llanelli, is now in lockdown biba. Poor boy must feel so scared.

Yes, went into lockdown just as he finished quarantine

well Police Scotland having to break up student parties in Edinburgh ,seems the-- brats-- sorry little darlings are determined NOT to follow guidance .Cant go home and spread it all over the country so maybe they should literally be LOCKED down.

I am starting 4th year (as a v v mature student) at Glasgow Caledonian next week and was informed in May of this year that my course would be completed online. Obviously vocational courses have other implications, but I can say with certainty that a majority of the courses being taught in my school within the university are being completed online.
The struggle I’ll have (as will many others) is completing a dissertation without proper library access, but the university have set up an appointment system and limited numbers to ensure safety.
University, college and workplaces are only as safe as the people attending them and people need to take personal responsibility for their own actions.
I’m struggling to see how the my uni could have done anything different to make me any safer, but as an old lady I suppose my lack of interest in the social aspects make me the exception rather than the rule!

paddyanne

well Police Scotland having to break up student parties in Edinburgh ,seems the-- brats-- sorry little darlings are determined NOT to follow guidance .Cant go home and spread it all over the country so maybe they should literally be LOCKED down.

Clearly they were breaking the rules as they are in Scotland, but they weren't spreading infection in the community because they have been locked down in their halls of residence..

Police said officers had broken up a number of small parties of five to seven students with people who were "clearly not from the same household". Five to seven students hardly constitute a mass rave!

They were spreading infection amongst themselves. I'm a bit confused because presumably each student flat now makes up its own household.

Is there any reason why you felt the need to call them "brats"?

www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-scotland-54307846

Lolo81 - not wanting to derail or anything, but I'd love to know what you are studying please.

I think they must be having a miserable time.
Some will be breaking the rules,many will not. Irresponsible behaviour can be found in all age groups but maybe in slightly different ways.
University can be a wonderful time educationally and socially. It can also be quite pressurised. For some it can lead to mental health problems. I have a feeling many would have been better off emotionally and financially deferring entry.
However they were encouraged to go. In the same way we were encouraged to eat out to help out and get back to the office. In the same way Sunak is telling us to live with the virus not fear it.
University education involves big money,not just fees but the local economy. Goodness knows how many foreign students arrived. Their fees are often higher,at least they had to isolate on arrival.
As we are seeing with schools its economy versus public health.
Independent Sage this week discussed what research there is on Long Covid. It's an area that gets little attention as people focus more on who dies. Apparently even a mild case of covid could leave you vulnerable to catching it again more severely. It affects the brain,kidneys,heart and potentially even fertility.
One of the saving Grace's of this pandemic was the knowledge my childeren and grandchilderen were less vulnerable. Let's hope that's the case. The truth is its early days and we simply dont know.
Previously there have been mentions of shielding of vulnerable groups,over 50s etc. Apparently over 30million people are vulnerable to this virus. To isolate them all be impossible,and NHS and social care and goodness what else would crumble.

Even if they're not breaking any rules, it's difficult for students living in halls not to infect each other. They usually live in flats of 6-10 with a shared kitchen and bathrooms.

With 6-10 strangers turning up from different regions of the country, it's inevitable that if just one is infected, it will spread to the others. Students weren't told before they arrived that they would be confined to their flats. Those paying for full board will be expected to eat in a large dining hall. Most were also told that they would have at least some face-to-face tuition which would involve leaving the building and travelling.

The living conditions aren't that different from that of fruit pickers.

They should all have been tested on arrival and testing should have been available on a regular basis for anybody suspecting they might be infected. They can't be kept in self-isolation for the duration of the course.

My adult children are beyond their university years but having seen 2 types of hall accomodation, both involving small rooms, one with en suite but tiny shared kitchen, one with less tiny room but shared bathroom and kitchen, I'm appalled that many of the current lot have been locked in their halls, with infected students sharing with (currently) uninfected. I have to wonder about the motives in getting them back in the first place as what has happened seems highly predicable. I would have advised mine to defer. Otherwise, give them a refund and let them go home!

I wish more youngsters would try the Open University. This is all online with monthly tutorials and access to brilliant resource, lectures and teachers. All from the comfort of your own home. Have done this myself while working and looking after family. Would highly recommend. Cheaper too.

Agree with growstuff. Not just idiots in Trafalgar Square but everywhere. I just passed by a group of four people my age and older 60+, about to enter the local shop without masks. One was laughing that he had "thousands" of masks at home but didn't bring them out. Another said he didn't own any and, why should he? They all thought it hilarious, as they entered the small shop. Please don't put all the blame on the young.

growstuff

PS. Some private student accommodation is appalling and I have no sympathy at all for the landlords of such property. Maybe they should find a source of pension which doesn't involve ripping off other human beings.

I rent a house to 4 students - having bought the house when my son was a student there some years ago. I charge significantly less than hall fees for much nicer accommodation. To be honest, I was a bit surprised that "my" students were happy to sign a tenancy agreement again for this year, and I'm certainly not counting it as guaranteed income. (Fortunately I FINALLY got my state pension this year, so if worst comes to the worst I won't be destitute.) But if the students go home and don't pay for their accommodation they'll get that docked from their maintenance loans anyway (which are actually a graduate tax and not real debt, so it's not much of a saving for them). I feel very sorry for the students - and the universities - but I don't see an obvious solution. As somebody else pointed out, everyone is a loser.

Today University seems to be "a right of passage" it as they say an "experience". Shouldn't it be to train for a future career? It seems like a holiday camp these days. My generation went to study, pubs closed at 10.30!

I'll probably be shouted down here, but perhaps it is time to question whether a non-vocational degree is worth the £9,000 in fees plus three years living expenses? I can absolutely understand why students love university life, but is three years of that lifestyle justifiable?
I speak as one who has had three children go to university. One dropped out very quickly saying it was a waste of time. She's now just as successful in her career as the others. One studied art and also has a supposedly vocational Masters degree but still struggles to make a living. One studied a more vocational degree in an area where he has never been able to get a job, though having a degree (in whatever subject) did enable him to sort out a career.
It is probably time we re-assessed whether university is really the anser for many young people. So many jobs require them to have a degree, even if it is not really necessary.
I'm very sceptical about whether three years of student life and a non-vocational degree actually improve the life skills and life chances of some of these young people.
I should probably add that I also dropped out of a degree when young, but went back to do something useful when I was older and knew what degree I needed.

What is wrong with both? My OH went to study at UCH in the mid 60s- and it was certainly an experience. And same for our daughters in the early 90s. (different for me as I went as mature students in the early 80s - but even then, the youngsters I studied with certainly mixed the learning with the 'experience').

Sorry, obvious spelling mistake "answer"

It seems large numbers of young people across the country were out last night partying, especially here in Bristol with no regard to social distancing or wearing face masks. Given that Bristol has a University right in the centre with masses of student accommodation I can only think that a large number of these young people were students. When they are put into lockdown they will be complaining, poor me, I am afraid I totally agree with Paddyanne on her comments and I might also add that it is the young not following the rules who are responsible for this second wave. They need to grow up.

Was in conversation with s parent at a car wash a week ago. She was getting son's car cleaned for him going back to Uni. She told me his lovely the Halls were? This student had a car and the Uni was 7 miles from his home and he was in Halls?

That should be how lovely.

Marieeliz Shouldn't it (University) be to train for a future career?

Absoutely not. This idea that Universities were about training has been gaining ground since Tony Blair set the target of having 50% of young people going to university. There were plenty of places if you wanted "training"; Colleges of Tech in Scotland; Colleges of FE etc.

Universities were are for education, where you could study something that isn't vocational because it gives you a good education and a way of thinking about the world. There's value in studying history, Mandarin, whatever, that aren't about training for a career.

cc It is probably time we re-assessed whether university is really the answer for many young people. So many jobs require them to have a degree, even if it is not really necessary.

I agree with you, people are being made to think that the only acceptable qualification is a university degree, and not everyone is cut out for that. Other paths into adult life are equally acceptable.

Doesn't mean that some people shouldn't be studying for the non-vocational degrees though