Study Abroad: How Intl’ universities plan to open in post COVID world
Foreign universities are also preparing SOPs to allow students to return to campuses.
After almost 18 months of restrictions on international travel, countries across the globe are now slowly opening up and by allowing foreign travellers, students, delegates ad others to travel. A large number of Indians who enrolled themselves last year in foreign universities or those planning for study abroad options are now looking at various possibilities to go to their campuses. Universities are also preparing SOPs to allow students to return to campuses.
A COVID-19 vaccination certificate is a must for students who are planning to travel abroad. Among top foreign destinations, Canada has resumed direct flights to and from India. Fully vaccinated international students will no longer need to quarantine or take a COVID-19 test upon arrival to Canada.
The United Kingdom government announced that no quarantine for Indian travellers who are fully vaccinated with Covishield or another UK-approved vaccine.
Australia is planning to introduce an international COVID-19 Vaccine Certificate soon, which will be expanded to authenticate vaccination certificates issued by other countries. Covishield vaccine will be recognised for incoming international travellers along with other vaccines.
New Zealand plans to allow quarantine-free entry to vaccinated travellers from low-risk countries from early 2022,
Prof Wendy Alexander, Vice-Principal (International), the University of Dundee talking about measures his university is taking to welcome students said: “As we have welcomed more and more students back on campus, our priority has been to ensure their university experience is as rich, rewarding and satisfying as possible while keeping them safe and helping limit the spread of coronavirus.”
He said that Dundee is operating a blended learning environment over the coming academic year. “We have sought to ensure that students can benefit from the maximum amount of face-to-face teaching as we can provide. We have also invested in capture and stream technology plus we are deploying more than 50 teaching rooms with new technology that will allow our students to study remotely and interact with an on-campus class at Dundee which is vital during this pandemic,” he said.
The University’s component academic schools are also contacting their new international students individually to offer support as they settle into life in a new country. We have refunded the cost of managed quarantine to new and returning students from red list countries, while students from amber list countries going into University accommodation have received welcome food packs and support and guidance for arranging online services such as food deliveries and laundry.
The University of Hull, United Kingdom has resumed teaching on campus, learning from the COVID pandemic it has incorporated digital enhancements to its teaching and learning this year. “To help students arriving from around the world they have been given the opportunity to start classes online giving them more time to receive their visas and complete their self-isolation period, as required by the UK Government. To ensure students arrive safely, we have continued to provide free airport pick up services to all international students. It has been wonderful to welcome new and existing students back to our campus, reviving the friendly and vibrant atmosphere,” said Emma Payne, Recruitment Manager at the University of Hull, United Kingdom.
COVID Vaccine certificates
It has been found that though vaccination has been made mandatory, but some of the countries have not given recognition to all the vaccines being administered around the world. To understand how universities are working to sort this out to allow students back on campus, Prof Alexander said: “We have liaised with the Scottish Government at length over the issue of vaccine certification. The Government is working ‘at at a pace’ on recognition of non-UK vaccinations, and vaccinations received elsewhere in the UK, for vaccine certificate purposes. Vaccination certification is not required for most activities on campus, although it will be required for entry to certain social events.”
Payne said that the UK Government currently has no restrictions regarding vaccination status and ability to come and study in the UK. She said: “This also applies to our campus. If a student wishes to get vaccinated during their studies the University has set up a vaccination centre to run clinics over the coming months. International students are eligible to receive the vaccine free of charge along with all adults in the UK registered with the National Health Service (NHS). We encourage all students to register with a local NHS doctor as soon as they arrive.”
How safe are campuses?
Universities are also taking measures to provide a safe environment for students when they return to campus. Dundee is complying with Scottish Government guidance which includes one-metre social distancing in all teaching spaces, maximum class size of 40 students in the vast majority of cases, staggered class times to manage the flow of students and staff through buildings and requirement for face coverings to be worn when moving around indoor spaces on campus.
“In the event of students or their lecturers/tutors having to self-isolate, we will endeavour to deliver classes online. If several students become positive for Covid-19 we will work with public health colleagues to consider how best to safeguard everyone,” says Prof Alexander.
The University of Hull is also encouraging everyone to wear face coverings in crowded and enclosed settings and where they come into contact with people they do not regularly meet. If students are feeling unwell they are able to report their absence from class and continue their learning online, keeping in touch with their lecturers and supervisors until they are well enough to return to campus.
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Abhay an alumnus of IIMC and Delhi University, has over a decade long experience of reporting on various beats of journalism. During his free time he prefers listening to music or play indoor and outdoor games.