After the outbreak of the coronavirus, every sector of the economy faced setbacks. Like other developed economies, the UK economy also faced unprecedented impacts. One of the major sectors that faced these shocks was the higher education department. As a result of the coronavirus, the UK government implemented lockdown restrictions. Apart from this, there were travel bans. As a result of this, the number of international students started falling. UK universities generate more than 95 billion pounds every year. Apart from this, it offers almost 940,000 full-time jobs. These revenues significantly dropped due to the closure of educational activities. At the same time, universities were following online teaching techniques. But, they still saw a significant fall in the number of students. The UK government has established a new education policy for higher education. The higher education department aims to welcome international students for fall 2021.
This article aims to discuss the policy measures of the higher education department. It will help them to continue their on-campus education. Let’s discuss this in detail:
International Student Vaccine Priority Program:
According to this program, international students can avail the facility of vaccination. The government aims to provide vaccines on a top-priority basis to students. According to National Health Services (NHS), anyone above age 16 can access the vaccine. The provision of the Covid-19 vaccine is free of cost. NHS also aims to provide coronavirus vaccines regardless of nationality and immigration status. In this regard, you have to register yourself with a local GP. Later on, you can book your vaccination. This program will help the higher education department to resume its on-campus education.
Red List Removal:
Earlier this year, the UK government put a travel ban on the residents of several countries. But in September and October, the government removed many countries from Red List. The residents and students of these countries can move to the UK without any fear. Following are a few of the countries that were excluded from the Red List recently:
| Afghanistan | Namibia |
| Argentina | Nepal |
| Bangladesh | Pakistan |
| Bolivia | Paraguay |
| Brazil | Philippines |
| Chile | South Africa |
| Congo | Sri Lanka |
| Costa Rica | Sudan |
| Cuba | Thailand |
| Egypt | Trinidad and Tobago |
| Kenya | Tunisia |
| Mexico | Turkey |
| Mongolia | Uganda |
| Montenegro | Uruguay |
| Mozambique | Zambia |
| Indonesia | Zimbabwe |
Travel Rules:
The government of the UK has changed international travel rules. These rules will be applicable after 4th October 2021. It will change from the previously used system of international travel. Earlier it was using a red, amber, and green traffic light system. But now, it uses two lists to differentiate between international travellers. The names of these two lists are low-risk and red lists. The UK government will only allow vaccinated passengers. In this regard, there are two major instructions for international students. Those are:
- They should take a COVID-19 test on the date of arrival or before the second day of arrival
- They should complete a passenger locator form within 48 hours of arrival
Quarantine Costs:
The international students will complete their quarantine period after their arrival. Students will stay in managed accommodations. In this regard, students will quarantine themselves in those places. After the quarantine period, they will go for PCR once again. The UK government aims to facilitate students in this step too. Most of the UK universities will face quarantine and testing fees. If you are an international student, you do not have to worry about these additional charges. The UK government and universities will face these expenses.
Campus Guidance:
The government and higher education departments made a comprehensive policy in this regard. Both government and higher education will continue to make efforts. The prime focus of these efforts is to reduce transmission risks. On-campus learning is the top priority of the government. In this regard, campus administration will make sure to minimize any risks. The universities have to follow a complete set of instructions. If they fail to follow, the transmission of the virus can affect learning.
Risk Assessments:
It is the key responsibility of higher education to protect students from risks. Higher education will make sure to assess any risks. It can include all types of risks, such as the transmission of the virus. It will also consist of violations of COVID-19 policies and on-campus facilities. Higher education also aims to provide medical assistance to international students. These students are the top priority of higher education. So, higher education will keep a close eye on risk assessments. It will help to mitigate any possible threat that can impact on-campus learning.
Face Covering and Social Distancing:
Students, staff, and visitors are no longer advised to cover their faces. This rule will be applicable in classrooms and communal areas. But, they should cover their faces in crowded places. The government has also amended the face-covering rule for students. If there is an outbreak of the virus, students and faculty will cover their faces. It is the key responsibility of campus administration to cover this aspect. Students should protect themselves and should wear facemasks regardless of the rule.
Additional Measures:
It is the key responsibility of campus administration to identify any possible threat. It will help them to prevent an outbreak of the virus. In this regard, they should follow the government’s guidance. If they adhere to prevention measures, it will help them stop the spread of the virus. There are two or three major instructions for students too. Those are:
- They should wash their hands more often.
- They should consider outdoor space for any meeting other than classroom learning.
- They should adopt good respiratory hygiene.
Conclusion:
After the outbreak of the coronavirus, the UK government imposed lockdown restrictions. Apart from this, the government imposed a travel ban. As a result of this, on-campus learning was also affected. There was a significant decline in international student numbers in the UK’s universities. But the government has made a complete policy with the help of higher education. It will help to resume on-campus learning for international students. There are several policy measures that will help the government in this regard. Provision of COVID-19 vaccines to quarantine costs, the government aims to facilitate students.
Author Bio: John Brown is the author of this article. He is a content marketing specialist from London, United Kingdom. After his master’s degree in computer science, he joined a coursework writing service to assist students in their coursework and assignments.
