GuildHE Coronavirus Resources

This page brings together key announcements from government, regulators and other bodies that relate specifically to higher education and the coronavirus pandemic. This page seeks to serve as a ‘one stop-shop’ to identify the key advice that has been published to date (and will continue to be updated) and is based on our first briefing note.

GuildHE has been sending out weekly CEO updates to heads of institutions and weekly newsletters to staff within member institutions and have been hosting a weekly conference call to discuss policy developments in this turbulent time for the sector. Our Network meetings for senior staff within member institutions are meeting regularly to provide a space for members to share practice – do get in touch with ben.joseph@guildhe.ac.uk for more details about upcoming meetings.

GuildHE has been working with members, supported by Aaron Porter, to produce briefing notes for members relating to the new academic year and issues to consider:

Briefing Note 1 Summary of key announcements and publications (29 May)

Briefing Note 2 Teaching from September 2020 (29 May)

Briefing Note 3: Socially Distanced Campuses (29 May)

Briefing Note 4: Support for Students (05 June)

Briefing Note 5: HR and support for staff (05 June)

Briefing Note 6: Lessons from other countries and research (12 June)

For further information about GuildHE’s work relating to COVID-19, please contact dominic.trendall@guildhe.ac.uk

1. DfE Government Support Package

2. Our Plan to Rebuild

3. Statement from the Universities Minister Michelle Donelan in Parliament

4. Other announcements and guidance

1. DfE Government support package for universities and students (4 May 2020)

Full transcript of the announcement:

https://www.gov.uk/government/news/government-support-package-for-universities-and-students

This announcement was made in response to the letter of support submitted by UUK to the Treasury.

Temporary cap of 5% increase for domestic and EU recruitment compared to the forecasts that were submitted to the OfS (NB, not 5%+ compared to last year, but 5%+ to forecast)
UCAS to implement their “Enhanced clearing” process (matching)
Already earmarked Quality Research (QR) funding of £100m brought forward
Tuition fee money that is usually paid in 3 instalments (25% December, 25% March, 50% June) will now be paid in 2 (50% December and 50% June). This brings forward 25% of income from March 2020 to December 2020.

This builds on an initial letter from Universities Minister, Michelle Donelan to providers which was published on 27th March 2020 which has sections on:

Students in residence in halls in England (students should remain where they are)
Student finance (term 3 instalment will be paid)
Visas (no one will be considered “overstaying” due to pandemic)
Exchanges (advise against all non-essential travel for initial period of 30 days)
Regulatory Framework (OfS revised approach, REF delay, TEF delay)
Finals (OfS to issue guidance)
Support for staff (promote wellbeing, expect staff to be supported as normal, eligibility for Coronavirus Job Retention Scheme)

Analysis of the government support

The Government’s package is predicated on higher education facing a liquidity challenge, whereas the sector is confronted by a solvency problem. This means that the entire package is dependent upon continued student demand with limited supply side support, unless requested by specific providers.

The mechanisms in place to curb competition – the one-year cap on home undergraduate intake and new regulatory condition – could be insufficient in stabilising recruitment across the whole sector. There will be “winners and losers”. Particularly as larger multi-faculty and research intensive institutions remain financially exposed, they will still rely on domestic students, and this will have implications for the entire sector. This will likely incentivise more aggressive competition for student numbers, accelerating what has of course been steadily increasing since the removal of the cap.

The number of unanswered questions means precise forecasting remains very difficult for providers. Therefore any models or forecasts which have been published are being studied closely.

2. Our Plan to Rebuild – The UK Government’s Covid-19 Recovery Strategy (11 May 2020)

Link to the full strategy –

https://assets.publishing.service.gov.uk/government/uploads/system/uploads/attachment_data/file/88 4760/Our_plan_to_rebuild_The_UK_Government_s_COVID-19_recovery_strategy.pdf

On 11th May, following a televised address the government has announced plans to measure the threat from Covid-19 in England, with a new five-level, colour-coded alert system.

The national strategy is intended to set the UK on a roadmap to begin to return the UK toward re- opening key services, helping to support the economy whilst balancing the risk of any increase to the R rate of infection.

The strategy does not make a single reference to the higher education sector (apart from three references to the work of Oxford University in helping to develop a vaccine). Whilst the references to education relate to schools and further education only, this does give us some indication that HE is some way off government thinking at present. There is no mention of students or even libraries either.

The section on international travel (page 29) sets out a new requirement for new arrivals in the UK from 13 May to supply contact and accommodation information such that they will be able to self- isolate for two weeks. The new requirement will be “kept under regular review”. Whilst we can reasonably assume this will apply to international students arriving in the country, or indeed domestic students returning from a period abroad, it is unclear how long this requirement will remain in place for.

Separately the Scottish Government have published Scotland’s route map through and out of the Covid-19 crisis:

https://www.gov.scot/publications/coronavirus-covid-19-framework-decision-making-scotlands-route- map-through-out-crisis/pages/4/

3. Statement from the Universities Minister Michelle Donelan in Parliament (13 May 2020)

The government continues to work with the higher education (HE) sector to make sure that all reasonable efforts are being made to enable students to continue their studies to the best of their abilities.

Universities offering high-quality tuition online will continue to charge fees. Fee loans are paid directly to higher education providers at the start of the third term. We are working closely with sector representative bodies to understand the impact of COVID-19 and the immediate financial implications for students and providers.

We only expect full tuition fees to be charged if online courses are of good quality, fit for purpose and help students progress towards their qualification. If universities want to charge full fees, they will have to ensure that the quality is there. The government has made it clear that, if providers are unable to deliver adequate online teaching, then it would be unacceptable for students to be charged for any additional terms, which would effectively mean that they were being charged twice.

The government is also working with the Quality Assurance Agency for Higher Education, professional bodies and the Office for Students (OfS), the higher education regulator in England, to ensure that students continue to leave university with qualifications of value. The OfS has published guidance for registered providers about how it will approach the regulation of quality and standards during the COVID-19 outbreak. This guidance is clear that standards must be maintained (further details are available at the following link): https://www.officeforstudents.org.uk/publications/guidance- for-providers-about-quality-and-standards-during-coronavirus-pandemic/. Actions that providers are taking now may continue to be required in the 2020-21 academic year if there is prolonged disruption as a result of the COVID-19 outbreak.

It is important that students receive a good standard of education. Whether an individual student is entitled to a reduction of their fees will depend on specific contractual arrangements between the HE providers and the student.

If a student is concerned about their education, or about the steps that their provider has taken to respond to the situation, they should speak to their HE provider in the first instance. The government expects student complaints and appeals processes to be operated flexibly, accessibly, and sympathetically by institutions to resolve any concerns. Students who are not satisfied with their provider’s final response can ask the Office of the Independent Adjudicator for Higher Education to consider their complaint if their institution is based in England or Wales.

4. Other announcements and guidance (relevant to higher education)

Treasury – Financial support for businesses during coronavirus (3 April 2020) https://www.gov.uk/government/collections/financial-support-for-businesses-during-coronavirus-covid- 19

HMRC – Coronavirus Job Retention Scheme (26 March 2020) https://www.gov.uk/guidance/claim-for-wage-costs-through-the-coronavirus-job-retention-scheme

BUFDG – Explanation on the Job Retention Scheme (20 May 2020) https://www.bufdg.ac.uk/Resources/News/View?g=bbc15660-9a14-4789-9cf2- ba0ef07307e3&t=Updates%20to%20the%20BUFDG%20JRS%20document

The Office for Students have so far produced 16 publications and letters relating to coronavirus

Student guide to coronavirus (ongoing)

Students without family support (14 May 2020)

Prevent monitoring during coronavirus pandemic (7 May 2020)

Implications of the coronavirus pandemic for OfS funding (6 May 2020)

Consultation on the integrity and stability of English HE (4 May 2020)

Supporting student mental health (30 April 2020)

Student accommodation (22 April 2020)