UK universities have been told by the government to implement ¡°a range of protective measures¡± when they reopen in the autumn, but any additional costs will have to be funded by institutions¡¯ existing budgets.

The Department for Education¡¯s new for higher education on reopening buildings and campuses says that protective measures should include increased cleaning, reducing ¡°pinch points¡±, such as at the start and end of the day, and making use of outdoor space.

It adds: ¡°Any additional costs would be funded from existing budgets.¡±

The guidance includes advice on social distancing, reopening university libraries, the performing arts and student accommodation, but universities are given the ¡°freedom¡± to decide how to continue or restart operations during the pandemic.

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The guidance suggests that it may be appropriate to consider reopening low-density buildings, such as informal learning spaces, first ¡°as a phased way of extending access to the campus while safeguarding the needs of staff and students¡±.

It adds that universities should identify the appropriate mix of online and face-to-face content for each subject to maximise learning, support staff and students who cannot attend campus and minimise the risk of virus transmission.

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Most UK universities have already confirmed that they will deliver blended teaching models from the autumn in a bid to maintain the ¡°full student experience¡± as much as possible and prevent students from deferring a year.

The government guidance follows a set of principles published by Universities UK last month, which stated that institutions will provide ¡°as much in-person learning, teaching, support services and extracurricular activities as public health advice and government guidance will support¡±. This will include ¡°new ways of providing practical sessions in socially distanced forms¡± and ¡°innovative approaches to extra-curricular activities such as welcome week programmes¡±, it said.

ellie.bothwell@timeshighereducation.com