…ongside Connections Matter, students (and staff) also have access to the already established Mental Health Zone/Portal. This platform provides individuals with the opportunity to request scheduled one to one interventions staffed by qualified mental health professionals (currently being done online) in addition to enabling access to a range of information related to health and well-being. For more information on Connections Matter, visit the Coven…
…nwich Hero Series, celebrating the teams of people who maintain the smooth running of the university and are putting the measures in place to keep students and staff safe. Athanasios Sotirakopoulos & Marie Dove, the University of Greenwich accommodation staff, have continued to work through lockdown and as campuses reopen, are keeping student residents safe. Thank you for everything you do to keep our university a safe place to be. All of the resi…
…s across Oxford. During a typical week, 475 food parcels, including fresh fruit and vegetables, were distributed across the city. It was recognised that emergency food needed to be available to those who need it, but it was also important that it provided a balanced diet, with parcels adjusted to meet different dietary needs. Nutritionist Isabel Butler, Centre Manager of the Oxford Brookes Centre for Nutrition and Health has been providing her exp…
…emotely, they aren’t alone.’ Jo Martin, who was planning the launch of the Rural Business Network in the run-up to lockdown, is one of the founders who have benefitted from the Launchpad support over the past eight weeks. She said: ‘Opening a member-based events business just after lock-down began has been difficult. The support from the Launchpad team has been invaluable in helping me switch to an online business model with virtual meetings. ‘Con…
…free housing advice during this difficult time when many people will be struggling financially. Since we launched two weeks ago, we have been overwhelmed with enquiries. We are very grateful to Cheryl Gaunt and Ruth Camp for helping us set up this desperately needed new service.” Cheryl Gaunt, Housing Solicitor at Just for Kids Law commented: “This is a vital service for residents of Hertfordshire, where legal aid is scarce and it is almost impos…
Reacting to the launch of the Office for Students (OfS) review into the National Student Survey (NSS), University Alliance Chief Executive Vanessa Wilson said: “We welcome what we hope to be an evidence based consultation from OfS that seeks to enhance the NSS and ultimately, improve student experience. “The NSS plays an important role in helping raise the voice of students across the country, and is a vital tool in improving the quality of provi…
…nue to experience a block in the talent pipeline. “Alliance universities already work effectively with their local NHS trusts and other partners to unlock capacity and availability for students, but this additional funding will be a vital mechanism for them to meet the increasing demand. “It’s also good to see HEE, the Department for Health & Social Care and the Department for Education (DfE) working in tandem to overcome this challenge in some mu…
Reacting to the Government’s ‘triple lock’ promise for Exam results in England and Northern Ireland, University Alliance CEO Vanessa Wilson said: “The late hour of this change in government policy creates unnecessary additional stress for learners and a number of challenges for universities, but applicants should be reassured that universities are incredibly flexible and will do what they can to best support students to realise their ambitions in…
…e links have never been stronger or more important than during the Coronavirus crisis.” “Our universities sit on the very nexus of Higher Education, industry and the public sector. They will be essential to the national economic, social and cultural recovery effort in the months and years ahead.” Headline findings: – 62% say universities should prioritise medicine, nursing and engineering over all other subjects, including 50 per cent for STEM sub…
…y that ‘in these uncertain times we need to find strength in navigating disruption and reveal our strong sense of identity and value as universities’. While the challenges are far from over, as we look to the future Alliance universities will have a vital role to play in supporting an economic, social and cultural recovery from this crisis. A message from the Universities Minister A video message was delivered by the Universities Minister Michel…
