Nottingham Trent University (NTU) have decided to operate as close to ‘business as usual’ as possible amid fears of the spread of COVID-19 which has been met by mixed reactions from students.
A number of Universities in the UK, including the University of Nottingham, have decided to close their doors to students and transfer to online lectures and teaching.
However, as of Sunday 15 March, NTU have decided to continue with their face-to-face classes.
Chief Operating Officer and Registrar for the University, Steve Denton, said: “This is a troubling time for us all, and it’s only natural that we are concerned and want to do all we can to limit the spread of the disease.
“We are operating as close to business as usual as we can, consistent with Government and Public Health England advice, whilst continuing to put the safety and wellbeing of our staff and students first.
“We have spoken with all staff and student members who are currently outside the UK, supporting them to return to Nottingham, get to their country of origin or to a safer place of their choosing.
“We are supporting our students through dedicated phone lines and delivering food parcels to any student self-isolating in our student halls accommodation.”
However, this decision to maintain normal operations has received mixed views from current NTU students.
Final year Media Production student Brandon Boyd, 21, strongly believes the University should close to protect its students.
“The virus needs to be contained and students need to be safe.
“Nottingham is a student city with lots of international students as well who are relying on us to keep them safe, people shouldn’t feel stressed with getting work done to deadlines when they may have to travel.”
He also admits that as a final year undergraduate, the pressure of finishing work in the current climate is the last thing on anyone’s mind.
“As a final year student, NTU should be able to move deadlines forward a bit to help us out with finishing the degree; what’s got to be done will be done.”
18 year-old international student Sripriya Vattikula from India who is currently studying Computer Science at NTU, worries that current coronavirus fears could prevent her from traveling back home.
“I think the university should be closed, I do really feel unsafe going anywhere that’s crowded.
“The fact that there are COVID positive cases in Nottingham, and yet the university says it’s all calm, it sounds like a little too much risk taking to me.
“I’m from India, and now the country is only allowing direct flights from UK which are very hard to find, and the remaining few are fast filling.
“NTU aren’t understanding the heat of the situation from other countries’ points of view – what would happen if this escalates, and my home country doesn’t allow me back?”
However, some students think keeping the University’s doors open is the best solution for the current climate.
Third year NTU psychology student Zak Georgiou, 21, told us that he believes Nottingham Trent University are making the right decision, but thinks that extra-curricular activites should be kept to a minimum.
“I think NTU are right for staying open until health guidelines no longer permit it because a lot of students can’t work remotely, and sending students home will only fail to contain the spread.
“However, I do think the Students’ Union is completely wrong for keeping events open as usual.
“They’re not essential and could do so much harm, especially when they have a duty of care to not just protect students but the wider community and it shows so much disrespect.”
These opinions come as an online petition for teaching to be transferred online reached over 1000 signatures.
You can read the full statement from the University here.
Do you think the University should transfer to online teaching? Let us know!
By Faith Pring
Feature image credit: David Baird
NTU should follow other universities if they had a brain, ‘TryINg to LImiT tHe SprEaD of DiSeASE’ – send us home then, isnt that hard.
also all ntsu events should be cancelled especially varsity events because a student at UON has a confirmed case of coronavirus so no doubt somebody who has been to a varsity event has been in contact with that person therefore will now spread to our uni very easily.