Swab centre is vital in keeping students safe
THE events of the past 12 months have changed all our lives. Few could have anticipated back in March 2020 when the UK entered its first national lockdown how much upheaval and change the Covid-19 pandemic would cause to our families and communities over the coming weeks and months.
Whether short term or long term, we have all had to adapt the way we live our lives. For us at Staffordshire University, it has also been a period of rapid change, yet the 2019/20 academic year has been one of continued learning and positive momentum for our institution.
Our students – and our staff – have had to adapt to the challenging times but the attitude and spirit demonstrated across our Connected University has been incredible to witness.
Covid-19 might have disrupted our lives but it has not dented our spirit. At Staffordshire, as at universities across the UK, our students have not wavered in their commitment to continuing with their studies with brighter futures in mind while, at the same time, following all the rules and guidance to keep their friends, families and local communities safe. For many, this has meant long periods of time away from campus and adapting to new and innovative ways of learning.
In September 2020 we welcomed our first students back to campus since the first national lockdown, with a great many steps being taken to ensure their learning could continue with a mixture of online and in person delivery.
Our campus changed – we now had social distancing in place, one-way systems, hand sanitisers installed across campus, extra cleaning supplies in offices, labs and shared learning spaces, an increase in cleaning operations, a rule on mandatory face masks (unless exempt) and our catering operations altered, and began operating track and trace before closing and then opening again. It has been a tumultuous time.
In January 2021, we worked with Stokeon-trent City Council and Public Heath England to set up a ‘Swabbing Centre’ at our LRV, in Leek Road, Stoke, to offer quick and easy lateral flow Covid-19 testing for our students, staff and members of the local community.
The Swabbing Centre has been operational every week since it was set up and, so far, more than 4,500 tests have been carried out on campus, in addition to the numerous tests offered elsewhere.
Our LRV Swabbing Centre and local community testing have been critical weapons in our fight against Covid-19.
At Staffordshire University, 33 per cent of our students are local and 70 per cent are commuter students – so having on-site testing is a safe and convenient way of helping to keep our university safe and assisting our city to combat this pandemic.
We are grateful to partner organisations – the Students’ Union, Stoke-on-trent City Council and Public Health England – as well as the people involved in making this happen, week in, week out. Covid-19 has shown that it can bring out the best in people, and how we can work together in partnership for the greater good.
About 30 university staff are involved in running the centre at the LRV, with many helping on top of their ‘normal’ duties. Those involved include estates, health and safety, business risk and continuity, cleaning services, student ambassadors, Students’ Union officers and employees, as well as porters and electricians among others. It continues to be a fantastic team effort to keep us all safe and well.
As the vaccine rollout continues and we forge ahead on the government’s path of unlocking from lockdown, we are all hopeful of brighter days ahead.
For us, it means looking forward to the day when all our students can safely return to our campuses, and beyond that, looking towards the next phase in the life of Staffordshire University as we strive to become the UK’S foremost digital university.
This includes the opening of our
£42 million Catalyst building on our Stoke-on-trent campus, which will further expand our Connected University and offer a variety of high-tech spaces for apprentices, students, staff and local employers – providing a regional hub for digital skills.
All these achievements to drive our university forward would not be possible without our students, staff and partner organisations, and it’s to them that we say the biggest thank you.