Two more Welsh universities switch to remote teaching

CARDIFF University and the University of Wales Trinity St David are the latest institutions to announce they will be phasing out face-to-face lectures due to the coronavirus pandemic.

Swansea University has already said that seminars and lectures will be axed until May because of coronavirus.

Cardiff said it is taking the measures to prevent the spread of the virus among students and staff. Vice-chancellor Colin Riordan said the university will phase out face-to-face learning from March 23, with lectures and seminars given remotely.

Professor Riordan said: “As concern deepens around coronavirus, this is an update to reassure all of you that we have been working hard over the weekend and anticipate confirming tomorrow a planned move to support remote learning and teaching where possible.

“We recognise that schools will need time to adjust and we are extremely grateful for all the work done to date. We will be finalising our expectations tomorrow but are planning to phase out face-toface teaching as fast as possible, with almost all content covered remotely from Monday, March 23.”

The vice-chancellor said there had been no known confirmed cases of coronavirus and their approach was precautionary at the moment.

He added: “We have no plans to close in the sense of a full shutdown, nor have we been told to close. The university will remain open but we will work in a different way.”

The University of Wales Trinity St David said it would stop teaching immediately on campus – with no return until Monday, April 20 at the earliest

Students were told by email: “The University has asked Institutes to move to online delivery of programmes and assessment where possible from Monday, March 23. Existing distance learning classes will continue as scheduled.”