Fines warning to universities shifting to full online learning

THE university watchdog has issued a warning over online learning as it says it will fine institutions that fail to deliver for students.

Nicola Dandridge, chief executive of the Office for Students, said it is “vital” that universities “honour the promises” they made to students when they applied.

She said that the regulator is “actively monitoring” the standard of online degrees, adding that where teaching moves online, universities must ensure that quality remains high.

The regulator said it will investigate any complaints it receives about the quality of online learning, adding that it has the power to issue fines if it finds that universities have breached their conditions of registration.

Close to a quarter of a million students are now being taught online, according to an analysis by The Daily Telegraph, with Liverpool becoming the latest university to axe all face-toface classes.

Prof Dame Janet Beer, the university’s vice- chancellor, said: “We have

moved to this position due to the high levels of Covid-19 in the city, and because we believe we can keep our students and staff safe at this level of operation.” Liverpool John Moores and Liverpool Hope universities moved all learning online last month.

In recent weeks Newcastle, Northumbria, Sheffield, Manchester and Manchester Metropolitan universities have all taken the same step.

Yesterday, the University of Bristol suffered an outbreak, with 40 students testing positive in one hall of residence and 300 told to self-isolate as a result.

Lancaster University also last night confirmed that it had 1,000 students in self-isolation, after 100 tested positive in the past seven days. Of those isolating, 400 are from overseas, so are in quarantine after travelling to the UK, and the remaining 600 live with students who tested positive.