UoB confirms that it will be moving all teaching online as of next week

UoB confirms that it will be moving all teaching online as of next week, The Birmingham Tab can confirm.

Likewise, the university is planning to shut all non-essential buildings from the 27th March as the cases of coronavirus surge in Birmingham and the rest of the UK.

In an email sent to all students at the university, Professor Kathy Armour Pro-Vice-Chancellor (Education) informed students of the new restrictions , stating that “It seems likely that we will also need to continue to deliver our education online next term.

“We will be moving to a restricted campus operation model by the end of term (27th March).”

These new restrictions will include the closure of many university facilities ‘The closure of non-essential buildings is likely to include the majority of buildings including sports centre, Tiverton Gym, our museums, and all catering outlets on campus (excluding halls).”

“In terms of the University more generally, we will be moving to a restricted campus operation model by the end of term (27th March). This means that the majority of University staff will be working remotely and only essential staff will be on campus.”

The university is urging all students that have already left university to get in contact to inform the university of their absence we ‘just ask that you let us know by completing the relevant process.’

This uncertainty is at a time when university exams and graduations are approaching, the university commented that “our ambition is to ensure that students can graduate or progress to their next year of study wherever possible, so we will be asking you to cooperate with us to help make that happen.”

This comes after Prime Minister Boris Johnson has urged everyone in the UK to “now avoid ‘non-essential travel and contact with others to fight coronavirus” in order to protect those that are vulnerable, as the UK death toll rises to 55.