University resumes face-to-face teaching

29th April: UNNC finally resumed face-to-face teaching, more than two months after suspending lectures and seminars on campus in the wake of the Covid-19 virus outbreak. Around 1,800 students returned to campus over the past few days with a second group due to return this weekend.

Professor Paolo Epifani, a lecturer in Advanced International Trade Theory, was one of the first to give his first face-to-face lecture of the new semester.  When the students finally arrived and the lesson started, Paulo became quite passionate and was excited to finally resume where he and his class left off before the Spring Festival break. 

To Paulo, this was “real-life teaching” where he can observe the instant reaction of his students.  "I can judge whether they are following me, are concerned or interested, and adjust my lecture accordingly,” said Paolo.

“His gestures and facial expression always help me to concentrate better on the lecture,” commented Kun Yan, a year four student. “Although with recorded lectures I can study more freely, I prefer the academic atmosphere of on-site sessions.” To Paolo, such subtle communication and interaction in lectures cannot be easily replicated by online teaching.

Rajan Gaikwad, a Business Ethics and Sustainability lecturer, agreed. “The feeling comes back,” he said. One of his students added that without internet interruptions, the hour-long, on-site seminar was surprisingly efficient.

For epidemic control and prevention purposes, the layout of some lecture halls has been altered. “My instructor reminded us to leave an empty seat between ourselves and offered new masks if anyone wanted one,” said Yousif, a year two international student who remained in China during the winter break and Covid-19 lockdown.

Students taking practical sessions are required to show their Covid-19 test results in addition to the usual lab safety questionnaire. The experiments have been re-arranged to restrict the flow of students, and each now contains an introductory video with detailed instructions.

Dr Binjie Hu, Associate Professor in Chemical Engineering and instructor of the first practical session for Thermodynamics and Heat Transfer, said that there would be lab sessions for international students unable to return via video conference. “We will try our best to make sure their progress is consistent with that of the students on campus,” said Dr Hu.

Professor May Tan-Mullins, Vice-Provost for Teaching and Learning, emphasised that the University would try to resume small classes with campus-based students whenever possible and provide recorded offline lectures to absent students.

“All assessments will be in accordance with the stringent UK (QAA) and University of Nottingham quality assurance frameworks and additional quality assurance mechanisms would be put in place," May Tan-Mullins wrote in an email to students. "No students will be academically disadvantaged or advantaged as a result of being at UNNC or off-campus."

On the first day back, the deans of all three UNNC faculties also gave speeches that detailed the University’s preparations for face-to-face teaching and responded to students’ concerns.