KEEP YOUR DISTANCE
FACE COVERING
WEAR YOUR
EXEMPT FROM WEARING A FACE COVERING
RESPECT THOSE
ONLINE TEACHING AND LEARNING
This year, we have used a responsive, blended learning model which provided structure and consistency, while being flexible and agile enough to enable us to respond as conditions changed. We followed government advice, putting the safety and wellbeing of our colleagues and students at the forefront of all decisions. As a result, the majority of teaching took place online, while some smaller classes or practical activities happened on campus in periods when that was allowed. When students were unable to practice their skills in the facilities on campus at any point during their course, we supported them to create a learning environment at home with appropriate software and other resources. Online teaching was enhanced by initiatives such as the introduction of Digital Buddies, students and recent graduates who managed the technical aspects of online lessons so academics could concentrate on delivering excellent teaching.
Importantly, the blended learning model was designed to maximise student engagement and success with our values of equality, diversity and inclusion at its heart. Our aim has been that no student should do worse than they would have done if the coronavirus outbreak had not happened. Students who did not have their own computers were loaned laptops, which were couriered to those students who could not come onto campus.
Our administrative and support services had already quickly shifted online since the start of the pandemic and this year we worked hard to further improve these to maintain a high-performing while supportive learning culture.
SUPPORT FOR OUR STUDENTS AND STAFF
Academic, financial and wellbeing initiatives were brought in to meet changing student needs. More health and care services were delivered online, and appointments offered with professionals such as counsellors and disability advisers. Waiting times for appointments were shortened. Students were informed of support available, as knowing where to look for this when they are off campus can be difficult.
The new Ready for Anything virtual programme prepared first-year students for learning in a blended, technology- based environment, and connected them to their course, their tutors, fellow students and the University itself.
Students who had to isolate on arrival, including international learners, were welcomed and offered help and support including food parcels and online supermarket vouchers. We also checked in to ensure they had everything they needed and to give them a sense of belonging.
WASH YOUR HANDS
STAY HOME IF UNWELL
The pandemic put physical and mental health in the spotlight. Middlesex is a lead institution on implementing Universities UK’s ‘Stepchange: Mentally Healthy Universities’ framework, which aims to make student and staff mental health a priority by ensuring it is integrated into all practices, policies, courses and cultures.
In an innovative pilot project, tutors used wellbeing app Fika to help them help students manage their mental health. The app guides one-to-one conversations, and academics can assign courses or exercises on issues such as confidence, connection, positivity, focus, motivation, stress management and meaning, depending on need.
Our Student SpotLight LIVE! Series podcast/video series was relaunched to offer advice and mental health support, and create a virtual caring community during lockdown. The University worked with Student Light, a student welfare app company founded by Middlesex BA and MSc graduate Andre Thompson, to record the series. This informal format made mental health messages easily accessible to many students.
The Journals of a Pandemic, inspired by the 1930s Mass Observation project, collected stories of daily life from people in the UK and abroad in lockdown. It was set up by Ana Baeza Ruiz, Curator at the Museum of Domestic Design and Architecture, with co-editor Gayan Samarasinghe.
Middlesex recruitment service Unitemps has remained committed to supporting our students to obtain paid work throughout the pandemic. For its efforts since 2017, Unitemps won a national £5 million Turnover Award in June 2021. The branch was also nominated for the Compliance Award (which concerns managing the regulatory aspects of employment), and one of the branch consultants was runner-up in the Internal Consultant of the Year Award.
Staff could continue to invest in their personal wellbeing and development through our Invest in You scheme, and our employee assistance programme was expanded. The first port of call for students needing help or advice is UniHelp, and we reviewed this to ensure it was easier to access.
15
Financial Statements 2020/21
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