Northern Ireland

Queen's University to resume face-to-face teaching later this month

Queen's University Belfast
Queen's University Belfast Queen's University Belfast

QUEEN'S University Belfast is to resume face-to-face teaching later this month after a period of remote learning.

In an email to students, the university said it would "transition back to in-person teaching" from January 31.

It comes after the university, which has around 25,000 students, returned to online teaching for the majority of classes as the new term began on Monday.

The decision to return to widespread remote learning for most students during January was announced last month as Covid cases rose significantly.

The university said at the time that it had "reviewed the developing public health situation and taken some clinical advice".

But in the correspondence to students this week, the university said while lectures and tutorials for some courses will continue to be delivered online, students will be taught again on campus again from January 31.

Student leaders last month had told of how they were "frustrated and disappointed" by the decision to return to remote learning after face-to-face teaching only resumed in September.

Prior to that, most degree courses had been taught remotely since March 2020 due to the pandemic.

Queen's Students' Union had said "once again students are left angered that they are going to be significantly impacted".

Meanwhile, face-to-face teaching is to resume at Ulster University (UU) as its new term begins next Monday.

UU's vice-chancellor Prof Paul Bartholomew said the university aimed "to preserve face-to-face teaching to the greatest extent possible in the best interests of the student experience."

"We remain committed to face-to-face teaching as much as possible and whilst this remains the executive direction," he said.

"As always, we will respond to emerging public health guidance or to circumstances such as staff or student absences due to Covid, if required."