Students face ‘mixed’ teaching

Students at Scotland’s Rural College (SRUC) will start their new term on 28 September with a combination of face-to-face and online teaching.

The college yesterday said that applications were open for courses at its six campuses across Scotland – while current students had been given details of when they could expect to return to their studies.

Professor Wayne Powell, principal and chief executive of SRUC, said that to allow high-quality, socially distanced, on-campus delivery of vital practical elements in courses such as agriculture, engineering, horticulture, vet nursing and animal care, seminars and lectures would – as far as possible – take place online during the first semester.

He said that coupled with small class sizes, the new arrangements would allow SRUC greater adaptability in social distancing guidance and ensure the best possible experience for students in the event that restrictions came back into effect in the future.

“Like everything else, the Covid-19 pandemic has had a huge impact on the education sector and – over the past two months – students and staff at SRUC have had to adapt to new ways of learning and new ways of teaching,” said Powell.

“Prior to lockdown, SRUC had seen an increase in the number of applications for next year. We want to reassure potential and new students that we will provide an outstanding, high-quality experience while studying at SRUC.”

He added that SRUC’S Edinburgh campus was set to hold a number of virtual open days this week highlighting a range of courses through online presentations and videos.