Hear from the IFP Programme Director, Dr Anya Clayworth, about what you can expect in 2021-22. Image For those of you who don’t know me, I’m the International Foundation Programme Director and I’m writing to let you know more about our plans for the academic year 2021/22. We are really looking forward to welcoming you to Edinburgh and onto our campus but understand that, following such an unpredictable year, it’s important you have a sense of what to expect. As I write, the city of Edinburgh and the surrounding region, is within COVID-19 Protection Level 2 and there is a sense of real optimism about the way we are progressing through the pandemic as well as around the success of the vaccine programme. We are therefore looking forward to a return towards what we might think of as more ‘normal’ circumstances in all aspects of life. I know some of you will have worries but rest assured that the health and safety of our students and staff remains our priority so as you would expect, there will be some changes to the ways in which you might have experienced student life before the pandemic. The plans we have made reflect the flexibility we’ll need should circumstances change through the course of the year to ensure your experience on your Programme remains consistent. Our intention with the International Foundation Programme is to teach online for the first three weeks of term. By taking this approach we hope to allay any concerns you might have about being able to travel on time for the start of the programme and with issues around quarantine on arrival. On-campus activities will then be resumed in week 4 of teaching when resources including libraries, study spaces, studios, workshops and other technical facilities will be open and ready for you. Below you’ll find further details of what to expect when on-campus teaching resumes. It’s important to note however that all plans are subject to the latest Scottish Government guidance: Lectures While we are planning for individual and smaller group teaching to take place in person and on campus, large lectures that would normally involve 40-50 or more students will largely remain online, supplemented by in-person seminars, tutorials, and other teaching activities. Art & Design Studios Where your studies involve studio-based activity, we have carefully prioritised studio spaces for your use. All our practice-based courses use studios in slightly different ways and therefore the allocation of space will reflect your needs and the needs of the course. Libraries Libraries, and their associated services and resources, will be an important part of your Programme. As well as offering support to your studies, our libraries offer student study spaces and, over the past few months, a hugely expanded range of other digital services. Our expectation is that as Scottish Government policies relax, we will again be able to offer on-campus library access and services, with the added benefits of our digital collections. Social Spaces All of us are excited about the reopening of the University’s cafes in September with their friendly staff, delicious snacks and meals and opportunities to hang out with friends or work with classmates. In addition to this, we are investing in our social spaces across our campus, inside and outside for when the Edinburgh sun shines, as in fact it often does! Student Support Services Our Support Services have remained available to our students during the pandemic and will continue to be available during your studies. Some of these may remain online to allow easy access, while others might involve you meeting a member of our friendly teams in person. Whichever approach you end up using, know that we are here to support your studies and to help you to make the most of your time on your Programme. Of course, your university education should be about more than academic study alone and so we are delighted to see our wonderful city opening up again for you to enjoy. We are lucky enough to be in one of the most beautiful and inspiring cities in the world, a UNESCO world heritage site that has sparked the imagination of students for centuries, and we are excited to help you to explore its potential as a student with us. I would highly recommend staying up-to-date with the latest Scottish Government advice to get an understanding of how things are progressing in the city, in the rest of Scotland and the UK over the next few months. It has been a challenging year for everyone and although some uncertainty remains, we are confident that we can continue to provide a great environment for your studies on the International Foundation Programme. We really can’t wait to welcome you to your Programme here in Edinburgh. With very best wishes, Dr Anya Clayworth Programme Director, International Foundation Programme This article was published on 2024-08-28
