East Asia Watch: Chinese universities begin the return to campus, but with some major changes – what can UK universities learn from them?

This blog is the third in our new series East Asia Watch - exploring how education institutions in East Asia are responding to different challenges that are evolving out of the Covid-19 pandemic.

The purpose of the series is two-fold:

• provide UK institutions with a greater understanding of both challenges and expectations of student-sending countries in East Asia 
• provide UK institutions with learning points and food for thought when developing their own responses to Covid-19

Chinese universities begin the return to campus, but with some major changes – what can UK universities learn from them?

As Covid-19 continues its disruption of the higher education sector, UK universities are dealing with online classes and assessments, maintaining communication with students and prospective students and working out what their offer from September 2020 might look like.

This comes with the big question of how to reopen doors and effectively manage campuses for the new academic year.

This blog post will take a look China’s approach – ahead of us on the Covid-19 curve, Chinese university campuses are slowly beginning to re-open, with some major changes. What can UK universities learn from them? How are they handling the return to campus, classroom management, and students and staff’s needs? What’s worked, and what hasn’t?

1. Returning to campus

Chinese university campuses have begun to re-open since April, province by province, with some yet to return (such as Beijing, with a return set for early June).

However, regardless of opening dates, not all students will be present. Most Chinese institutions are allowing a voluntary return to campus, by providing a combination of online and offline teaching. This differs across the country and even within provinces – Nanjing University of Post and Telecommunications reported that in one department, only sixteen out of 400 students had chosen to return to campus. However, in the same city, Nanjing University of Information Science and Technology (NUIST) has been one of the few to request a mandatory return. At some universities, like Donghua University in Shanghai, students must make an application to study from home – but this will largely be accepted unless their course requires them to be on campus to access facilities.

Students have also been asked to return in batches. In provinces like Chongqing, Shanghai and Guangdong, graduating students are prioritised as first to return, followed by those who need to be on campus to access science facilities like labs. Soochow University in Jiangsu had its first batch of returnees on 23 April, followed by a second batch two weeks later.

A few universities have announced that the majority of students will not be back on campus until September. Jinan University has requested no students return unless they are graduating or doctoral students. Most universities are not operating a quarantine policy for returning students, except in a few cases where students who have chosen to  return are travelling from high-risk areas.

2. Campus management

Before re-opening, Chinese universities must satisfy three requirements set by the Ministry of Education:

1. the local epidemic situation must be under control
2. anti-epidemic supplies must be ready at schools
3. public health security on campus must be guaranteed.

In addition to this, individual provincial governments may have their own regulations – for example, in Liaoning, the government has released "40 prevention and control measures for returning to school" which must be satisfied before universities can return, including a robust system for managing potential cases e.g. a separate observation room, hygiene procedures to be put in place, and a dedicated epidemic management team to be set up.

Strict hygiene and safety measures have been adopted across all Chinese universities as a result of these regulations. Many have implemented a closed campus policy, with no guests allowed in for the time being, even students’ families. Those entering campus must undergo temperature checks and show their green health code (a WeChat mini programme which indicates a person’s health status and travel history). Some universities, such as Shanghai University of Finance and Economics, have even gone so far as to introduce facial recognition at the gates.

Universities should be well equipped with masks, hand sanitiser, and gloves. Many universities have recommended students prepare for their return by gathering these items – Dongbei University of Finance and Economics provided a checklist for returning students, reminding them to prepare these items and even to bring their own tableware for use in the canteens. They also emphasised that students should take private transport to return if at all possible. Universities have also reassured their students that shared facilities like lecture theatres, laundry facilities and canteens will be regularly cleaned. Canteens will also observe social distancing, with a number of seats marked as unavailable, partitions on tables, and takeaway service encouraged.

Social distancing may also be enforced in the classroom. For example, NUIST has stated that classrooms will be at half capacity – so a seminar of 30 students must be held in a room seating at least 60 people, while large classes may be online-only. Some services, such as library and careers services, will now be appointment only rather than drop in. Class start and finish times are also being staggered at some universities in Shanghai, to avoid the risk of large groups of students mingling in the hallways. In many cases, masks must be worn when in classes.

Universities have also set up epidemic prevention and control groups of senior management and leaders of various departments to regularly re-assess their strategy. Emergency Covid-19 plans have also been put in place for when a potential case is identified, including contact tracing (of flat mates and classmates) and observation in a dedicated area.

3. Teaching and assessments - online or face to face?

Specific arrangements for teaching differ between institutions. Many universities are still offering online teaching, or a combination of online and offline – classroom teaching for those on campus, which is recorded for students who prefer to stay at home. A small minority are offering face to face teaching only, such as NUIST, which was also one of the few institutions to demand a mandatory return for students.

Some assessments, such as postgraduate vivas, have moved online. At Beijing University of Technology, although students are requested to submit their graduate theses on time, they can apply for a change of topic and content if they are unable to access resources e.g. If they are without access to labs. Dissertation supervisors are also encouraged to stay in contact with students over WeChat, QQ and email.

For students and staff still abroad and unable to return to China, universities are providing them with online resources. Many universities, such as Beijing University of Technology, have sent masks and other protective equipment abroad to their students and teachers.

4. Supporting graduates

As this year’s graduates enter a job market unlike anything they anticipated a few months ago, Chinese universities have been proactive in supporting their employability. Many, such as Beijing University of Technology, have organised job fairs, in collaboration with major job search organisations such as Zhaopin and 51job. Many have also expanded their careers service offering online, with online employment courses and one on one guidance sessions. NUIST has also increased postgraduate enrollment to support students who choose to undertake further study rather than look for employment at this stage.

Some universities, such as Donghua University in Shanghai, have also confirmed that degree certificates and transcripts will either be posted directly to students, or held for them to pick up at a later date, to avoid unnecessary trips to campus.

What can the UK learn from this?

Put a plan in place – Prior to re-opening, Chinese universities were asked to satisfy many requirements. Although the situation may be different in the UK (it’s unlikely masks will ever be mandatory on campus), many of the practical issues involved in preparing for a possible ‘socially distant’ return to campus are complex – classroom arrangements, social distancing in canteens and a phased return to campus are significant changes that will affect both students and staff, and should be confirmed and communicated well in advance. 

Safety and wellbeing on campus is paramount -  Chinese universities have put huge efforts into their plans for ensuring campuses are safe places to be. Although these specific measures may not always work in a UK context – closed campus management would be very difficult to enforce - it’s vital that UK institutions are able to reassure students and parents by letting them know in detail what plans are put in place for hygiene and safety, social distancing and perhaps most importantly, action plans for when a potential case of Covid-19 is identified on campus.

Be flexible in teaching management – Chinese universities have introduced a mix of online and offline learning, often depending on the nature of the subject (sciences will naturally be more likely to require classroom-based sessions) or the size of the classes. UK universities could consider a flexible approach to suit those who wish to join on campus as soon as possible, as well as those who are unable to attend in person.

Graduates need particular support – To reflect the nature of the job market, Chinese universities have organised online careers fairs and expanded their career service offering. UK universities could bear  this in mind and offer particular employability support and proactive communication with graduating students.

Sources:

Information in this blog was gathered from the British Council China team’s interviews with universities across China, as well as universities’ official announcements and communications with students.

Miranda Matty, Education Services Officer, China.

With thanks to contributions from our IES China staff:

Mandy Deng – Education Services Manager

Xinrou Mao – Education Services Manager

Xinping Wu – Education Marketing Officer