University Express - Vol. 24, Freshers Issue

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University

Express

Volume 24 | Fresher’s Edition | Tuesday 15th September 2020

“Whether we like it or not, though, interaction with other human beings is a necessity.” - pg 7 Forging Friendships in a Virtual World

UCCExpress.ie

“At the time of writing the situation surrounding a return to university was up in the air.” - pg 10 A Start Unlike Any Other

“Change comes from impact, who will change first is the question.” -pg 22 Fashion Restyle: Revamping the €1.2 Trillion Industry Post Lockdown

COLLEGE YEAR SET TO BEGIN AMID COVID-19 PANDEMIC

Writes Maeve McTaggart, News Editor Over six months after the university first closed as a result of the COVID-19 pandemic, UCC is set to welcome students back on campus on September 28th. The format of the new academic term is unfamiliar to both students and staff and still, for many incoming and returning students, their plans for the semester remain uncertain. The semester begins almost a month later than usual, meaning Autumn examinations will now begin and end in January rather than in December. Incoming first year students, making the transition from secondary school, received their CAO offers on September 11th following a teacher-calculated grading system which substituted this years’ Leaving Certificate.

The return to UCC in late September is set to look different for every student depending on their course, county and current COVID-19 restrictions and guidelines. Accommodation needs have changed as many students may no longer need to live in Cork for the duration of the term, choosing instead to commute and avoid the associated risks of a second lockdown while renting. Instead, studying at UCC during COVID-19 will be through “blended learning”: an amalgamation of face-to-face and online lectures, labs, seminars and tutorials. Professor John O’Halloran, the Deputy President and Registrar at UCC, told University Express that “we are working closely with your Students’ Union to ensure that the quality of education and life experience provided at UCC won’t change - even if its delivery has.” “We all share a collective responsibility to our community in the face of this

Photo Credit: Leahy Photos

pandemic,” he continued. “While stu- dent accommodation and commercial dents will be learning online more than revenue, a HEA report revealed in May. ever this year, campus remains the beating heart of our university experience.” To rectify this, a package in excess of €160 million to support universiProfessor O’Halloran reminded stu- ties and colleges during COVID-19 dents of the wellbeing supports avail- has been granted by the Department able, stating that “This is an anxious, of Further and Higher Education, uncertain time for us all, and no more Research, Innovation and Science. so than for students facing into an academic year like no other. However I Within the fund, €15 million for the am confident that if a mutual spirit of allocation and accessing of ICT deviccooperation, patience, and unity pre- es such as laptops has been made availvails we will make this year a success.” able to bridge the digital divide which exists between many students. The Simultaneous to navigating the new USI Students and COVID-19 Report learning format during COVID-19, the found that almost 40% of students felt college must survey the financial dam- they performed significantly worse age done by the effects of the pandemic. as a result of last semesters’ alternaAnnual expenditure at UCC is to be cut tive assessments. One fifth of students by almost 5% for the upcoming year listed WiFi access issues as the cause. while overall, Irish colleges and universities are facing a €500 million shortfall in funding as a result of lost income relating to international students, stu- Story Continued on Page 3...


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