The University of Sydney is set to return in Semester 2 with face-to-face tutorials. Other modes of learning that will be conducted in-person include: seminars, workshops, small group projects, practicals and lab sessions. All lectures however, will continue to be delivered online for the remainder of the year.
The move comes in response to Federal Education Minister Dan Tehan’s public push to have universities reopen in Semester 2.
The University delayed the start of Semester 2 by three weeks in order to allow staff adequate time to prepare appropriate online learning courses, as well as to encourage prospective students to enrol, especially amidst the reported $470 million revenue loss due to coronavirus-related enrolment reductions.
The University will maintain remote learning to cater for the thousands of international students who will be restricted by border closures. There will also be no physical attendance requirement for any unit. However, it remains unclear as to how face-to-face teaching will be appropriately inclusive for those forced to continue with remote learning.
These easings follow the re-opening of selected Library spaces, USU outlets and SUSF facilities.