By Olivia Snaith-Cairns
Since last March, many different university studies throughout the United Kingdom have stopped face-to-face teaching and moved to online as a result of the coronavirus pandemic. Due to this, many university students have struggled with studying, either from lack of motivation to work or no internet to connect online.
Alex Cimpeanu, a second-year photojournalism student from London Metropolitan University, has had online classes since March 2020. “We don’t get to experience uni life as we did before, we don’t see our classmates and can’t make use of all the resources that uni is usually offering to us,” she says.
“It has affected my studies as I missed out on loads of valuable hands-on experience, but I don’t blame the uni or anyone. It’s the same everywhere in the world.
“I miss seeing my friends and being late… raising my hand physically and doing practical stuff in photography, and just having someone in front of me explaining the course, rather than a screen,” said Cimpeanu.
Created for online
Another university student with the same issues is Wilfred Carter, who studies Photojournalism and Documentary Photography at UAL (LCC). “Everything that’s course-dependent is online but with in-person workshops. Online one-to-ones are now a thing. Learning is no longer adapted to online, more created for online,” he says.
“I don’t think it’s affected my ability to learn, but I have had to adapt to how information is given. Long lectures online, and practical things in person.”
Carter said he misses “meeting people and the feeling that I am actually achieving and doing something”.
“Milestone moment” – at home
Creative, Digital and Professional Writing MA student, Aaron Patel has had a different experience.
Patel graduated from London Metropolitan University in 2020 with a BA in Journalism – but he never got the chance to celebrate the occasion at the Barbican with friends and family, like students in previous years.
“It was an occasion I was upset I couldn’t live through, but I finally finished my degree. That was a milestone moment for me. I was disappointed my family couldn’t be there with at the Barbican because that would have been a nice day for us all,” he says.
“I have studied purely online since March 2020, not been on campus ever since. I’ve got my head down a bit more but at the same time it’s been tough. The environment doesn’t change so there’s no refreshing.”
Patel says that his motivation has been ‘short at times’, explaining that “while the world has been suffering, it’s hard to think straight and not worry about your family and friends.
“I miss going to the gym, going to the uni bar, and seeing friends about. It’s the small things that I miss.”
Too little, too late?
UK Prime Minister Boris Johnson has recently announced that universities can open, and students can return to on-campus teaching from May 17th, 2020. Check out the government’s website for more information.
But although some students are excited about the return date, many courses end before then, so the re-opening might come too late for some.
Most of London Metropolitan University’s classes end before the May 17th, so our student’s will not get the opportunity to access the university fully until September. However, the library is now available for students for self-study.
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