After virtually all classes were moved online in 2020 due to the COVID-19 pandemic, the University of Wollongong is now set to boost the number of on-campus classes.
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Excluding lectures, UOW is planning to offer around 2800 classes on campus in the spring session.
Session two will also see around 570classes offered online only, predominantly for postgraduate students.
Around 535 lectures will be offered online, around 230 will be on-campus, and around 85 will be offered as both online and on-campus.
The number of classes that are ultimately delivered face-to-face will depend on the choices that students make in their class selections.
UOW though has responded to feedback by upgrading the technology in many Wollongong campus classrooms to improve the capture, recording and live streaming of lectures for students studying online.
But UOW Deputy Vice-Chancellor (Education) Professor Theo Farrell said the university was looking forward to having more students on its campuses.
"We're very pleased to announce that we're bringing back more on-campus classes in Session 2, with the appropriate capacity limits, physical distancing and other safety measures in place," Professor Farrell said.
"We've heard from many students that they've missed being on-campus and making the most of the social experience for which UOW is renowned - and we've missed having them on campus.
"Safely returning our students to a vibrant campus remains our top priority. We look forward to seeing many more students back on campus.
"At the same time we remain mindful that some students are still unable to join us on campus due to international travel restrictions or other COVID-19 related circumstances. For these students, online delivery will continue to be offered, where possible."
The increase in face-to-face teaching builds on the efforts that have been made to return classes and social activities to campus in the first half of the year.
The UOW Library continued to be a study destination of choice in session 1 while maintaining COVID-safe occupancy limits.
Over the course of the session, weekly visitor numbers ranged from 10,000 to more than 14,000. By contrast, during session 2 of 2020 the number of visitors on most weeks ranged between 5000 and 8000.
During session 1, UOW Pulse hosted more than 238 events, activities and workshops to engage with students on campus, including regular weekly events, themed festivals, speciality events and activations on campus. By contrast, only 180 events were held on campus in the whole of 2020, due to COVID-19.
In session 2, UOW Pulse will hold regular weekly events such as Drag Queen Bingo, Trivia, Pulse Pantry, Bend and Snack, Breaky Bar, Wellness Wednesday, Lunch on the Lawn, Play Free Sport and Game On plus Orientation, Clubs Day, Fit and Well Fest, International Week and Stress Less week.
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Agron Latifi
Wollongong born and bred. I love reporting about the Illawarra region and have been doing it for more than 20 years. I've moved into sport recently after covering the education round for the last five plus years for the Illawarra Mercury. It's been a great pleasure.
Wollongong born and bred. I love reporting about the Illawarra region and have been doing it for more than 20 years. I've moved into sport recently after covering the education round for the last five plus years for the Illawarra Mercury. It's been a great pleasure.
