Adapting Education Strategy and Service Delivery during COVID-19
Since the government’s decision to close all educational establishments down due to COVID-19, Peterborough Regional College and University Centre Peterborough have worked hard to introduce new strategies to continue to deliver its services.
Change in Delivery Method
The college has been working on providing students with both pastoral and curriculum support. This has been particularly important to vulnerable learners who rely on the college infrastructure to support them in their day-to-day lives. By utilising Google Classroom, this allows staff to set and monitor work for students, as well as providing a platform for remote delivery.
An equipment loan system was set up for staff and students who did not have a device at home so that they could utilise studying via Google Classroom. Secondly, the use of Google Meet, Zoom and Microsoft Teams have now been set up to facilitate staff meetings, and enable easy and flexible communication. Lastly, easy access to the college’s collection of online databases, e-books and the Association of Colleges’ Coronavirus Resource Hub are available to help researching information for summative assessment tasks, coupled with the use of webinars to support tutorial subjects. Recent tutorial subjects included a week focused on ‘the environment’, where students were made aware of current challenges, as well as sustainability.
Benefits
The implementation of these initiatives ensures all learners continue to receive bespoke support and tuition to meet their individual needs and for staff in engaging with new remote and online systems. The building has now been locked down and there is a skeleton team on site to complete maintenance checks and ensure that the campus is secure and safe. With all these changes, the college’s carbon footprint will be reduced because there is a minimal amount of people travelling to the site, less use of utility services and all waste was removed prior to closing the college and remote sites.
Peterborough Regional College Environmental Commitments
The college is working with iiE on initiatives to cut carbon emissions from travel by reducing the pool car fleet and the college is in the process of replacing the fleet with vehicles that are more environmentally friendly. Travel data is being reviewed to target use of transport against an intensity metric, for example: fleet travel in miles against litres of fuel purchased, to encourage staff to drive more efficiently.
To help reduce unnecessary and non-recyclable waste, such as the use of polystyrene and cardboard containers, PRC Ventures is using plates and metal knives and forks in the refectory. Secondly, customers are asked if they would like a china cup rather than using a disposable cup for hot beverages in PRC Ventures Lounge. Lastly, used coffee grounds are being recycled as compost that is used in the garden by the ‘Timber Framed House’, which is a resource for Inclusive Learners.
