Should all students return to campus?
By Erin Morley for Campus Review
Campus Review sat down with Adam Davies, Principal and Co-leader of our Education and Science sector, to discuss the challenges and opportunities of reviving campus culture.
A recent architecture report says all universities should make it a priority to entice as many students and staff back to campus as possible to revive campus culture and improve student experience. Hassell’s Vibrant and Viable Campus: designing a culture-led recovery asked whether universities could create the ‘leaders of tomorrow’ without a bustling campus environment.
Hassell surveyed 16 higher education institutions and found a consistent want for lively campuses, even though online learning was increasing in popularity before the pandemic. Principal of the Education and Science sector at Hassell Adam Davies said even if more students return to campus, online learning remains important. “There’ll always be a role for online learning and content delivery, which is relevant to individual’s needs. There’s no doubt about that,” he said.
“However, students yearn for the unique engagement, social connections and memories that are cultivated through a physical presence on campus.”
— Adam Davies, Principal, Hassell
“Before Covid-19, our conversations with university client teams and academics were dominated by teaching, learning and pedagogy space needs.,” said Adam. “But, when Covid struck, those conversations ceased as the shock started to hit the higher education sector. Only now we are beginning to see the re-emergence of those discussions.”
“The research has shown that it’s time to re-engage in the conversation around the importance of teaching, learning, driving learning outcomes, student retention and higher rates of attainment, and the role that a place-based education has in the delivery of those outcomes.”
Hassell assists institutions in understanding how to make the most of their real estate and infrastructure to entice students back to campus. The architecture firm says universities should make their assets work smarter and harder, stepping away from plain ‘technical asset audits’ and towards human-centered design.
This is an extract from Campus Review. Read the full article: Should all students return to campus?