Hi everyone!

Back on the lockdown series…

It appears that the end is in sight! Last Thursday, the Government launched the Test and Trace programme which will allow them to replace a national lockdown with “local action”. This system allows for the NHS to monitor those who test positive for the Coronavirus or have had close contact with someone who tested positive. The government also reported that the key indicators of the progress against the virus, are heading in the right direction and the infection rate is falling; and with all this uncertainty recently, it is nice to finally hear some good news.

Last week the University also made an announcement that it was planning a ‘return to campus’ for the 2020/21 academic year, with the intention that teaching will be delivered via a hybrid model of online and face-to-face. The proportion of what part of our studies will be online and what will be in person on campus will likely vary and will depend on a number of factors including your programme and Government advice at the time. After so much wonder, speculation, worry, and fear of how our 2020/21 academic year at the University of Surrey will look like… it seems that the stags will be returning to Stag Hill after–all.

This week, I have been preparing for my end-of-semester exams. Each module has its own format but all exams are being carried out online. It surprises me how quickly the semester has come to an end, and I can only imagine the shock this year has been for final year students who had the last face-to-face lectures of their entire undergraduate experience without even knowing it! However, this lockdown has ushered in a new age of digital learning, and many of us picked up some skills and hobbies from staying at home. Personally, I picked up baking, the results of which can be seen below:

But with the end in sight, I can imagine everyone is eager to meet up with their friends again once the lockdown restrictions are completely lifted.

In other news… actual stags return to the Stag Hill campus. The vast reduction of human activity over the past few months has caused astounding effects on our natural environment all around the world. In Punjab, a drop in air pollution allowed the Himalayan mountain ranges to be visible for the very first time in 30 years, whilst at the University of Surrey, deer are roaming the campus…

Hoping and praying that everyone remains safe during this time.

That’s all for now folks,

Best,

Anne