Fife College has finalised its preparations for the partial return of students at the start of the new academic year on Monday.
All five campuses were temporarily closed in March due to the coronavirus outbreak, with most students completing their studies online and some having to complete their courses on campus in recent weeks.
With college induction sessions being delivered online this week, some students will be welcomed back in class from Monday, as part of a phased reintroduction.
Access at first has been given to students studying subjects with practical elements on a limited basis. For those not studying on campus yet, a blended approach will be taken, with courses initially delivered online for the majority of students.
To ensure the safe return of students and staff, the college has introduced a series of measures and protocols, including the implementation of a one-way system in buildings, guidance on social distancing and hand sanitising stations installed across all campuses.
These measures are in addition to a guide that has been produced which offers advice on how to keep safe while on campus and information on how the college’s track and trace system will operate.
Fife College has also invested in digital technology to help students study from home, and will be operating an online Freshers’ Fayre for the first time to make sure those starting their studies don’t miss out on the college experience.
Vice-principal of Fife College, Dorothee Leslie, said: “It’s great to be able to welcome students back to campus after such an extended period away.
“Our aim is to ensure that students receive the highest quality learning experience, so it was important to us that we restarted teaching across all of our campuses.
“Of course, ensuring the safety of our students and staff is essential in doing this and that’s why we’ve introduced a series of measures in each of our buildings to help us all stay safe.
“We look forward to the day that we can welcome all students back, but in the meantime I’m confident that the blended approach to learning that we have adopted will see students continue to get the best possible offering.
“And with our continued investment in digital technology we are continuing to work hard to see that students don’t miss out during these difficult times.
“Fife College is still accepting application for the new academic year, so I would encourage anyone who does want to study with us to get in touch to learn about some of the fantastic opportunities we have available.”