LSE plans for the next academic year

LSE has outlined its plans for the next academic session in 2020/2021.

Our campus and halls of residence will be open to welcome students for the start of term in September, with a range of enhanced safety measures in place to protect and support students and staff.

Students are expected to be in London for Michaelmas Term 2020 and to ensure an excellent educational experience continues safely, the School is taking a flexible approach to teaching and learning for the duration of the term, designed by our academic experts.

There are some key elements to flexible teaching and learning at LSE that will shape Michaelmas Term in 2020:

• Small in-person classes, seminars, tutorial groups and other sessions, such as Harvard-style teaching, will run on campus where possible, all in socially distanced environments. These activities will also be accessible to students unable to access campus if there is a delay to joining us in London.
• Lectures and large group teaching will be delivered online for Michaelmas Term 2020. All lectures will be recorded and made available for students to access.
• All programmes will continue to maximise students’ ability to work together and contribute safely to learning communities online and in person. There will be a mix of interactive activities between classes giving students the opportunity to connect with world-leading faculty, share ideas with peers and engage with LSE’s rich education and research culture.
• Across campus and halls of residences LSE will introduce enhanced health and safety measures. We will always, at a minimum, comply with and follow UK government guidance. However, it is important to note that, where appropriate, it is likely the School will go beyond government guidance, based on scientific advice and the expertise of our academic faculty.
• Face coverings whilst indoors on campus in shared areas and in communal spaces in residences will be mandatory. A robust set of protocols will also be put in place that take a holistic view of how to keep the community safe and well. This includes enhanced cleaning and hygiene practices, recalibrating space, floor markings to ensure social distancing, controlled access to campus buildings and mechanisms to identify and assist individuals and the community more widely, if people are unwell. We will also explore what contributions ‘test, trace and isolate’ processes and temperature checks at key points on campus can make to safety. This will be alongside other proposed measures such as hand sanitizing stations, disinfectant wipes for classroom settings, one-way circulation routes and reduced capacities in teaching and social learning spaces.
• LSE will continue to offer students a range of opportunities to make the most of the next academic year, whether through volunteering opportunities, our ground-breaking entrepreneurial LSE Generate programme, LSE Students’ Union activities and societies or the new online public lecture programme. All activity will start from Welcome 2020, which will be delivered digitally and in-person, with registration online. Students can always access LSE’s thriving regional alumni groups which operate across the globe.
• Being part of LSE is also about the support students can expect, no matter the situation. The School is committed to working in partnership with students to enhance experiences. Disability and Wellbeing, Careers and LSE LIFE teams will continue to be available to guide students through excellent online and in-person services where possible.
• We recognise it may be difficult for some students to travel internationally to London for the start of term. Support will be put in place so that students can access online provision in Michaelmas Term if this is the case

Commenting on the plans, LSE's Director, Minouche Shafik said:

“I very much look forward to welcoming new and returning students to London for the 2020/2021 academic session in September. The wellbeing of our School community is paramount and our flexible approach to teaching and learning will ensure an excellent education and student experience continues safely for all. We are a global community at LSE and we are committed to sustaining that openness as we shape the world in partnership with students, staff and friends of our School in the academic year ahead.”