Teaching

For the February 2021 semester ICON is planning to teach primarily online delivery via Kaltura teaching online platform integrated with the existing ICON VLE (Moodle). This means that lectures, seminars and tutorials will be delivered via Kaltura and the ICON VLE platform. Where possible and the current Government rules permit, the College also intends to deliver some seminars and tutorials on campus to make it as a blended delivery mode. In order to achieve this outcome the College is undertaking a thorough risk assessment, sharing it with student representatives and is following public health guidelines [See: Staying outside one’s home and in public places staying alert and safe (social distancing: HM Government].

The College will ensure to provide COVID-secure access, as far as reasonably practicable, to the College campus facilities including library and other resources depending on an individual unit, so students can benefit from them as part of their course. We will also try to enable the students to have at least limited access to some key on campus facilities.

The College is committed to provide the highest possible standard of teaching and learning experience to all students within the scope of the Covid 19 restrictions by following all regulatory Health & Safety Rules for students and staff.

Assessment

All submissions, feedback, marking and publishing results are online using ICON VLE.

Induction and CPD

Both CPD (Continuous Professional Development) workshop for the Tutors and the induction for new students will also be online using the same platform.

Recruitment

The College Administration and Admissions Office is open for potential candidates to attend the English Language Test on Campus as well as via the online platform. The interviews are done via online using MS Team by the Admission Tutors.

Social Distancing

The College is operating the following the Government rules and restrictions on social distancing in Campus with all the Health & Safety measures in place.

College services

As per the Government website link, there are five levels of COVID Alert:
 
https://assets.publishing.service.gov.uk/government/uploads/system/uploads/attachment_data/file/884352/slides_-_11_05_2020.pdf

Considering the above table, we perceive ourselves to be in Alert level 4 for the February 2021 semester and adopt the following options accordingly to deal with the rules. The College will adjust these options as the Alert level changes to higher or lower levels. The new options will be notified to the students accordingly by text, emails, ICON VLE and will be published in the College website.

• Students can access on line resources via ICON VLE
• Library, Café, Computer Lab, Printing facilities will remain closed. Students will not be able to enter the library and will only be able to use E-learning facilities. The College is familiar with the NHS Test and Trace Guidance and will follow its requirements wherever necessary.
• The College is compliant with public library guidelines. [See: Guidance for Public Libraries: HM Government]
• Every student who owns a phone capable of Covid App download will be required to do so.
• Students Support is Online: email, via telephone
• Academic advice and Counselling are online: Video call (MS Team), telephone and email
• Students welfare services Online: Video call (MS Team), telephone and email.
• The Administrative Office will remain open for limited access for various support services following social distances and Health & Safety Rules

On-Campus safety measures

College staff and student wellbeing and safety are our highest priority.  We have taken the measures for the campus that include:

• The maintenance of a 2m social distancing.
• All students and staff will be required to wear face coverings in classrooms, corridors, toilets etc.
• The regular cleaning of class rooms, corridor, toilets and office areas using sanitiser will occur in line with the government guidelines [Covid 19 cleaning of non-healthcare settings].
• The provision of guidance on how to put on and/or remove a face covering correctly and identify any student exempt from wearing a mask.
• The assurance that any student certificated with an exemption from wearing a mask due to health or other acceptable reason will be required to wear a lanyard so all students understand his/her condition.
• Measures that have been taken to ensure adequate ventilation throughout the College.
• The provision of details to all students on how to safely travel to and from College, identifying the safest forms.
• The introduction, where necessary, segmentation of classes to support student seminars.
• Enough stock of hand sanitizer is provided at different entry points and in all toilets for when physical classes are held.
• Toilets that have been designed to ensure social distancing and appropriate sanitation.
• Posters and leaflets displaying on Covid 19 Health & Safety information.
• Clear signs in place to follow social distancing
• The usage of a distance temperature test machine for incoming students and staff at the Campus where possible and appropriate.
• An adequate stock of face masks and hand gloves are in place for use particularly for anyone who has forgotten or mislaid his/her mask.
• A separate entrance and exit for all student, staff and visitors using a one-way system is maintained with staggered arrival and departure times to reduce potential congestion.  

Tower Hamlets has published a local coronavirus outbreak control plan which can be found on:

https://www.towerhamlets.gov.uk/News_events/2020/Jul_20/?Tower_Hamlets_publishes_local_coronavirus_outbreak_control_plan.aspx

Covid-19 Outbreak Plan

Outbreak Definition

The NHS definition of an outbreak is where there are two or more linked cases (probable/confirmed cases) occurring in the College within 14 days, where cross transmission has been identified [Universities UK Checklist: October 2020; Letter from Minister Donelan 16^th October 2020]

Suspected symptoms (Staff members on campus)

• If staff members suspect they have symptoms of Covid-19, they must immediately inform their line manager or Principal and follow the advice and guidance given.
• Staff members will either be asked to remain where they are (if they are able to safely stay away from others), or they will be asked to move to an isolation room. At this point they should ensure they are wearing their face covering and limit what they touch.
• The line manager, will attend the incident location and put on a face covering, disposable gloves and remain 2 metres from the staff member with suspected symptoms. He/she will ask the staff member to wear their face covering and will ask further questions to ascertain if first aid or further medical advice is required or if the staff member can safely get home to self-isolate. They will also ask questions on where they have been, who they may have been “in contact with” and their general movements around campus.
• The staff member will be advised to contact the NHS 111 online coronavirus service (www.111.nhs.uk/Covid-19) which allows people to check if they have symptoms, to book a test as soon as possible and follow the Government/NHS guidance.
• The member of staff must self-isolate in line with NHS guidance along with the rest of their household until test results are confirmed. The process from that point will depend on the result.
• If the test is negative the member of staff should inform the line manager and HR.

Confirmed Case (Staff/Students)

• If the test is positive the member of staff must follow NHS guidance, continue to self-isolate and inform, their line manager who is required to immediately report the matter to the CRT.
• When a positive case of Covid-19 infection is identified in the College, standard contact tracing will be implemented through the National Test and Protect (TaP) system.
• The CRT will seek support from our local Health Protection Team (HPT) which provides support to investigate and manage health protection incidents and national and local action plans for infectious diseases.
• The address of the local Health Protection Team supporting ICON College is:

                                     North East and North Central London Health Protection Team, 4^th Floor, Wellington House, 133-135

                                     Waterloo Road, SE1 8UG.

The latest update can be found in https://www.gov.uk/health-protection-team.

Supporting students who are required to self-isolate

[Source: Universities UK Checklist: Letter from Minister Michelle Donelan: 16^th October 2020]

NB: It is likely many of the students will have a GP and are not in halls of residence or other student accommodation being mature and with homes and families of their own. However, the requirement on the College applies to any student particularly those living on their own and away from their family in a private rental.

The CRT is the Covid contact for any student with whom symptoms can be reported and advice sought. The SWO will ensure that continuous contact is retained with any student having to self-isolate to ensure their wellbeing. The CRT email address is covid19@iconcollege.ac.uk

A member of the CRT will offer guidance for students to access local NHS services and check each student is registered with a GP. He/she will provide a continuous update to the latest Covid advice coming from local and national authorities and check each student and member of staff has downloaded the NHS App covering track and trace.

The CRT will pay specific attention to the needs of disabled students and encourage any student to disclose any pre-existing mental or physical ailment affecting the student’s wellbeing, guiding each to an appropriate health service on offer. It will maintain continuous contact with any student of this nature needing further support and if necessary and with the student’s agreement ask if he/she would be happy for family or friends to be involved in giving support.

The CRT will encourage student representatives to provide peer support, where possible, in the event of a student’s enforced self-isolation. It will maintain regular communication with student representatives and also ensure that both cultural and religious requirements are supported.

The College, through the CRT, reporting to the Management Board, will retain contact with the Director of Public Health (DPH) in Tower Hamlets at the following address:

Dr Somen Banerjee (Director of Public Health), Mulberry House 4^th Floor, 5 Clove Crescent, E14 2BG

The College will issue any directives from the DPH or local Health Protection Team to affected students, parents, staff, wider students and wider community.

The CRT will offer a basic care package for students in isolation, if required, which ensures that the student has access to food, hygiene, religious centre for worship, laundry, bin bags etc. It will check that the isolating student is able to maintain internet services. The College has ensured online access to library services.

In the event of a student having to self-isolate the CRT will confirm his/her state of health during isolation, which will determine whether the student can continue to work online at home or there is extenuating circumstances enabling an extension within the assessment process. It will liaise with the VP Academic to determine the outcome of each individual case.

In the event of updates to public health decisions the College will ensure that all students and staff are kept fully informed, where changes to Covid policy, procedures or Risk Register occur.

NB: Prior to a student needing to isolate the College may require evidence of a positive test result.