所有在英留學生看過來：英國大學事務大臣致大家的一封公開信
日前，主管英國大學事務的國務大臣米歇爾·多蘭就新冠病毒大流行對英國大學和留學生的影響，以及應對方案給全體在英國留學的國際學生寫了一封公開信，原文如下：
親愛的國際學生：
? ? ? 作為分管大學事務的國務部長，我想致信給大家，再次向各位確保我們已經采取了一系列的行動保證大家的安全，并且最大程度降低COVID-19對個人及學業的影響。
? ? ? COVID-19疫情是一種前所未有的突發情況，對高等教育以全世界的學生和教職工都造成了重大挑戰。政府保持實時更新科學建議，并將之于網絡上發布給公眾。隨著情況的改變，我們的建議也會根據威脅的程度進行調整。利用科學建議，以及英國公共衛生指導，我們與高等教育部門就廣泛的問題進行密切合作，而且討論的核心就是為了維護廣大學生的利益。
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? 我想強調的是，政府不僅認識到而且也贊揚你們和所有國際學生在社會、文化以及經濟方面為英國做出的積極貢獻。你們豐富了所有學生的大學經歷，為大學校園帶來了更大的多樣性，帶來了新鮮的想法和觀點。這種文化交流有助于建立終生的友誼，并且為未來的網絡、重要的商業、政治和外交橋梁奠定基礎。
? ? 我們希望你們享受在英國的時光，充分利用在英國世界一流大學學習的機會。減輕病毒對留學經歷的影響，我們與大學緊密合作，我們高興地看到教育部門正在用盡一切努力來確保學生繼續學業，其中包括通過線上教學或者遠程教學來確保教學和評估可以正常進行。
然而，我們的首要任務是保證學生們的健康、安全與幸福。我一直在和大學討論他們可以給到國內和國際學生的額外支持。3月20日和26日，我寫信給英國各大學，敦促他們優先考慮所有留在大學宿舍的學生的需求，這包括大量決定留在英國或者不能回家的國際學生。他們有關心學生的義務，同時他們也認識到并將履行這一義務。這包括如果學生不能返家或者不能找到其他住處的時候，為學生提供住宿。大學也會為學生提供一系列的支持服務，包括餐飲和清潔方面的支持，以及在我看來著重考慮的心理健康方面的支持。
? ? ? 許多精神衛生服務提供者正在加強他們的精神衛生服務，并對原有的面對面咨詢方式進行調整。我鼓勵學生與各自院校的學生支持和服務團隊保持聯系，在目前需要保持社交距離的階段這都是重要的支持服務。 如果現在你有心理和精神健康方面的困擾，你也可以在線訪問英國公共衛生資源，以及來自NHS和心理健康慈善的機構MIND。 政府最近也宣布啟用一項500萬英鎊的精神健康撥款，由Mind管理來支持那些需要幫助的人，包括各位學生。
? ? ? 除了可以獲得來自各自學校的支持，英國緊急服務中心也會為大家提供服務。他們將向對待英國居民一樣為各位同學服務，我們的國民保健服務可以通過一個新的COVID-19在線系統(www.111.nhs.uk/covid-19 )為大家提供服務，如果不能上網也可以撥打111。我們的警察也會保護大家的安全，通過新的公共衛生條例我們的支持官員會落實執行措施以減少COVID-19的傳播。
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? 我還想強調的是，英國政府和高等教育部門都明確表示，你在英國是安全的，不論是校內還是校外，都是被歡迎的。 在我們的社會中，包括高等教育系統中，沒有騷擾、歧視或者種族主義的容身之地。你們有權接受教育，在這個國家不受騷擾和歧視。我們要確保每一個有天賦和潛力的人都有機會在高等教育中獲得成功，無論國籍、種族或者民族出身，我們不會容忍任何形式的仇外情緒。
我知道你們中的一些人會關心你的簽證情況，這就是為什么在目前情況下，政府會酌情處理， 以確保因疫情影響，無法簽證續簽而不會收到負面記錄。對于那些受COVID-19影響的英國移民和邊境變化的應對指導可以在以下網站找到：
www.gov.uk/government/collections/coronavirus-covid-19-immigration-and-borders.
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? ? 這一指南包括為那些可能對簽證到期、在英國境內轉換簽證類別、遠程學習和實習醫生和護士的工作時間限制有疑問的人提供最新信息。如果你擔心你的簽證狀況，你應該給政府的新冠病毒（COVID-19）移民服務中心發郵件，郵箱地址是CIH@homeoffice.gov.uk。
? ? ? 英國政府的最新建議是，如非有特殊需求請盡量保持居家隔離。如果你住在大學宿舍或者私人宿舍，大學將盡其所能確保你能獲得支持，食物和其他供應。在英國，為了保護自己以及他人，你應當聽從政府的建議。然后， 如果你正在考慮返回你的祖國，請你向你的國家駐英使館或領事館咨詢。如果你自己出現了新冠的癥狀，或者你家里/合住的其他人有新冠癥狀，那么你需要自我隔離14天，不可以出行。新冠的癥狀包括高燒或者新發、持續的咳嗽。
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? ? 無論你是已經回國，還是決定留在英國，或者無法回國，我能夠理解你很關心現在應該做什么。因此我將所有政府最新指南，以及您可能關注的問題和聯系人列表附在本信函的末尾。
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? ? 我們作為世界領先的大學，作為全球性的機構蓬勃發展，將永遠向國際學生開放。政府和高等教育部門正在共同努力，確保現有的規則和程序在當前前所未有的情況下盡可能靈活，以確保那些計劃于2020年秋季赴英學習的同學能夠成行。我們將繼續與相關部門和學生代表合作，盡我們所能保證你們的安全。
此致
Michelle Donelan MP
Minister of State for Universities
Dear International Students,
As Universities Minister, I wanted to write to you to provide reassurances that we have taken action to keep you safe and to mitigate the worst effects of COVID-19 on you and your education.
The COVID-19 outbreak is an unprecedented situation and poses significant challenges to higher education, its students and staff in virtually every country around the world. Government is adhering closely to the most up-to-date scientific advice, which is available publicly online. As this changes, our advice will change to match the level of the threat. Using this scientific advice, as well as Public Health England guidance, we are working closely with the higher education sector on a wide range of issues and your wellbeing is, and will remain, at the heart of those discussions.
I want to emphasise to you that our Government not only recognises, but also appreciates, the positive contribution that you and all international students provide to the UK – socially, culturally and economically. You enrich the university experience for all students, bringing greater diversity to university and college campuses, as well as fresh ideas and new perspectives. This cultural exchange helps build life-long friendships, as well as laying the foundations for future networks, and important business, political and diplomatic bridges.
We want you to enjoy your time in the UK and to get the most out of studying at our world-class universities. To mitigate the worst effects of the virus on your student experience, we are working closely with universities and I am pleased to see that the sector is making every effort to enable you to continue your studies – including moving learning online either in the UK or in your home country – so that your teaching and assessment can proceed.
Our first priority, however, is your health, safety and wellbeing. I have been discussing with universities the additional support that they can give to both domestic and international students. I wrote to universities in England on 20 and 26 March, urging them to prioritise the needs of all students who remain at their university accommodation. This includes the large number of international students who have decided to stay in the UK or cannot travel home. They have a duty of care to you, which they recognise and will carry out. This includes continuing to provide accommodation if
you cannot travel home or have no alternative residence. Universities will also offer a range of support services to students, including support for catering and cleaning, and providing support for mental health which is a key consideration for me.
Many providers are bolstering their existing mental health services, and adapting delivery to means other than face-to-face. I would encourage you to stay in touch with your provider’s student support and welfare teams, as these services are likely to be an important source of support during this period of social distancing. If you are struggling with your mental health at this time, you can also access online resources from Public Health England, along with online support from the NHS and mental health charity Mind. The Government recently announced a ￡5m-grant for mental health, to be administered by Mind, to support those people, including students, who require this support.
In addition to support from your university, the UK emergency services are also here for you. They are here for you as much as they are for other UK residents. Our National Health Service can provide you with specific COVID-19 advice through a new COVID-19 online service or, if you cannot get online, by calling 111. The police are also here to keep you safe, with new public health regulations that will support officers in enforcing measures to reduce the spread of COVID-19.
I also want to be underline that both the UK Government and the higher education sector are clear that you must feel welcome and safe here – on and off campus. There is no place in our society – including within higher education – for harassment, discrimination or racism. You have a right to access education and be in this country without fear of harassment and discrimination. We want to ensure that everyone with the talent and potential to succeed in higher education has the opportunity to do so, regardless of nationality, or ethnic or national origins, and we will not tolerate xenophobia of any kind.
I recognise that some of you will be concerned about your visa status. That is why the Government will be applying discretion under current circumstances to ensure you are not negatively impacted if you find yourself in a position where you cannot comply with certain visa rules. Full guidance for those affected by changes to UK immigration and borders due to COVID-19 can be found here. This guidance includes the latest information for those of you who might have questions around visa expiry, switching visa category within the UK, distance learning and working-hour restrictions for student doctors and nurses. If you have concerns about your visa status you should email the Government’s Coronavirus (COVID-19) Immigration Help Centre at CIH@homeoffice.gov.uk.
The latest Government advice is that you should only leave your home or accommodation in the UK for very limited purposes. If you live in university-owned, or privately-owned, university accommodation, universities will do all they can to ensure that you have access to support, food and other provisions. To protect yourself and others you should adhere to Government advice while in the UK. However, if you are considering returning to your home country, please seek advice from your country’s embassy or consulate in the UK. You should not travel if you have
symptoms of COVID-19 yourself, or if you are self-isolating for 14 days because someone else in your household / shared accommodation has had COVID-19 symptoms. Symptoms of COVID-19 include a high temperature or a new, continuous cough.
Whether you have already travelled home, have decided to remain in the UK, or cannot travel home, I understand that you will be concerned about what you should do now. I have therefore included as an annex to this letter all the Government’s latest guidance, as well as a list of resources and contacts available should you have questions or concerns.
Our world-leading universities, which thrive on being global institutions, will always be open to international students. Both Government and the higher education sector are working together to ensure existing rules and processes are as flexible as possible under the current unprecedented circumstances to ensure that those of you planning to study in the UK from Autumn 2020 can do so.
We will continue to work with the sector and with student representatives and do all we can to keep you safe.
Yours sincerely,
Michelle Donelan MP
Minister of State for Universities
