所有在英留学生看过来：英国大学事务大臣致大家的一封公开信
日前，主管英国大学事务的国务大臣米歇尔·多兰就新冠病毒大流行对英国大学和留学生的影响，以及应对方案给全体在英国留学的国际学生写了一封公开信，原文如下：
亲爱的国际学生：
作为分管大学事务的国务部长，我想致信给大家，再次向各位确保我们已经采取了一系列的行动保证大家的安全，并且最大程度降低COVID-19对个人及学业的影响。
COVID-19疫情是一种前所未有的突发情况，对高等教育以全世界的学生和教职工都造成了重大挑战。政府保持实时更新科学建议，并将之于网络上发布给公众。随着情况的改变，我们的建议也会根据威胁的程度进行调整。利用科学建议，以及英国公共卫生指导，我们与高等教育部门就广泛的问题进行密切合作，而且讨论的核心就是为了维护广大学生的利益。
我想强调的是，政府不仅认识到而且也赞扬你们和所有国际学生在社会、文化以及经济方面为英国做出的积极贡献。你们丰富了所有学生的大学经历，为大学校园带来了更大的多样性，带来了新鲜的想法和观点。这种文化交流有助于建立终生的友谊，并且为未来的网络、重要的商业、政治和外交桥梁奠定基础。
我们希望你们享受在英国的时光，充分利用在英国世界一流大学学习的机会。减轻病毒对留学经历的影响，我们与大学紧密合作，我们高兴地看到教育部门正在用尽一切努力来确保学生继续学业，其中包括通过线上教学或者远程教学来确保教学和评估可以正常进行。
然而，我们的首要任务是保证学生们的健康、安全与幸福。我一直在和大学讨论他们可以给到国内和国际学生的额外支持。3月20日和26日，我写信给英国各大学，敦促他们优先考虑所有留在大学宿舍的学生的需求，这包括大量决定留在英国或者不能回家的国际学生。他们有关心学生的义务，同时他们也认识到并将履行这一义务。这包括如果学生不能返家或者不能找到其他住处的时候，为学生提供住宿。大学也会为学生提供一系列的支持服务，包括餐饮和清洁方面的支持，以及在我看来着重考虑的心理健康方面的支持。
许多精神卫生服务提供者正在加强他们的精神卫生服务，并对原有的面对面咨询方式进行调整。我鼓励学生与各自院校的学生支持和服务团队保持联系，在目前需要保持社交距离的阶段这都是重要的支持服务。 如果现在你有心理和精神健康方面的困扰，你也可以在线访问英国公共卫生资源，以及来自NHS和心理健康慈善的机构MIND。 政府最近也宣布启用一项500万英镑的精神健康拨款，由Mind管理来支持那些需要帮助的人，包括各位学生。
除了可以获得来自各自学校的支持，英国紧急服务中心也会为大家提供服务。他们将向对待英国居民一样为各位同学服务，我们的国民保健服务可以通过一个新的COVID-19在线系统(www.111.nhs.uk/covid-19 )为大家提供服务，如果不能上网也可以拨打111。我们的警察也会保护大家的安全，通过新的公共卫生条例我们的支持官员会落实执行措施以减少COVID-19的传播。
我还想强调的是，英国政府和高等教育部门都明确表示，你在英国是安全的，不论是校内还是校外，都是被欢迎的。 在我们的社会中，包括高等教育系统中，没有骚扰、歧视或者种族主义的容身之地。你们有权接受教育，在这个国家不受骚扰和歧视。我们要确保每一个有天赋和潜力的人都有机会在高等教育中获得成功，无论国籍、种族或者民族出身，我们不会容忍任何形式的仇外情绪。
我知道你们中的一些人会关心你的签证情况，这就是为什么在目前情况下，政府会酌情处理， 以确保因疫情影响，无法签证续签而不会收到负面记录。对于那些受COVID-19影响的英国移民和边境变化的应对指导可以在以下网站找到：
www.gov.uk/government/collections/coronavirus-covid-19-immigration-and-borders.
这一指南包括为那些可能对签证到期、在英国境内转换签证类别、远程学习和实习医生和护士的工作时间限制有疑问的人提供最新信息。如果你担心你的签证状况，你应该给政府的新冠病毒（COVID-19）移民服务中心发邮件，邮箱地址是[email protected]。
英国政府的最新建议是，如非有特殊需求请尽量保持居家隔离。如果你住在大学宿舍或者私人宿舍，大学将尽其所能确保你能获得支持，食物和其他供应。在英国，为了保护自己以及他人，你应当听从政府的建议。然后， 如果你正在考虑返回你的祖国，请你向你的国家驻英使馆或领事馆咨询。如果你自己出现了新冠的症状，或者你家里/合住的其他人有新冠症状，那么你需要自我隔离14天，不可以出行。新冠的症状包括高烧或者新发、持续的咳嗽。
无论你是已经回国，还是决定留在英国，或者无法回国，我能够理解你很关心现在应该做什么。因此我将所有政府最新指南，以及您可能关注的问题和联系人列表附在本信函的末尾。
我们作为世界领先的大学，作为全球性的机构蓬勃发展，将永远向国际学生开放。政府和高等教育部门正在共同努力，确保现有的规则和程序在当前前所未有的情况下尽可能灵活，以确保那些计划于2020年秋季赴英学习的同学能够成行。我们将继续与相关部门和学生代表合作，尽我们所能保证你们的安全。
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 [email protected].
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