As I touched on in my last column, the last couple of months haven’t been the easiest for Scotland’s young people. There are some glimmers of hope, however, as Scottish colleges and universities are set to welcome back students this month.
As the number of young people contracting COVID appears to be increasing, it remains to be seen what kind of impact the return of higher education is going to have on transmission rates. But, while it’s only natural that people may feel nervous, especially as we remain in this strange ‘limbo’ period of lockdown and hear conflicting advice on what feels like a daily basis, I feel that this is a positive step towards regaining some kind of normality.
Freshers’ week may look a little different, to say the least, with the standard raucous and booze-fuelled parties that usually mark the beginning of term off the cards. However, this should still be an exciting time for those who are heading off to college or university for the first time.
All is not lost either, as the University of Glasgow announced it will be hosting a full schedule of online and socially distanced freshers’ events, with many other institutes offering similar ways to socialise during these uncertain times.
I do sympathise with those who are heading off to a new city where they won’t know anyone and who may be feeling anxious about making new friends in the absence of traditional social events. With so many people in the same boat though, perhaps the whole experience will actually bring people closer together – emotionally, not physically of course!
I’m sure lots of young people’s mental health must have really suffered in recent months, so hopefully this opportunity to socialise and meet new people, whatever that may look like, will go some way towards remedying this.
While it’s safe to say the social side of student life won’t look the way most would have pictured it this time last year, I wonder how the studying itself will be affected. I believe most courses are set to be taught virtually, at least some of the time, until lockdown restrictions ease further.
Some people have suggested that tuition fees should be lowered as a result, but I have to say I disagree. Lecturers will still be required to put in the same amount of work – even more in some cases, to make the classes work in this new format – and there’s nothing to say students will be disadvantaged as a result.
Again, while it won’t be the ‘normal’ experience, the restrictions are there to keep people safe, and given the huge amount of innovations introduced over the last six months, along with the new ways of working so many of us have adapted to, I’m confident our colleges and universities will have measures in place to ensure students are supported.
Student accommodation is understandably a cause for concern. With shared kitchens and bathrooms commonplace on many campuses across Scotland, I can imagine universities will have a tough job on their hands when it comes to students who need to self-isolate, or managing any potential outbreaks.
There’s also the issue of international students who will be unable to move into their halls of residence due to travel restrictions. Is it fair that they should have to pay for several months’ worth of rent until they’re able to safely come to Scotland? More students may also choose to stay at home if they’re not going to be required on campus as often. It will be very interesting to see how this impacts the rental market in university towns over the coming year.
While we are stepping into the unknown, we have to remember that other sectors have managed to successfully re-open without too many issues. I’m hopeful the return to higher education will follow suit, and will be a welcome move for the young people taking this step. We can’t remain in lockdown indefinitely, so hopefully with the right precautions in place, this will be a largely positive move.
These are the innovators and decision makers of our future and I wish them the best of luck as they embark on an exciting new chapter in their lives.
Green Hydrogen Could Power Scotland’s Future
An interesting report issued last week claims that green hydrogen projects – particularly in the North East of Scotland – could help generate £350 billion for the UK economy and sustain up to 120,000 jobs by 2050.
The findings from the Offshore Wind Industry Council (OWIC), in partnership with the Offshore Renewable Energy (ORE) Catapult, outline the role that superfuel can play in driving down carbon emissions and makes the case for creating a national hydrogen network.
I was delighted to see that the report pinpoints Aberdeen as one of the regions that could be crucial on its development, due to its existing developments and port infrastructure.
Green hydrogen is produced by running an electric current through water using an electrolyser powered by renewable energy, meaning no carbon dioxide is released into the atmosphere.
Decarbonising the planet is one of the goals that countries around the world have set for 2050 and decarbonising the production of an element like hydrogen, giving rise to green hydrogen, could play a crucial role in this.
With uncertainty surrounding the oil and gas industry, the findings in this report are an exciting prospect for Aberdeen, which has gained a reputation as a Global Energy Hub.
Not only could the move help towards the global commitment to net zero, it could also have the potential to make major contributions to jobs, economic growth and attract inward investment.
This news also came during the same week that BP announced it would be offering its services to help Aberdeen, the oil and gas capital of Europe, go net zero.
We must act on this exciting opportunity to reduce global emissions and present the UK, and Scotland in particular, as a world leader in this field of technology.
It Made Me Laugh
It made me laugh when I read that Marks and Spencer have been forced to review the packaging on one of its haggis products, after facing a furious backlash from Scots over its British flag print.
An angry shopper shared a picture of the dish – named ‘Haggis, Neeps & Tatties en Croute’ – online and some of the comments that followed have been hilarious.
People have accused the supermarket giant of ‘cultural misappropriation’ for brandishing the Scottish national dish with a British flag and turning the meal into a French pastry.
It goes without saying that Scottish people are fiercely proud of their national and cultural identity, and as Marks and Spencer have found to their cost, it’s best not to mess with their national dish – the beloved haggis.
It Made Me Weep
The impact of COVID-19 is still being felt by industries across the board.
A survey by the Scottish Licensed Trade Association (SLTA) found that up to 12,500 jobs are at risk in Scotland’s bars and pubs due to the ongoing coronavirus pandemic.
The responses from 600 premises also found that 45 per cent of owners did not expect to return to normal trading until a vaccine for the disease was found.
This news is very upsetting to hear. Government schemes such as Eat Out to Help Out and furlough have been a great help to businesses, but it’s terrible news that it’s simply not enough to help many bars survive.
I hope that we continue to support our local hospitality businesses and Scottish bars and restaurants manage to ride out whatever challenges lie ahead.
