THE UNIVERSITY of Cumbria has been praised for the innovative ways that it provided higher education during the pandemic. Sir David Behan, chair of the NHS Health Education England, paid a recent virtual visit to the institution and heard about the experiences of students. The tour included a practical demonstration of the simulation suite which Sir David s organisation helped to fund, where radiography and ultrasound students hone their scanning skills. The virtual reality suite and simulators allow students to become familiar with anatomy in a realistic, clinical setting without the need for a patient or volunteer. Sir David said: “It’s been inspiring to see how the University of Cumbria has risen to new and unexpected challenges.
Sir David, whose organisation is part of the NHS and works with partners to plan, recruit, educate and train the health workforce, was keen to learn about the university’s teaching innovations and the experiences of students ‘on the ground’.
Sir David Behan said: “It’s been inspiring to see how the University of Cumbria has risen to new and unexpected challenges since the COVID-19 outbreak began, and I’d like to express my sincere gratitude for their perseverance, flexibility and commitment.
“COVID-19 has presented unique challenges for training, including the necessity of clinical placements in a system under pressure and a student experience much different to ever before.