A UNIVERSITY chief has denied claims of plans to scrap tutorials and live lectures in favour of enhanced online teaching.

Professor Stuart Corbridge, Durham University’s Vice-Chancellor, was responding to University and College Union (UCU) fears that live modules could be cut by 25-per cent, with more courses to be rolled out online arising from the Covid-19 outbreak.

“Nothing could be further from the truth,” said Prof Corbridge, in response to reports carrying the UCU claims.

“Over the past year we have opened a wonderful new Teaching and Learning Centre, on South Road, and a state of the art Sport and Well-being Park, at Maiden Castle.

“We have also revamped our Assembly Rooms student theatre.

“Later this year we will open two new colleges at Mount Oswald and a very large new home for mathematics and computer science at Upper Mountjoy.

“We haven’t made these investments with a view to walking away from our collegiate residential model.”

He said the university is already looking forward to welcoming new students to Durham for induction week on September 28, to begin face-to-face teaching on the first day of term, on October 5.

“We are particularly excited about meeting those who will join South College, Durham’s seventeenth college and the first addition to our collegiate family since 2006.

“Freshers and returning students from increasingly diverse backgrounds will enjoy the world class teaching and superb wider student experience that make Durham such a tremendous place to learn, grow and make friends for life.

“Of course, we are also working hard to ensure that our high-quality teaching offer is ready to go ‘online’ in the event that lockdown continues throughout 2020.”

He said Durham is keen to “embrace” all different forms of teaching.

“However, our diligent preparation for a worst-case scenario should not be mistaken for pessimism.

“We cherish Durham’s distinctive blend of academic excellence and outstanding sport, music, theatre, enterprise and volunteering just as much as you do.”

He added: “We call it the ‘Durham Difference’, and we would not surrender any of it voluntarily.”

Easter term this academic year at Durham is due to start on Monday (April 27), ending on June 27.