University Sufferage?

Covid-19 is exerting enormous financial and operational challenges on all UK Universities (https://www.theguardian.com/education/2020/apr/25/degrees-of-separation-can-universities-adapt-in-the-rush-to-online-learning). The most immediate impact has been the urgent need to migrate most of the teaching from lecture theatres, tutorial groups and Laboratories to electronic equivalents involving  'Zoom' and other platforms (it will be interesting to see what we return to at the end of lockdown). Additional academic problems are raised for examinations (as unseen, invigilated papers no longer fit the bill) and independent quality control by external examiners talking directly to candidates becomes problematic. In addition, although one can develop and utilise 'virtual' practical and fieldwork sessions, I do not feel that they deliver precisely the same skill sets to participating students. The research aspect of the role of universities also has challenges, especially in terms of team work and using people as subjects in studies. You can add to this the loss of the social development aspect of student life with the closures of bars, eating facilities, sports venues et cetera. The UK Universities are also likely to take a major hit by the 'disappearance' of an estimated quarter of a million of overseas students (and their fees). The constructed accommodation blocks will also fail to bring in the calculated finances from both students and conferences. The University sector has been a major earner for UK plc, it will be interesting to see whether it (or some of it) can weather the storm.