Return to campus in the autumn but with exceptions
The University of Gävle plans to return to campus-based teaching in the autumn semester with certain exceptions. This means that there will be teaching on campus as well as online in certain cases.
On Friday 5 June, the Vice-Chancellor took the decision that the University intends to conduct primarily campus-based teaching in Gävle in campus-based programmes.
Now, when a majority of all teaching will be conducted on campus, it will remain very important to follow advice and recommendation on how to reduce the spread of the virus.
Count on campus-based teaching
In short, the Vice-Chancellor’s decision means that you can assume the following:
If you have been admitted to a campus-based programme in Swedish which starts in the fall, teaching will be on campus. However, particularly in the beginning, certain course components may be taught online in certain cases. The University’s main priority is to give new students a good introduction on campus when the autumn semester starts.
If you have been admitted to a summer course, teaching will be online as previously stated. There will be no changes made; all summer courses will be taught remotely.
If you have been admitted to a distance education programme, remote teaching is the rule of course. Many distance education courses contain components that normally are taught on campus, and this decision means that they will now be campus-based. However, if we need to adapt our teaching to limit the spread of the virus, these course components may be taught online.
Internationalisation and student exchanges
There will be no international student exchanges in the coming autumn. The University of Gävle pauses all such exchanges: no students will go abroad, and no international students will come to Sweden. Alternative solutions will be discussed with all students concerned.
A previous decision stated that all programmes offered to international students will be taught remotely during the autumn semester and that decision still applies. A decision regarding a return to campus-based teaching in the spring semester may be taken in September.
Programme directors together with the teachings staff who plan all details of courses and programmes will inform each student regarding the start of the autumn semester.
Look for your welcome letter!
If you are admitted to a course or a programme you will receive a welcome letter; look for it in our e-mail inbox.
On 26 August, there will be an introduction in Swedish for all new students at the University of Gävle. This introduction will be online: it will be a live introduction programme, which will later be made available on our website. An international English version will be published on the University website a few days later.
Just like before, it remains very important that we follow recommendations and decisions taken by the authorities concerned and that we do everything we can to reduce the spread of the virus. You as a student have a great responsibility here.
The University follows new directives
The University management monitors the development and new decisions and directives can be taken before the start of the autumn semester. This means that it is very important to stay updated.
“I am pleased that we can start planning for a return to more campus-based teaching for all those students who have applied for such a programme now,” says Vice-Chancellor Ylva Fältholm. “But we need to follow recommendations issued by the Public Health Agency of Sweden and other authorities. If we cannot follow recommendations in all cases, certain course components may have to remain net-based.”
“I would like to welcome all new and old students back to the University of Gävle, both those of you who will take summer courses and those of you who will come here when it is time for our autumn semester. You will come to one of the most popular university colleges in the country, with the highest number of applicants per place, so it is actually quite an achievement to secure a place here. As we say in our vision for our future: we would like to be the first choice for all who want to make a difference. Together, we can contribute to social development, locally and globally.
Guidelines for retake weeks
Apart from decisions for teaching and examination in the autumn, a decision regarding examinations during weeks 33 and 34 in August, the so-called “retake weeks” have been taken:
Written examinations and other assessments that could not be carried out or have been replaced with alternative assessment in the spring semester of 2020 as a result of the transition to distance education, will be offered on campus in week 33 and week 34.
Currently, plans with the aim to offer retakes that are usually offered in week 33 and week 34 as written examinations are made.
Recommendations for students are the same as for everyone else: stay at home if you have symptoms of an illness. We must all take our responsibility to avoid contributing to the spread of the virus.
Do you have questions?
Students can turn to studentcentrum@hig.se or pose questions in the chat at hig.se
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