Online teaching will continue during the entire spring semester until 6 June. All summer courses that will be offered in the period between 7 June and 15 August will also be conducted online. Moreover, the re-examination period between 15 August and 29 August will also be carried out primarily online.
“Naturally, it is very disappointing to have to take this decision,” Vice-Chancellor Ylva Fältholm says, “but there are no other options. We need to do all we can to prevent the spread of the virus in society. I hope that there is understanding for this decision.”
“We are monitoring the development, and should public authorities issue new directives which would make it possible to return to more teaching and examinations on campus, we will discuss those possibilities,” Ylva Fältholm says.
Online activities with possible exceptions
Online teaching is thus the primary option, but just like before, some face-to face meeting on campus can be carried out, when it is necessary for special reasons, for example to ensure quality assurance in examination and teaching. Certain campus examinations can also be conducted on campus, and in that case all regulations to ensure everyone’s safety will be followed.
The Vice-Chancellor’s decision also states that examiners can decide to change examination formats. Moreover, that examiners can decide that a course that cannot be completed within the semester will be completed after the end of the semester.
No international exchanges during the spring
As previously announced, there will be no international exchanges during the spring that involve ingoing or outgoing students. Exchanges for the autumn are being planned. International students on programmes on courses participate like all other students, that is, primarily remotely.
Here is a summary of the 11 February 2021 decision:
- All teaching should primarily be conducted online.
- Necessary face-to-face meetings on campus can be conducted, for example if a certain type of room or equipment is required, or for quality assurance of an examination
- If a course component needs to be carried out on campus, everyone must follow recommendations to ensure that we limit the spread of the virus - A limited number of written hall examinations can be carried out on campus, if current restrictions and recommendations are followed.
- The Division of Educational Support can decide that a student belonging to a risk group, as defined by the Swedish National Board of Health and Welfare, requires an individual room for a written examination.
A course that cannot be completed within the semester due to COVID-19 can be completed after the end of the semester, Central coordination will be carried in order to ensure that students are eligible for study loans and grants (CSN).
Students encouraged to study at home but campus remains open
The University staff work from home to a high extent and the University management encourages students to study at home as far as possible. Campus remains open to staff and students with a HiG card. The Swedish government has directed all government employees to work from home as much as possible.
“Contact all service functions in a digital manner. But the Library remains open for physical visits still,” says Maria Strand, head of the Division of Educational Support and chair of the special University Coordination Committe that coordinates and plans pandemic-related measures at University of Gävle.
Be aware of ergonomics and do physical exercises
Both staff and students sit in front of our computers for very long periods of time right now. For this reason, it is important to think about how you sit and to remember to get up and do some exercises regularly. In a video clip, sports scientist Jonathan Rahmqvist explains how we can avoid discomfort due to sedentary work.
Video clip "How to avoid discomfort due to sedentary work" (in swedish)
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