HoD News - 19 March 2021

Dear colleagues,

Following the message given by the university management on Monday, there is now certainty that teaching will remain fully online for the rest of the semester. Even though both students and staff are eager to get back to onsite teaching, the fact that there is now clarity on the issue of the teaching format in the coming weeks is hopefully regarded as a relief by our teaching staff – at least in terms of planning and preparing teaching.

I know that a continuing uncertainty (and frustration to some extent) remains with regard to the summer exams. As stated by the university management, exams will be conducted online. However, to the extent that the government’s plan for reopening makes it possible, a few exceptions can be made, and it may be possible to schedule some exams with physical attendance, e.g. written on-site closed-book exams. In the forum of the relevant study board, it will be possible to have local discussions if there are other exams that for very specific reasons are recommended to be conducted on-site. The final decision about the priorities will be made by the faculty management in accordance with feasibility subject to the overall frames and conditions. To sum up, the potential conduction of exams with physical attendance will depend on the restrictions and the authorities’ guidelines applying at the time, including distance requirements and possibly testing. 

We expect the government to set out its plan for the easing of the current lockdown next week. Hopefully this will provide news and more details about when and how the universities are included in the gradual reopening of society. Thus, next week, I hope to provide you with more information about what to expect in the coming months – at least in terms of teaching and exams, and hopefully also regarding the prospects for our return to offices and the work place.

I wish you all a good weekend.

Niels Haldrup