Update 21: staying online and possible restricted reopening of buildings

14 May 2020 Reading time Minutes

Coronavirus (COVID-19)

This update tells you all you need to know about the period until the end of the academic year and what this means for you as staff or students. We also give further information about how we want to start the restricted reopening our building and for which activities. We have included a road map based on the applicable guidelines and the space we have been given to enact this restricted reopening to illustrate this plan. In addition, we would like to give you a preview of studying and working at Saxion in the 2020 - 2021 academic year. Finally, this update also contains more information for our new first-year students.

Staying online until the end of the academic year (2019 - 2020)

We will continue to follow classes, teach, research and work from home online until after 1 June. From 1 June, we will start with activities in our buildings to a limited extent, such as taking practical exams.

From 18 May onward, the government will decide whether measures in higher education will be relaxed as of 15 June. Even in the event of a relaxation, the number of students and staff who may be present in our buildings at the same time will be considerably less than before the coronavirus crisis. This is expected to be at no more than 20% of our normal capacity. This is due to, among other things, the National Institute for Public Health and the Environment (RIVM) guidelines regarding the distance that needs to be kept between people (at least 1.5 metres), the permitted number of people per square metre (one per 10 m²) and the national transport guidelines to spread the burden on public transport as much as possible. As a result, many activities will not yet fit into our buildings at the same time and will continue to take place online.

Anka Mulder, president of the Executive Board: ‘This means that we will mainly continue to work from home at least until the end of the academic year. I understand that this is a difficult prospect, as missing your colleagues and trying to maintain a healthy work-life balance remains a challenge. Yet, I do hope that the combination of slightly more physical contact with online contact will reenergise many of you and that it will give a boost to that energy that we have been able to hold on to so well, together.”

Road map: what can take place on location and where

Saxion has chosen to give priority to practical education and education to enable graduation in addition to practical exams when the buildings are (possibly) further opened after 15 June. This choice has been made in order to limit study delay as much as possible. We also continuously take into account the connection with and care for vulnerable students and staff. In addition, we are starting a number of pilots for other activities in order to gain experience on how to furnish our buildings as optimally as possible, within the limitations and possibilities that exist. We do this to find the best balance between online and physical activities in the field of education, research and entrepreneurship.

Outlook for the 2020 - 2021 academic year

As already indicated by the government, the National Institute for Public Health and the Environment (RIVM) guidelines will remain in force until a vaccine for coronavirus is available on a large scale. Saxion also takes into account a long-term limited capacity of its buildings for the coming academic year, as a result of which a considerable part of the education, research and working from home will have to continue to take place remotely.

First-year students

Our prospective first-year students deserve a warm welcome, especially after the special and, for many, premature completion of their secondary school education or vocational training. That is why we are looking for an appropriate mix of physical and online activities for them with an introduction that consists of a personal and digital introduction to the study programme with starting activities to get to know their fellow students, Saxion University of Applied Sciences and the city better. We are also looking at an accelerated introduction of the so called ‘home groups’, consisting of twelve to sixteen students, for all first-year students.

#Privacytip: Which app can I use?

Only install apps that have been approved by Saxion. We mainly work with apps from Microsoft and with Blackboard. Microsoft Office 365 has an extensive package featuring many options that is constantly being expanded. If you do need a different program or doubt whether an app is safe, ask the ICT contact person at your school or service or ask the IT Service Desk by calling +31 (0)88 - 019 3600.