29-09-2020 Corona update: Stricter measures

30 September 2020 Reading time Minutes

Coronavirus (COVID-19)

On Monday, 28 September, the Dutch government announced tighter measures for the next three weeks to combat the spread of the corona virus. In this update you can read what this means for Saxion.

You can find the stricter measures of the Dutch government here (dutch).

Anka Mulder, Chair of the Executive Board: “At the start of this academic year, we experienced how valuable it is to be able to meet again, a little at a time. For studying, social bonding and work. Let us cherish this space for our education and our educational activities and continue to observe the basic rules, also at Saxion. The tightening of the corona measures will affect what can and cannot take place on campus. It is important that we can maintain the mix of online lessons and lessons on location. We must, however, limit any additional presence at the university of applied sciences.”

Work and study from home or on location

The mix of online education and on-site education remains possible within the limited space available for this on the basis of the guidelines from the National Institute for Public Health and the Environment (RIVM) and guidelines that apply to public transport. This means that timetables will not change. If presence is required on location in the interests of education, then students and employees can still come. Otherwise, working and studying at home is the norm. This means that:

Students are allowed on location to take lessons and assessments that take place in one of the Saxion buildings according to the timetable.
Teaching staff are allowed on location to give lessons and administer assessments that take place in one of the Saxion buildings according to the timetable.
Educational support staff may come on location to provide support when it is in the interests of education.
Other support staff shall work from home.
Researchers who can do their work from home, shall do so. With the exception of using laboratories and workshops when necessary. The research labs are not going to close. Coordination takes place with the supervisor.

We request that students and employees only go to the scheduled activity. Don’t come any earlier and leave the building immediately after your lesson(s) or assessment(s).

Travelling by public transport

If students or employees have to go to one of the Saxion buildings for educational activities, such as lessons and/or assessments, or activities in the interests of education, then they can do so by public transport. This also applies to educational activities at external locations. You can also go there by public transport.

Maximum group size

The stricter rule of a maximum group size of 30 people does not apply to educational activities. Not even for educational activities taking place at external locations.

Graduation ceremonies

Graduation ceremonies are related to education, but are not educational activities as such. The general rules for meetings apply in this case: a maximum of 30 people may be inside a room at any one time and a maximum of 40 people may be present when taking place outdoors. We ask our students and employees to be extra vigilant in observing the guidelines from the National Institute for Public Health and the Environment (RIVM).

Interns

Is a student doing an internship? Then they follow the rules of the professional group where s/he is doing the internship. Such as this, for example: being present on location is permitted for an internship in education or healthcare. For an internship at an office where working from home is normal, then or students will do so too.

Other activities on location

For activities that do not involve the provision of education and supervision of students, working from home is the norm. If a staff member believes that s/he has to work on location for another reason (such as staff who can’t work from home due to personal circumstances), s/he can submit a request to the supervisor, who will make a decision about this.

All meetings will be digital, unless it is impossible to conduct such a consultation online. Practical considerations (for example: that all participants are already present on location) are no reason to have a physical meeting instead of a digital one. Brainstorm sessions, outings, team building and informal meetings (such as drinks or receptions) may not take place physically for the next three weeks.

Another update will follow when more information is available. Keep following Saxion.edu.