Students are far from back in the lecture hall
Both higher professional education institutions and universities are preparing for the 'corona academic year' 2020-2021. They assume that the 20 meter rule will also apply after the summer. As a result, most buildings can only accommodate 30 to XNUMX percent of the students.
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Last week, Leiden University was the first to indicate that its education will be 'largely online' until February 2021. Spokesperson Caroline van Overbeeke: "I would like to emphasize that we do not deviate from the other universities with our plans for the new academic year. We simply cannot and are not allowed to do that much yet. With the current RIVM rules, it will also become hybrid education for us. means a mix of distance learning and on-site."
Under the current RIVM rules, hybrid education becomes
The Association of Universities (VSNU) made one information campaign under the title 'on campus if possible, online because it is possible'. Various universities of applied sciences are now also letting their staff know what to expect roughly after the summer. "At Inholland, the idea is that with the one and a half meter rule only 15 percent of the normal numbers of students will fit in the buildings." says Auke van Nie, teacher at Inholland's teacher training colleges. "My own conclusion is that large parts of education should remain online."
Taco Graafsma teaches at the Saxion University of Applied Sciences in Deventer and says: "Rumor has it that education with us will be 70 percent online and 30 percent in the buildings from September. From January 2021 that should be fifty-fifty. These are signals, If all goes well, we'll hear more soon."
70 percent of education remains online
According to AOb director Douwe van der Zweep, the colleges and universities are facing major challenges. "At primary schools, the children are allowed to be close together, but at colleges and universities, one and a half meters must be realized between all people for the time being. Then you often end up with an occupancy rate of 20 to 30 percent at the most."
Freshmen
Both the universities and the universities of applied sciences are working on protocols whereby certain groups of students will soon be the first to be welcomed again. Think of students who follow certain practical courses for which there is no online alternative, of small tutorials or of the new first-year students who start in September.
It can also be useful to come to school or campus for tests. It Noordhollands Dagblad writes today that there is increasing resistance to 'online surveillance'. A call at Leiden University to stop testing anti-cheating software has been signed nearly XNUMX times.
Emergency measures
Van der Zweep of the AOb emphasizes that the plans for next academic year are based on the current emergency measures. "There is no question that we now have to make do with what we have. But for a fundamental discussion about lessons learned or the future of education at colleges or universities, it is much too early. Our members are also much too busy for that with the current situation."
Today the AOb a provisional collective labor agreement for university staff. read here what this agreement entails.
