MDH adapting to distance tuition until the summer

Teaching and examinations are now conducted by distance in the first instance. The Vice-Chancellor has taken a decision that this will apply for the rest of the autumn semester and for the spring semester 2021. Practical modules or examinations which in exceptional cases cannot be carried out by distance will be carried out on campus in an infection safe manner. The purpose of this decision is to provide clarity for students and teachers, to create opportunities for long-term planning and also to continue to follow the authorities’ advice to reduce the risk of spreading infection.

During the whole of the autumn MDH has conducted 75 percent of its teaching by distance. This decision entails that the modules that were previously prioritised for campus will also be given by distance.

– Since we are seeing an increased spread of infection in society, I have decided that our point of departure is that MDH’s educational activities will be conducted by distance to the greatest extent possible for the rest of the autumn semester and during the spring semester. This is with the purpose of creating clear and concise prerequisites for students and staff regarding our educational activities. It is important to us as a university that we contribute to keeping the spread of infection at bay at the same time as we are able to provide education of high quality and with a high level of security in examinations. Therefore certain parts of our courses and programmes need to be given on campus even henceforward, says Paul Pettersson, Vice-Chancellor.

Even if the direction of MDH’s courses and programmes based on this decision will be to conduct them by distance, there are teaching modules and examinations that cannot be conducted by distance without jeopardising our quality and security. There can be certain practical modules that require physical attendance, or certain types of examinations where the risks of cheating are too great. It is important to MDH to continue being able to get our students through their education so that they can then take an active part in society on the strength of the knowledge requirements made for a certain degree.

It is the University’s Deans of School who, on the basis of the general guidelines and a completed risk and consequence analysis, decide what teaching modules and examinations are to be conducted on campus.

Open campus but in a restricted form

Campus will continue to be kept open for students and staff. To ensure that distance is kept, only teaching rooms, group rooms, computer rooms and designated study areas may be used. The public areas on campus may not be used as meeting places or group study places. There is extra staff on campus to ensure everyone that the rules are abided by.

This new decision will mean that only a few modules will be conducted on campus, which means that the risk of congestion in the facilities is minimised. Staff are urged to work from home whenever possible, and students are urged to avoid being on campus unless they have to, for example for practical modules, examinations or to borrow literature from the Library. Campus will be safe and secure for those who have assignments that can be carried out there only.

– We all need to take responsibility to reduce the spread of infection in society. We are not closing campus, but we will be minimising the activities in our facilities. It is important to me that students who need to be on campus to be able to pursue their studies must be allowed to do so. This will be possible with the measures we have already adopted and that we are adopting with this decision, and if we all, students and staff together, take our responsibility. Keeping your distance is showing you care, says Paul Pettersson.

Other adaptations the University is making on campus:

• increasing the distance between students in written examinations to around 2 metres between seated people (distance measured from mouth to mouth).
• the number of seats in the group rooms has been thinned out to ensure distance, and some classrooms are converted into group rooms.
• the number of seats in the classrooms has been thinned out. The largest premises in Västerås now holds 40 seats and the largest in Eskilstuna holds 36 seats.
• for practical modules where the distance cannot be kept, a renewed risk and consequence analysis is to be made to see whether additional protection or measures are needed than those already done.

Placement

Regarding Placement (VFU) there is an ongoing dialogue with both the healthcare services and with school. The regions and municipalities have made it clear that it is important to continue with the education of nurses and teachers despite the current pandemic. In collaboration with the healthcare services and school, the guidelines that VFU have to relate to are being continually adapted.