Winter semester 2020/2021: Things we already know
Tuition and life at the university during the approaching winter semester of academic year 2020/2021 will not be the same as before the epidemiological situation took a turn for the worse. We need to get accustomed to security and hygiene measures and restrictions which may affect our comfort. The spread of the disease depends on the responsibility and discipline shown by of each one of us.
On Tuesday, August 18, 2020, the rector of Comenius University (CU) Marek Števček issued a methodical guideline for faculties and other units of CU, incorporating the measures from the Manual of measures for universities and student dormitories, which was published by the Ministry of Education, Science, Research and Sport of the Slovak Republic this past Tuesday, August 18, 2020. The rector's guideline specifies the process and organization of tuition and student accommodation during the winter semester of academic year 2020/21. At this moment we still do not know the answers to all questions, crucial decisions remain to be made and the situation may change very rapidly. Despite this insecurity we have been preparing several scenarios throughout the summer in order to avoid a complete interruption of on-site tuition during the semester.
Things we already know:
- Tuition in academic year 2020/21 begins according to plan and an official opening will take place on September 21, 2020. Some faculties may start their tuition earlier. Current information will be available on faculty websites.
- During the winter semester we need to maintain a high standard of both hygiene and security measures. It will be obligatory to wear masks in all indoor areas of the CU, to apply hand sanitizer at entrances to all premises and to practice a social distancing of at least 2 metres (6 feet).
- CU is the largest university in Slovakia, offering more than 800 study programs. Each one of them is specific and so are the measures applied during tuition. It makes a huge difference whether a subject is taught to 15, or to 115 students; specific measures will be in place for groups which consist of the same people during the day and different measures will be applied to subjects in a programme where students mix during the day. Particularly lectures with a large audience will be held on-line but we will strive to continue holding lab classes, practical exercises and small groups in person as long as possible.
- Those students who are accommodated in our dormitories will also need to prepare for a stricter regime. Face masks will have to be worn in all indoor areas except the bedrooms and hand sanitizer will be available at every entrance. Visits will not be permitted during the winter semester and capacity of our canteens will be limited (1 person per 15 sq.m./160 sq.ft.).
- At present it is not recommended to organize mass academic or social events, or events with international attendance. We continue to monitor the situation and hope to find alternative ways of keeping the community life at the university going.
Situation changes from day to day and we urge you to check your university e-mail, as well as CU and faculty websites, to make sure you don't miss any important information.