COVID-19 has made itself felt for a couple of months now and everything suggests it will stay with us for long. We need to learn how to live with it and adjust our lives, including work and free time to minimize the risk, without having to give up plans, expectations, and hobbies. This autumn brings new questions. What kind of impact will the pandemic have on higher education institutions and how will it affect university students? Is coming back to lecture rooms, labs, and auditoriums even possible? What should they expect? How about first-year students? Will they even have the chance to get to know their colleagues and universities in these conditions?
Get to know the schedule
At the end of August, Gdańsk University of Technology Administration informed that the new academic year will begin as planned, that is on 1 October. The institution decided to go for a hybrid learning, though. But what does it exactly mean for the students? Basically that most of the classes will be delivered remotely, but part of them may remain stationary. The rules are to be in force in October and it’s unknown what will happen later. It all depends on the number of COVID cases in the Pomeranian Voivodeship which is not low after the summer break. This is why we predict it may be a good idea to get ready for online classes and e-learning and prepare the devices in advance to avoid technical issues. Traditional classroom learning will be available mainly to first-year students and those finishing their studies. The fact that some of your colleagues from other departments will be studying online doesn’t mean that you won’t have to attend some practical courses at the university to get the credits. The detailed schedule for specific departments is available on the website.
Boost at the start
The University of Gdańsk, just like GUT, makes the way classes are delivered subject to the current COVID situation, but predictions are that its students will be learning from home and through online educational materials. Practical classes which require the direct presence of the tutor or specific devices will be suggested by the dean, but PPE will have to be worn at all times. Trying to guess how physical education will be affected? In the past, it would’ve been difficult to imagine that, but it’s been decided that temporarily they will be moved online or the materials will be shared digitally. Rookies will not have an easy start this year, still, with the consent of the dean, they may get the chance to get to know the university to some point, its rules and other students during adaptation meetings. Starting from October they will be the only ones to be able to use dorms, however, guest visits won’t be allowed. What else is going to change? All sports, academic and cultural events on the campus will be canceled. For those wondering if it’s still ok to use the university library, we have good news. Collections will be available, but sanitary restrictions must be followed in the facility.
Practice makes perfect
Curious how preparations for the new academic year at the leading Pomeranian medical university look like? So many people have been speculating how the limitations will affect the future medics at the Medical University of Gdańsk. It gets difficult as they have to gain the essential knowledge in practice, needing patients and labs. The university understands it and decided to deliver most of these directly, reducing numbers of participants in groups and strictly complying with the pandemic restrictions. Surely, the new phantom labs will prove to be very helpful.
Check-in your temperature before setting the sails
Studying at some other universities can be also based mainly on practical skills. This is the reason why Gdynia Maritime University will most likely take on practical workshops and classes, but masks, sanitizers, and keeping a distance will be necessary. At the same time, ships’ interns will have to get their body temperature checked before boarding.
Other Institutions
Surely, for many, it’s been a big question of how other universities such as Gdańsk University of Physical Education and Sport or Academy of Fine Arts will be able to fit in and keep their students safe. They both decided to go remote, allowing for practical classes necessary for earning credits. When discussing interesting solutions, it’s worth mentioning the University of Social Sciences and Humanities in Sopot which launches HyFlex. Thanks to this new formula, their students will be able to attend classes in person or connect remotely. There are some institutions that haven’t issued the official statement on the form of learning in the new semester yet, but it seems they will choose blended learning which is the most popular.
The form of the delivery depends on a rector, and in some cases even the administration of each department. That’s why it’s so important to follow updates, visit the official university websites, and social media, as well as check it through different channels. Many students and tutors miss traditional classes, however, it looks like coming back to solutions which seemed boring or unpopular in the past, yet are highly anticipated now, is not going to happen any time soon.
