The University of Eastern Finland aims to have everything running almost normally when the autumn term starts. At the moment, there is no reason why on-campus teaching should not continue, and teachers can use their own discretion when deciding how to carry out teaching.
The progress of the coronavirus vaccination programme is taking us closer to normal life despite the number of coronavirus cases going back up again towards the end of the summer. Based on the information available, higher education institutions are not high risk areas for the spreading of the coronavirus and remote teaching is currently not viewed as a key means of controlling the pandemic. “It is important to let the students return to campus,” says Rector Jukka Mönkkönen.
Teaching will be started in accordance with the curriculum. Teachers can use their own discretion with regard to the ways in which to carry out teaching. “At the moment, no restrictions on gatherings or safety distance requirements are in place in the Eastern Finland region, so the university will not be restricting the number of people who can attend events,” says Academic Rector Tapio Määttä.
The time of the coronavirus, however, has made us adopt new teaching methods faster, and efforts will be made to develop both online and multimodal teaching in the future as well. “We will continue to use and further develop the best practices we have adopted so far. There are also many good ways of carrying out remote teaching – some of them brand new – which we will continue to use alongside on-campus teaching.”
Health security and student life
Campuses are also taking steps towards normal student life as the SYKETTÄ Sport Services will gradually be made available again and bookings are accepted for holding, for example, subject association events in the university facilities in the evenings. The university facilities will be available in the evenings for bookings lasting until 22.00. “Acting responsibly during leisure time will help ensure health security during on-campus teaching, which is a priority. We need to persevere until the end of autumn, when the vaccine coverage will be at a good level,” says Mönkkönen.
The campus restaurants already open in Joensuu are Restaurant Aura and Kampus Bistro. Restaurants Carelia and Futura will reopen on 1 September. On Kuopio campus, Restaurant Canthia will open on 23 August, and Restaurant Snellmania on 30 August. In addition, Wicked Rabbit in the Canthia Building and the second floor cafeteria in the Snellmania Building will reopen on 1 September. Some renovations and changes have been made to Restaurant Carelia and Restaurant Snellmania, but the work is expected to be completed by the time the restaurants are scheduled to reopen. The seat occupancy of the restaurants will be monitored and other restaurants will be opened as needed.
Head of Facilities Management Tarja Harjula says that ventilation will be maximised at the university’s facilities during use and, to ensure adequate air cleaning, the ventilation system will be run for at least two hours before and after the facilities are in use.
The university encourages vaccine take-up – A walk-in vaccination event to be held at Joensuu Campus
The university strongly recommends that staff and students get vaccinated with the available coronavirus vaccines. “The better the vaccine coverage, the easier things will be for us as a community,” says Director of Administration Tuomo Meriläinen.
A walk-in vaccination event will be held at the University of Eastern Finland’s Joensuu Campus this autumn to give the university students and staff members the opportunity to get their first dose of the vaccine, regardless of what their place of domicile is. When the first dose is received, an appointment will be made for the second dose, which will be given by the local health care services. The university will offer the walk-in vaccinations in cooperation with the joint municipal authority for North Karelia social and health services (Siun Sote). A similar walk-in vaccination event will hopefully be held on Kuopio Campus as well. The date of the walk-in vaccination event in Joensuu and further information on the event to be held in Kuopio will be provided at a later time.
The number of staff present in the university’s facilities will no longer be restricted to 50% of the facilities’ usual occupancy rate. On the other hand, multi-location work will become a permanent practice. The university guidance for working across multiple sites entered into force at the beginning of August.
People at significant risk from COVID-19 have already had the opportunity to take both vaccines, which means they can work and study normally on campus.
The university is also prepared for setbacks in the coronavirus situation.
“The pandemic is by no means over yet, and new restrictions may still be imposed. This past year, however, has made us very good at adapting to new situations, and we will surely adjust to any future challenges as well,” says Meriläinen.
Everyone must continue to follow these guidelines in the university facilities:
- Only come to the campus if you are in good health.
- Wash your hands immediately upon arriving at the campus and frequently during the day. If you cannot wash your hands, use a hand sanitiser.
- Keep a safe distance to others.
- Use a face mask in all the facilities in which several people are present at the same time, including during lectures. The recommendation to wear a face mask also applies to double jabbed people.
- Do not greet people with a handshake or a hug.
For more information, please contact:
Jukka Mönkkönen, Rector, jukka.monkkonen (at) uef.fi
Tapio Määttä, Academic Rector, tapio.maatta (at) uef.fi
Tuomo Meriläinen, Director of Administration, tuomo.merilainen (at) uef.fi
