Today the Vice-Chancellor decided on a further extension of distance education at Uppsala University.

At the same time, the Vice-Chancellor decided to allow disciplinary domain/faculty boards to grant certain exemptions from remote teaching and assessment for specific elements. Examples of ‘specific elements’ are mandatory and practical tasks that cannot be carried out remotely but demand physical presence in the University’s premises or elsewhere (e.g. field trips).

Individual students for whom special educational support has been approved may be exempted from the requirements concerning remote assessment provided that it is possible to comply with the recommendations of the Public Health Agency of Sweden and the examiner considers it feasible.

“Today’s decision makes it possible to depart from the rule that exams, for example, have to be given remotely, if there are exceptional reasons, such as that it is completely impossible to teach a certain element of a course or assess students on it remotely,” says Vice-Chancellor Eva Åkesson. “However, any such decision must be made at disciplinary domain level. It may be delegated to the vice-rector or dean, but not to a lower level than that. Also in accordance with the government guidelines and the recommendations of the Public Health Agency of Sweden” she adds. 

There is a slight difference
 

In all cases, when decisions on exemptions are granted, measures must be taken to ensure that the campus-based activity can be conducted in a way that limits the risk of infection.

“I think digital skills have made a great leap forward at the University,” the Vice-Chancellor says. “We used to hear complaints about digital technology not working, but now that’s hardly ever mentioned. Having said that, people are rather tired of Zoom, which is understandable. Nonetheless, I would like to congratulate all our teachers and students who have made this extraordinary transition to online education.”

In other respects, today’s decision differs little from previous announcements. As previously, no business travel abroad will be allowed as long as the Ministry for Foreign Affairs continues to advise against travel (which is currently until 15 July) and no international conferences or visits are allowed during this period. National conferences and other gatherings should preferably be held by electronic means.

At all face-to-face meetings, physical distancing must be practised and remote participation must be facilitated.

However, the latest decision does contain one slight difference compared with the previous situation. (Read the Vice-Chancellor´s blog)

“We need to prepare to gradually increase our presence at the workplace again,” concludes Vice-Chancellor Eva Åkesson.
 

Decision: Measures in response to the spread of COVID-19 disease
Decision: Delegation: exemptions from remote teaching and assessment 

Read the Vice-Chancellor´s blog 
More information about Corona - Covid 19 (medarbetarportalen)