The University Management’s plan looking ahead to the autumn is that the University will open up and get back to normal, with faculties and departments responsible for decisions on how to conduct their education – without restrictions from the Vice-Chancellor.

“It’s encouraging that we will at last be able to welcome our students to campus this autumn. Even though distance education has been a good solution during the pandemic, returning to campus is best for the students, the teachers and the quality of education,” says Vice-Chancellor Anders Hagfeldt.

“Meeting in person also adds greatly to the value of the university experience for students, quite apart from their education as such. As we have seen, remote studies have resulted in many students feeling lonely and isolated. Returning to campus is good for both well-being and satisfaction,” the Vice-Chancellor continues. “Studying at Uppsala University includes experiencing the environment, the nations, student life and the town, whether that’s Uppsala or Visby.”

The Public Health Agency of Sweden still recommends working from home if possible until 30 September. This means that people who do not need to be on campus for teaching or other reasons may continue to work from home.

“We’re giving priority to the students, teaching and student services this autumn,” says the Vice-Chancellor. “Those who don’t need to be there in person will have to wait a bit longer to return.”

The responsibility for deciding how to conduct education and teaching activities rests with the faculties and departments. Most programmes and courses will return fully to campus. However, there are courses involving greater or smaller digital components.

“We have learnt a lot during the pandemic and obviously we will make the most of these lessons, but as always our guiding principle must be the quality of education.”
 

Camps will restore some facilities
 

During the summer, the various campus management units will restore facilities after the adaptations made during the pandemic. Chairs and desks will be put back, for instance. However, some adaptations will remain in place. Hand sanitiser and plexiglass will remain, for example, while social distance markings will be removed.

“The Swedish government and the Minister for Higher Education have stated clearly that in the best interests of students and our country, we are to return to campus, and to do so fully,” says the University’s coronavirus coordinator, Fredrik Blomqvist. “Now we have to adapt to that. We will keep some of the measures we have taken even after the pandemic.”

The Public Health Agency of Sweden has expressed a certain concern that transmission may increase again after the summer.

“If it turns out that infection picks up again at the start of the semester, leading to new restrictions, we are well prepared to switch back to online teaching. We’ve shown before that we are capable of doing so. During the autumn we will continue to maintain a good and close dialogue with the regional infection control and contact tracing units in Uppsala and Visby,” Blomqvist says.

“In cooperation with them, we are keeping track of developments, which means we can act quickly if necessary. However, we now have to plan to prepare to offer the best possible education for students present in person at Uppsala University, without restrictions. If the situation takes a serious turn, we will of course adapt and follow the recommendations from the government and the Public Health Agency of Sweden.”
 

More people will be vaccinated
 

  • Not all students will have been vaccinated at the start of the semester. Can we demand that they participate in on-campus education in large groups?

“If the assessment of the Public Health Agency of Sweden is that the restrictions can be removed, we will follow that and rely on their assessment. According to the national plan, the great majority of adults will have been vaccinated by the time the semester starts, which will reduce the risk of infection. We have lived with the coronavirus for a long time and we all need to begin to return to a more normal life again, working and teaching and learning on campus," says the Vice-Chancellor.

“The University has a good dialogue with Region Uppsala and students who have received their first vaccination at home will be able to have their second dose in Uppsala. We’re currently looking into a similar solution for Campus Gotland. The same thing applies to international students, they will also be offered vaccination and testing if necessary.”
 

Need to take lokal decisions
 

  • Will it be possible to deviate from what the syllabuses state will take place on campus or online? Some have already taken local decisions to be online – do they have to reverse their decisions?

“The aim should be to open up for on-campus education in the autumn, but given the short planning horizons we understand that faculties and departments need to take local, practical decisions. Naturally, when it comes to local conditions, the faculties and departments know best. Having said that, we do not know yet what position the authorities will take on any departures from syllabuses in the autumn.”
 

  • The restrictions on public gatherings in general were also relaxed, allowing more people to gather at public events. What does this mean for Uppsala University?

“It means we can open more of our activities. For example, there is ‘Music in the Garden’ in the Botanical Garden this summer – a series of outdoor concerts with designated seats. To give another example, this autumn public defences of doctoral theses will be open to more participants who would like to attend them in person.”