PLANNING FOR ON-CAMPUS TEACHING IN THE AUTUMN
With vaccination proceeding according to plan, COVID-19 infection rates are expected to decline. Uppsala University is planning for a return to on-campus teaching from the 2021 autumn semester onwards. The Vice-Chancellor’s current decision to continue with remote education and working from home applies until 30 June. The Vice-Chancellor is planning to decide on 18 May on the rules in effect from 1 July onwards. The decision will be published in the Staff Portal.
RECOMMENDATION ON VACCINATION IN WORKING HOURS
To make it easier for staff to be vaccinated, the Human Resources Division recommends that all members of staff at the University, regardless of the type of contract they are on, be offered the opportunity to go for vaccination during their paid working hours. This is also likely to facilitate the vaccination process for the regional health authority.
ACCESSIBLE DIGITAL SERVICES: MANDATE TO WORKING GROUP
On the instructions of the University Director, a working group has been appointed to draw up a proposal on support and advice for departments/equivalent on adaptation of websites and PDF documents for digital accessibility, subtitling of films, etc. This is against the backdrop of the Act on the Accessibility of Digital Public Services (2018:1937), which requires universities and other higher education institutions, among others, to work systematically on accessibility adaptations. Individuals with various disabilities must be able to access teaching materials, for example, without problems, as well as general information published in various online platforms. The working group is to submit its proposal to the University Director by 30 June 2021. Further information: kommunikation@uadm.uu.se
ONLINE CONFERMENT CEREMONY ON 28 MAY
It will soon be time once again for a doctoral degree conferment ceremony at Uppsala University, after a break because of the pandemic. On 28 May, 119 jubilee doctors and 43 new doctoral graduates will have their degrees conferred in an online ceremony from the Grand Auditorium. The conferment ceremony webcast will combine pre-recorded material and real time events. For example, the music and the jubilee doctors’ speeches will be recorded in advance, while the actual degree conferment and cannon salutes will be streamed in real time.
SELF-EVALUATION OF WIDENING PARTICIPATION
Uppsala University’s self-evaluation report on measures for widening participation (UFV 2020/264) has recently been sent to the Swedish Higher Education Authority, which has been instructed by the government to evaluate the work of universities and other higher education institutions on widening participation. The overall and general objectives of widening participation at Uppsala University are, first, to increase the inclination of under-represented groups to apply to higher education, and second, to give students support so they are able to absorb their education, thereby improving student completion rates. Further information: Eva.Soderman@uadm.uu.se
ALLOCATION OF INCREASED GOVERNMENT FUNDING FOR RESEARCH
The government has decided how the increased direct government funding for research announced in the research bill last autumn will be distributed among the higher education institutions in Sweden. The large universities receive least, in percentage terms. The largest increases go to non-university higher education institutions, followed by the new universities. Uppsala University will receive an additional SEK 49 million in 2021, which is equivalent to an increase of 2.2 per cent in the direct government funding for research. The funds have been distributed by the Vice-Chancellor to the disciplinary domains.
GUIDELINES FOR NAMING BUILDINGS AND FACILITIES
The Vice-Chancellor has adopted guidelines for naming buildings and facilities (UFV 2021/75). The purpose of the guidelines, which will be published shortly in the “Policies and regulations at Uppsala University” section of the Staff Portal, is to ensure a transparent and consistent process for all naming of facilities and buildings at Uppsala University. Decisions on names of buildings and facilities are taken by the Vice-Chancellor acting on proposals from the disciplinary domain concerned. Further information: Urban.Lindberg@uadm.uu.se