The return of students to the university’s campuses will begin in August–September, when in-person teaching is prioritised for the university’s new students in particular. Approximately 200 courses will be delivered as in-person teaching in August–September, while paying close attention to safe use of the facilities. Most of the university’s teaching will, however, be offered online in the autumn semester. The university’s staff will return to work on the campuses gradually, starting on 17 June.
“We strongly recommend that all students seek to start as normal student life as possible in our campus cities already in the autumn. This is also important from the viewpoint of student well-being,” Academic Rector Tapio Määttä says.
The decisions on teaching arrangements will be made and communicated to students by 30 June regarding the arrangements of teaching starting in August and September; and by 7 August regarding the arrangements of teaching starting in October, November and December. This information will be updated in WebOodi by 31 July and 15 September.
Services and activities in the autumn semester
If the COVID-19 situation in Finland remains good, an increasing number of services will open in the autumn. The facilities of the UEF Library will open with limited services on a self-service principle. The Joensuu Campus Library and KUH Medical Library will open with limited services on 17 August 2020, and the Kuopio Campus Library on 1 September 2020. Further information on the UEF Library’s services can be found on the library’s website. Sykettä Sports Services will also open in the beginning of August. Further information is available on the Sykettä website. In addition, student associations will be organising a wide range of activities in the autumn semester.
“In eastern Finland, the COVID-19 situation has been calm for a long time, and we are doing everything we can to make sure that the situation also remains calm. The University of Eastern Finland has more than 15,000 students from all over Finland, so it is clear that we cannot restore all operations at once. However, we will be returning to ‘the new normal’ as soon as possible, while of course paying close attention to safety,” Määttä says.
The University of Eastern Finland will be investing in the availability of supporting services for students. Additional EXAM rooms are also being planned on the campuses, and the existing EXAM rooms will be opened on 1 August. General exams will not be held in the autumn semester, but it is possible for teachers to hold and supervise exams for small groups.
The university’s staff will return to the campuses gradually, with a maximum of 50% of each unit’s staff present on campus.
National restrictions on travel are being lifted
The Finnish Government has decided that restrictions imposed due to the COVID-19 epidemic will be lifted gradually on the basis of the epidemiological situation and social and economic considerations. Movement of people and traffic will be facilitated primarily between countries with a similar epidemiological situation. However, the Finnish Government still recommends avoiding unnecessary travel to other countries except for Norway, Denmark, Iceland, Estonia, Latvia and Lithuania. A 14-day self-isolation period is no longer required from persons returning from the above-mentioned countries.
The situation understandably keeps changing, but the rule of the thumb is that travel to countries deemed safe by the Finnish Government is possible also within the activities of UEF (business travel, field courses, excursions, visitors). The latest information on the countries deemed safe for travel can be found on the Finnish Government’s website. However, all student exchanges are cancelled for the autumn semester, and students who have been planning a student exchange have been contacted separately.
Students belonging to a medical risk group
For the time being, people belonging to a risk group for a severe COVID-19 infection may not come to the facilities on campus. A student who belongs to a risk group for a severe COVID-19 infection must apply for personalised arrangements in teaching. Separate instructions on how to apply for these arrangements will be made available later.
Welcome to an info session for students on 12 August 2020
The exceptional spring and autumn can raise many questions among students. To answer these questions, the university’s Rectors will hold an info session for students on Wednesday, 12 August 2020 at 12–13. The first 30 minutes will be used to address issues concerning new students, and the latter half for studies-related matters that concern all students in the autumn. To follow the info session, please go to https://www.uef.fi/live1/ Questions and comments can be submitted during the info session via Presemo: https://presemo.uef.fi/uefopiskelijatietotori120820
This spring has been very unusual and very demanding. We hope that the summer ahead offers plenty of opportunities for relaxation and for gathering strength for the autumn.
We wish all our students a warm and relaxing summer!
Information on COVID-19 for students is available in KAMU.
Up-to-date information about how the COVID-19 situation affects the university’s activities is available at: www3.uef.fi/koronavirus
Questions relating to the COVID-19 situation can be sent to: COVID-19@uef.fi