Studying and teaching arrangements during the coronavirus situation
Updated 19.1.2022
The foundation of all activities is to ensure that it is safe to work and study at the university. This calls for responsible behavior from us all. It is very important that you follow the guidelines and recommendations given by the university and the relevant authorities. The Covid-19 situation is constantly changing and the university is continuously monitoring the situation closely.
The corona pandemic has accelerated the adoption of new teaching methods, and we will continue to invest in online and hybrid teaching. The adopted good practices are maintained and developed with time. Many good and completely new ways of distance learning remain alongside contact teaching.
It is essential to remember to act responsibly both on the university’s premises and during events in our free time. By doing so, the most important thing is to ensure contact teaching and student meetings on campuses.
This website features the university’s key recommendations and guidelines relating to studying and teaching. Other coronavirus-related guidelines can be found on the university’s coronavirus website. Course-specific information can be found in the Peppi web service.
Valid recommendations
From 19 to 31 January 2022
The University of Eastern Finland continues its recommendation on online teaching. All events organised by the university (public examinations of doctoral dissertations, lectures, exams, etc.) is limited to 20 people until 14 February 2022. The restriction follows the Regional State Administrative Agency for Eastern Finland’s latest decision, according to which all public events and gatherings of more than 20 people indoors, and 50 people outdoors, are prohibited from 17 January 2022 to 14 February 2022.
On-campus teaching will only be organised on courses where it is deemed essential, and everyone participating in on-campus teaching is required to wear a mask. FFP2 masks will be become available for on-campus teaching.
- Necessary contact teaching is considered to be teaching, which timing cannot be changed, and which implementation is not pedagogically possible otherwise than contact teaching. A maximum of 20 people may be present in the necessary contact teaching. Contact teaching requires the use of masks.
- Examinations can be arranged in exam halls if a maximum of 20 people are present. The use of masks is required for exams.
- Public defences of doctoral dissertations can be arranged for a maximum of 20 people. Online events are recommended for public defences.
- Exam rooms are open, and electronic exams can be done normally. The use of masks is required in Exam rooms.
- The university library and the service desks for students (Oppari, Student and Learning Services’s Customer Services) are open according to their opening hours.
- Sykettä Sport Services’ group exercises and other exercises with a risk of infection through close contacts are suspended.
Recommendation on online teaching will end 31 January 2022, restrictions on public gatherings still in force
The University of Eastern Finland’s recommendation on online teaching will end at the end of January. On-campus teaching will be resumed gradually in February, while taking pedagogical viewpoints and restrictions on public gatherings into consideration. The number of people attending lectures, exams and public examinations of doctoral dissertations is limited to 20 people at a time until 14 February. The university’s facilities, including the library and Exam facilities, are open normally.
Any possible restrictions on public gatherings imposed by the Regional State Administrative Agency for Eastern Finland will have to be taken into consideration in the university’s activities also in the future. Currently, public gatherings are limited to 20 people (50 people outdoors), and the decision is in force until 14 February 2022.
Other recommendations
- University’s guidelines on hygiene and safety must be followed (see below)
- SYKETTÄ sports services are open.
- The university’s gyms are open.
- Individuals at risk who have received a full series of vaccinations can work and study on campus normally, if they wish so.
General bulletins
Health authorities have updated their COVID-19 testing guidelines and practices.
If a person living in the same household with a student shows signs of Covid-19 symptoms and there is a risk that the student might have been infected (exposure, travel or something similar), it is recommended that the student continues studies remotely until there is a negative test result or the symptoms stop.
Instructions on safety and hygiene on campus
The foundation of all activities is to ensure that it is safe to work and study at the university.
Staff members’ and students’ responsible behavior will play an important role.
The following basic instructions on safety and hygiene on campus must be followed by everyone (students, employees, visitors):
- Only come to the campus when you are healthy.
- The first thing to do when you arrive is to wash your hands. You should also wash your hands regularly throughout the day. Use hand sanitizer in situations where washing your hands is not possible.
- Keep a safe distance to others.
- Wear a mask in situations where it is not possible to keep a safe distance to others.
- No handshaking, no hugging.
University follows the guidelines of regional Covid-19 coordination groups and the Finnish Institute for Health and Welfare when lifting the face mask and safety distance restrictions.
Studying and teaching
The general principles concerning studying and teaching during the Covid-19 pandemic are described below. These guidelines can be specified with updated policies and bulletins, that are assembled in the bulletins on the top of the page.
- The units offering teaching will inform and give further information on teaching arrangements.
- The university staff is working on multi-location work mode and partly remotely. If you need to arrange a meeting at campus with someone, please make an appointment beforehand.
- In the autumn of 2021, internships abroad will be possible in accordance with the instructions of the Finnish Institute for Health and Welfare and the Finnish Ministry for Foreign Affairs as well as those of the host countries and host institutions.
- Internships can be carried out in Finland if the internship placement receives interns. The training follows the hygiene and safety instructions of the training place.
- General exams are still not held, but small group exams are possible if the safety instructions are followed. In the fall of 2021, general exams will be possible if safety regulations allow them. How the exams take place should be checked with the teaching unit.
- Safety distances are followed in all EXAM rooms of the university. Only some of the computers available in the rooms can be booked, and when students book a time, they will be assigned a specific computer on which to complete their exam. In other words, students can’t complete their exam on just any computer. Please see the university’s guidelines on the use of face masks in EXAM facilities.
- The above-mentioned safety guidelines issued by the university are followed in new student orientation, tutoring and other events that bring students together. Tutoring will be organised in small groups and partly online.
- Please use Peppi to order your transcript of academic record or certificate of attendance.
Student exchange
Student exchange (both incoming and outgoing) is under constant review, please see the bulletins. Because the coronavirus situation may change rapidly, people considering a student exchange or staff mobility period should be prepared for changes.
General guidance for outgoing students
- Follow your email and check your SPAM regularly – use the same email account before, during, and after exchange.
- Follow reliable media and official information channels in Finland and in the host country.
- Follow instructions given by UEF and your host university.
- Observe current travel guidelines in Finland and the host country, sudden changes in coutry-specific guidelines and restrictions are possible.
- Keep all exchange-related info (documents, contact information) safe at all times.
- Keep your ICE contact updated, safe, and easily accessible at all times.
- Give updates to your home and host university coordinators about any (significant) changes during exchange.
Opening hours of the campuses and services
Most of the services available on the campuses are open (some with limited opening hours). Safety distances and the university’s guidelines on hygiene must be adhered to in all facilities.
Information about the services of the campus libraries can be found on the library’s website.
Self-study facilities and IT classrooms, as well as Oppari’s customer service points and service desks in Joensuu and Kuopio are open. Student and Learning Services’ customer service desks are also open; more detailed information on the opening hours can be found in Kamu.
Campus restaurants: please see the websites of the campus restaurants.
Take out lunch is available in all open campus restaurants.
For information regarding student financial aid, please see Kela’s website.
For information about the services of the Finish Student Health Service, please see the FSHS website.
The university’s cleaning services adhere to the instructions issued by the Finish Institute of Occupational Health.
Sykettä Sports Services has started operating.
You can see the general guidelines on the University’s Covid-19 website.
Support for your everyday life
ICT support
- Some software for work and study can be installed on home computers within the license contracts of the university. See more information avout softrware for home computers in Heimo (need UEF Access)
- Share internet from your mobile phone Mobile hotspot (pdf)
- Online learning tools you find guidelines; ICT guidelines for students ; Digital environments
Follow the communications
- News in Kamu (shown also in Tuudo)
- UEF opiskelijat // UEFF student Yammer-group
- your learning community
- course information in Moodle etc.
If you have any questions, please contact the following:
- Regarding teaching: first contact the person in charge of your subject. If you are unable to reach the correct person, please contact opiskelu@uef.fi.
- With questions regarding international studies/traineeships, please contact international@uef.fi.
- With questions about IT Services and distance teaching, please contact servicedesk@uef.fi.
- With general questions regarding the coronavirus and the University of Eastern Finland, please contact COVID-19@uef.fi.
- You can find the UEF personnel contact information in the UEF contacts directory.
- With questions regarding studies at the Open University, contact avoinyliopisto@uef.fi.