Autumn semester 2021, USI confirms and provides details for teaching activities

85bff61d72bee55383f0425cfac35d3c.jpeg

Institutional Communication Service

1 September 2021

For the new academic year beginning on September 20, USI confirms the arrangements and provisions for teaching activities communicated in May, with the addition of a few details. The goal, developed according to the indications of swissuniversities, is to return to full on-campus teaching and learning, complemented by online sessions when required.

A return to in-person teaching can be possible, based on current regulations, by occupying every other seat in the classroom. Students are required to wear masks in common indoor areas, including classrooms, while faculty may remove them when lecturing only if they can maintain an adequate distance from front rows. Sanification and ventilation of the classrooms will be performed every two academic hours.

All courses will continue to make extensive use of the iCorsi platform so that the syllabus and materials will be available to all. In addition, should significant limitations regarding travel and related quarantines be imposed, USI is committed to supporting those temporarily unable to reach the campuses by providing a recording of the lectures. We invite members of the academic community from foreign countries to consult regularly the website of the Federal Office of Public Health with special attention to the page listing the rules about entering Switzerland. For courses held by external lecturers, part of the course might take place online. Faculties will define the specific methods and inform students through their course schedule. The ability to discuss thesis and PhD dissertations in videoconferencing remains in place. For lecturers coming from States or regions considered at a high risk of infection or having health concerns, it will also be possible to give online lectures. The methods are developed in agreement with the Pro-Rectorate for Education and Students' Experience.

Should federal and cantonal provision change to contain the spread of the novel coronavirus, USI may progressively return to online learning.

 

The vaccination campaign tour touches the Lugano campuses

USI has decided to relay the message of federal and cantonal authorities to increase the prospects for a swift return to normalcy, including the full return of university courses in attendance. The cantonal vaccination campaign currently on tour in Ticino will arrive at the West Campus on 24 September (11 am – 6 pm) and at the East Campus on 25 September (10 am – 5 pm). The complete calendar of the tour can be found here. For further information, the website of the Federal Office of Public Health provides useful information and answers to the most common questions: https://foph-coronavirus.ch/vaccination/why-vaccinate/

 

For all the other aspects of academic life, COVID-19 protection provisions remain in place: www.usi.ch/en/feeds/13812

Also, in defining the arrangements for the autumn semester of the academic year 2021-22, USI has been inspired by the four principles that have guided the Institution in the two academic years affected by the pandemic: to protect the safety of the academic community; to seek solutions to guarantee continuity, while contributing towards a stable social environment; to ensure the training even in such a volatile and challenging context; to comply with the decisions of the competent public authorities. Throughout this period, USI has considered in-person learning and university life on campus to be very important. Still, at the same time, it has shown the ability to manage online training, taking advantage of the opportunities and ensuring a flexible and continuous learning experience.