Start date remains, teaching goes digital  [17.04.20]

After a conference call with Science Minister Theresia Bauer, University President Stephan Dabbert assumes that teaching can start on 20 April as announced. At the same time, he emphasized: "We have to plan all courses that can possibly be conducted virtually in such a way that they are held digitally from start to finish. Unfortunately, we can no longer expect to return to normal classroom teaching after a few weeks." The President's Office will adopt detailed Corona Guidelines on Friday, 17 April.

 

In recent weeks it has become increasingly clear that during the Corona pandemic no typical summer semester can take place. Preparations for virtual courses have therefore long been in full swing in most departments. Support for this is provided by the Teaching Service Portal on the University homepage and the KIM website. 

The state's Corona Ordinance is currently being revised and will probably be available in a new version by 17 April. Among other things, the regulation governs the restrictions under which people will be allowed to meet in the coming months - and these conditions will then also apply at the universities.

 

Teaching in the summer semester is completely digital

University President Stephan Dabbert explained in advance: "After a telephone conference with the Minister, the universities have now received confirmation that the summer semester can start on 20 April. At the same time, it is now also clear that we cannot go back to normal on this date. For Hohenheim, this means that the primacy of the digital is the rule. All courses must be held online if at all possible. The lecturers are asked to use as many different formats as possible for the digital courses in order not to overload our infrastructure."

Even if the state should gradually ease the corona restrictions during the semester, courses started digitally would still have to be held digitally until the end of the semester, said Dabbert: "Whether or not a local presence can be added will be decided by the President's Office on a case-by-case basis on the basis of the external conditions. We ask the lecturers to prepare themselves for this."

The President's Office intends to draw up detailed Corona Guidelines for Hohenheim by Wednesday evening and on Thursday discussed the issue in a crisis meeting with the Deans of the Faculties and members of the student representatives. The guidelines will then be officially adopted at the President's Office meeting on 17 April.

"We are aware that the timeframe for the changeover of teaching is very tight and represents a feat of strength for all involved. In the current situation, however, this is a viable and necessary path. I thank all those involved, lecturers, students, and the science-supporting departments for continuing to pursue this path with great commitment," said Dabbert.

Text: Leonhardmair