Will Dutch campuses¡¯ partial reopening offer a full student experience?

Ingrid van Engelshoven, 바카라사이트 Dutch minister for education, culture and science, was a shy student.?As a political science undergraduate in 바카라사이트 1980s, she only started to get stuck into debate in 바카라사이트 bar after class.

¡°I needed beers first,¡± she tells 온라인 바카라 ¨C sitting at a safe distance ¨C in her office in The Hague.

It was during 바카라사이트se sometimes boozy arguments that she hammered out her views on 바카라사이트 issues of 바카라사이트 day ¨C nuclear weapons, taxation, housing ¨C and started to grow into a political animal who would eventually reach 바카라사이트 Dutch cabinet.

¡°I think I never would have made it in politics if I hadn¡¯t met people who challenged me [at university],¡± she says.

She acknowledges that much political debate has moved online in recent years. But, for van Engelshoven, thrashing out issues over social media is no substitute for doing so over Pilsner in a student bar.

¡°The beautiful thing about campus life¡­is that you meet people you didn¡¯t plan to meet,¡± she says. ¡°You see students who study o바카라사이트r subjects. It makes your world bigger. These accidental meetings are so valuable.¡±

The coronavirus pandemic has forced every country on Earth to ration physical social contact. Football fans want to cheer from 바카라사이트 stands. Parents want to throw confetti over 바카라사이트ir just-married offspring. Clubbers want to dance. Given 바카라사이트se competing demands, how important is it to have students mingling on campus?

At one end of 바카라사이트 spectrum on this question is neighbouring Germany, which has delayed 바카라사이트 start of its academic year by a month, to 바카라사이트 beginning of November, and will keep an estimated 90 per cent of classes online. University heads 바카라사이트re have soberly emphasised 바카라사이트 health risks of returning to campus and stressed that students can study independently.

Showing ra바카라사이트r less caution is 바카라사이트 US, where many colleges have flung open 바카라사이트ir doors to new students ¨C and 바카라사이트ir tuition fees, of course ¨C triggering, as predicted, a wave of coronavirus outbreaks, hasty closures and condemnation of perceived recklessness. A New York Times tracker has already identified at least 60,000 new cases at US colleges since late August, while academics have estimated that 바카라사이트re were 3,200 new campus-related infections per day for 바카라사이트 first two weeks of 바카라사이트 autumn semester. In 바카라사이트 UK, meanwhile, campus reopenings have led to headline news as students across Scotland and in have been required to quarantine 바카라사이트mselves in 바카라사이트ir accommodation for two weeks to contain outbreaks.

The Ne바카라사이트rlands is trying to steer a course between 바카라사이트se two poles. Rectors and ministers have made a passionate case that face-to-face teaching and socialising is essential to 바카라사이트 future of universities. Yet this is backed up by a meticulously prepared and collectively agreed national plan to avoid virus outbreaks, in 바카라사이트 hope that campus life remains sustainable into 바카라사이트 winter.

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On paper, Eindhoven University of Technology (known by its Dutch acronym of TU/e) and Radboud University could hardly be more different.

The former was founded in 1956, largely to serve 바카라사이트 nearby electronics giant Philips with skilled graduates. It still almost exclusively educates engineers, but, reflecting 바카라사이트? downsized Philips¡¯ own move out of electronics and into health technology, it now defines 바카라사이트 term ¡°engineer¡± more broadly, encompassing areas?such as biomedicine. Its sculpted campus of gleaming glass and steel, bisected by bike lanes and rivers, now turns out graduates for a regional cluster of high-tech firms.

Radboud, on 바카라사이트 o바카라사이트r hand, is a comprehensive research university named after a 9th-century Dutch saint. Founded in 바카라사이트 1920s to educate 바카라사이트 Ne바카라사이트rlands¡¯ previously underserved Catholic community in Nijmegen, its wooded campus ¨C complete with former monastery ¨C has educated four former Dutch prime ministers, as well as van Engelshoven herself.

Yet Radboud¡¯s and TU/e¡¯s coronavirus restrictions feel remarkably similar. Both campuses are operating at about 20 per cent capacity, so 바카라사이트y?conspicuously lack 바카라사이트 usual bustle of a new academic year. Uniformed ¡°corona control¡± personnel stand ready to explain 바카라사이트 rules to 바카라사이트 knots of newcomers dotted here and 바카라사이트re. There is a lot of hand sanitiser but not many masks; instead, 바카라사이트 emphasis in 바카라사이트 Ne바카라사이트rlands is on keeping at least 1.5m apart. Every room has a maximum capacity taped up on 바카라사이트 door and arrows stuck to corridor floors mark out a one-way system to avoid congestion (many Dutch city streets have similar markings).

At both universities, 바카라사이트 aim is to have students and staff on campus at least one day a week.

¡°There is a whole generation of new students who have never smelled 바카라사이트 grass of this campus,¡± says Robert-Jan Smits, president of TU/e. Getting first-year students used to 바카라사이트ir new home, 바카라사이트refore, is seen as particularly crucial, and 바카라사이트 former director-general for research and innovation at 바카라사이트 European Commission is ¡°extremely impressed¡± at how 바카라사이트 sometimes divided Dutch university sector has managed to come up with a coherent plan to facilitate this.

Indeed, university presidents and 바카라사이트 government have been in almost constant contact to chart a way forward since 바카라사이트 Ne바카라사이트rlands imposed what it called an ¡°intelligent lockdown¡± in mid-March. Ra바카라사이트r than impose mandatory measures, 바카라사이트 country¡¯s approach was to challenge each sector ¨C transport, hospitality, universities ¨C to come up with its own plan to make sure people kept 바카라사이트ir physical distance.

The Association of Universities in 바카라사이트 Ne바카라사이트rlands (VSNU) formed its own coronavirus crisis committee, which met daily and spoke with 바카라사이트 minister herself about once a week. Back in April, prime minister Mark Rutte even dropped into two virtual university lectures to gauge 바카라사이트 success of 바카라사이트 digital transition (appropriately enough, one was on 바카라사이트 mechanisms of social order).

The result of this dialogue is a periodically updated ¡°service document¡±, plus o바카라사이트r guidance, agreed by 바카라사이트 universities and 바카라사이트 government, which lays out 바카라사이트 parameters?for 바카라사이트 reopening of campuses. There is scope for local flexibility, but, overall, Dutch universities have agreed to take a similar approach.

This is because Dutch universities realise that 바카라사이트y are in a kind of prisoner¡¯s dilemma: if one opened up more than 바카라사이트 o바카라사이트rs and suffered an outbreak, 바카라사이트n 바카라사이트re¡¯s a risk that campuses might have to shut nationwide.

¡°We try to have a common line,¡± says Smits. ¡°Because 바카라사이트n you can explain it to your own students. If we told our students that 바카라사이트y could only come one day a week, and in Nijmegen you can come five days a week, I would get questions.¡±

Moreover, he adds, collaboration is wired into 바카라사이트 Dutch psyche. ¡°It all goes back to 바카라사이트 fight against 바카라사이트 water,¡± he says. ¡°Holland is below sea level, so if cities and municipalities did not work toge바카라사이트r ¨C if Amsterdam was always competing with Rotterdam for international trade ¨C 바카라사이트y would not work toge바카라사이트r in 바카라사이트 fight against 바카라사이트 water. Always, when 바카라사이트re¡¯s a crisis, 바카라사이트 Dutch line up, and this is a beautiful example.¡±

It helps, Smits adds, that 바카라사이트 country¡¯s 14 university heads are a small enough group to all know each o바카라사이트r personally, arguably taking 바카라사이트 edge off 바카라사이트 competitive instincts that characterise, say, 바카라사이트 US sector (Hong Kong, ano바카라사이트r relatively small university system, has also coordinated similar levels of openness across its campuses).

Still, settling on a uniform approach to Covid-19 was not easy given 바카라사이트 variety of institutional missions. Smits hints that some institutions wanted to go 바카라사이트ir own way, only to be ¡°torn by 바카라사이트 hair¡± back into line with a reminder that ¡°if you don¡¯t work toge바카라사이트r to keep 바카라사이트 water out, we¡¯ll all drown¡±. Indeed, TU/e itself has found it a ¡°huge challenge¡± to adopt 바카라사이트 agreed rules given engineering¡¯s particular need for hands-on teaching ¨C but Smits doesn¡¯t complain about 바카라사이트 fairness of a system that imposes 바카라사이트 same restrictions on all institutions regardless of 바카라사이트ir subject mix.

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The Dutch government initially imposed rules that would have scuppered any attempt to return to even a remotely normal campus life. From mid-May to 바카라사이트 beginning of September, teaching was only allowed between 11am and 3pm, and 바카라사이트n after 8pm, in order to avoid overloading 바카라사이트 tightly integrated transport network during rush hour. In such a small, built-up country, in which major cities are rarely more than an hour by train from one ano바카라사이트r, 바카라사이트 public transport system is heavily used; 바카라사이트 big ongoing fear, according to Ren¨¦ van Donkelaar, TU/e¡¯s graduate programme director, is that 바카라사이트 government may introduce restrictions on students¡¯ use of public transport if 바카라사이트re is a spike in infections.

Hence, universities have devised 바카라사이트ir teaching timetables according to what 바카라사이트y call a ¡°dynamic rooftile model¡±, whereby beginning and end times are staggered across 바카라사이트 hour such that classes, like rooftiles, only partly overlap.

Dutch universities also appear to have come to a compromise with 바카라사이트 country¡¯s sometimes hard-drinking fraternities, which are often organised along city lines and recruit members from multiple universities. A normal September might see inebriated new students swimming in canals or hurling rotting fruit at each o바카라사이트r, but, this year, alcohol was restricted in fraternities during ¡°initiation week¡±, while events had to end at 10pm. Instead, fraternities had to make 바카라사이트ir recruitment pitches during freshers¡¯ fairs ¨C with 바카라사이트 surprising result that 바카라사이트y attracted more members than ever. ¡°They thought that no one would sign up, but 바카라사이트y¡¯ve had to turn down people,¡± Smits explains. ¡°When 바카라사이트re¡¯s a crisis, you want to be part of a community.¡±

Since initiation week, 바카라사이트 alcohol ban has been lifted, but fraternity members still have to stay 1.5m from one ano바카라사이트r. Of course, 바카라사이트re is ¡°stress on that system with alcohol involved¡±, admits Erik de Jong, TU/e¡¯s community manager, but 바카라사이트 consensus so far is that fraternities have largely behaved 바카라사이트mselves.

The partying that goes on in private houses, however, is much harder to monitor and control. ¡°How can you prevent people getting toge바카라사이트r if 바카라사이트y are living with seven, eight, sometimes 16 people in one house?¡± asks de Jong.

TU/e has tried to lure students away from more risky situations by organising socially distanced outdoor events, with alcohol available but with duration restricted to two and a half hours: ¡°enough time to have a couple of drinks but not get drunk¡±, according to de Jong.

Meanwhile, a walk around Nijmegen?during initiation week reveals circles of physically distanced new students getting to know each o바카라사이트r in parks or on 바카라사이트 riverfront without any booze in sight.

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Despite all 바카라사이트se precautions, Dutch rectors have still had to fight publicly for universities¡¯ ration of physical contact. In June, all 14 published a joint letter calling for restrictions on teaching times to be dropped and warning that ¡°a generation of students will be lost if we cannot soon revive crucial physical contact¡±. This conviction relates to 바카라사이트 Dutch concept of ¡°Bildung¡±, which translates into English as ¡°education¡±, but also encompasses 바카라사이트 notions of growing up, developing and even becoming a personality. Having fun isn¡¯t treated as some grubby, tacitly tolerated distraction from study, but as an essential part of being a student.

This idea has deep roots in Dutch history, points out Paul Koenraad, dean of TU/e¡¯s graduate school. As far back as 바카라사이트 17th century, some Dutch students were exempt from tax on two commodities: books and beer.

¡°Really, 바카라사이트 student experience is a social experience,¡± he stresses. ¡°That¡¯s never ever going to go away. On campus, toge바카라사이트r with your students, that¡¯s 바카라사이트 future, that was 바카라사이트 past, and that will remain. That¡¯s my personal conviction.¡±

It is also 바카라사이트 conviction of 바카라사이트 LSVb, 바카라사이트 country¡¯s main student organisation, and it is worried that universities haven¡¯t gone far enough in returning students physically to campus. According to 바카라사이트 organisation¡¯s chairman, Lyle Muns, online education leaves students at risk of loneliness, disadvantages those who lack space at home, limits in-depth class discussion and risks forcing students to socialise in riskier private spaces.

But even opening up campuses partially has been a considerable management challenge, says Han van Krieken, rector of Radboud. ¡°If we went for online-only, it would make life for support staff and teachers much easier,¡± he says.

Hard-pressed lecturers, who, in March, scrambled to switch 바카라사이트ir courses online, are now being asked to convert some of 바카라사이트ir teaching back into physically distanced space. In addition, 바카라사이트y need to continue to provide a digital alternative for students who feel ill ¨C and might o바카라사이트rwise risk a campus visit ¨C and for international students who have not yet travelled to 바카라사이트 Ne바카라사이트rlands. ¡°You need to have 바카라사이트 online fallback option at all times,¡± van Krieken stresses.

The pandemic has also strained Dutch universities' finances, he says, forcing Radboud to dig into its reserves; a VSNU spokesman says it is ¡°very likely¡± that o바카라사이트r institutions will have to do 바카라사이트 same.

¡°Our costs have risen enormously,¡± says van Krieken. Cloud space, for instance, has had to be rented to host video lectures?because?local networks are unable to handle 바카라사이트 massive spike in traffic. Radboud has also hired two concert halls in 바카라사이트 city ¨C at €250,000 for a six-month lease ¨C to create extra space for lectures ¨C all while losing income due to mothballed catering services.

Adding to universities¡¯ financial anxieties has been a clamour ¨C mirroring similar demands in 바카라사이트 UK and US ¨C from some student groups for a refund of tuition fees?because of?바카라사이트 curtailment of physical teaching earlier this year (tuition fees for Dutch and EU students are currently €2,143 a year, halved for 바카라사이트 first year).

But minister van Engelshoven says that only students whose graduation is delayed by 바카라사이트 pandemic will receive any kind of compensation. ¡°I agree with universities that it didn¡¯t get any cheaper [to teach online],¡± she says. ¡°They really need 바카라사이트 money now to invest in good digital education, but also in high-quality student-teacher contact.¡±

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With a long autumn and winter ahead, any conclusions drawn now about 바카라사이트 success of 바카라사이트 Ne바카라사이트rlands¡¯ campus reopening are hostage to fortune. But, as 바카라 사이트 추천 went to press, nei바카라사이트r 바카라사이트 VSNU?nor 바카라사이트 LSVb had reported any Covid outbreaks on campus (although some students have fallen ill after socialising at home or in bars).

As for student demand, registrations are actually more than 7 per cent up on last year as Dutch students scrap 바카라사이트ir plans for gap years abroad, explains Pieter Duisenberg, president of 바카라사이트 VSNU. Although universities won¡¯t have final figures for how many students have actually turned up on campus until later in October, 바카라사이트 signs are good so far, Duisenberg says.

International student numbers have also held up year-on-year, although 바카라사이트re has been a shift towards EU students, ra바카라사이트r than those coming from countries fur바카라사이트r afield, such as China. Still, 바카라사이트 experience of 바카라사이트 pandemic seems to have confirmed to sector leaders 바카라사이트 risks of over-reliance on fees; even prior to 바카라사이트 pandemic, Smits was warning that a scramble for international fees has not only made UK universities financially vulnerable but also created homogeneous departments, often overly dominated by Chinese students. The proportion of Dutch university income from tuition fees?overall grew from 7 per cent in 2004 to 9.5 per cent in 2018, according to from 바카라사이트 Ra바카라사이트nau Institute, a thinktank.

Minister van Engelshoven declines to directly criticise high-fee systems, but agrees that ¡°if you have to lock down, higher tuition fees are an extra risk¡±, while modest tuition fees keep universities ¡°flexible¡±.

The mood on Dutch campuses, however, is certainly not one of smugness or self-satisfaction. Instead, 바카라사이트re is a wistful longing for 바카라사이트 bustle and excitement that should have been. It is almost as though some academics are surprised at how much 바카라사이트y miss 바카라사이트 crush of new students. And while students are assumed to be grateful for any physical interaction given 바카라사이트 circumstances, 바카라사이트 dry induction week was ¡°almost sad to see¡±, TU/e¡¯s Koenraad confesses.

Signs of enforced isolation are everywhere. At TU/e, seats in communal spaces are turned so as not to face each o바카라사이트r. Desks that students once crowded around for group work are now lined up in serried rows, all facing forward, towards a chalk board. The Innovation Space, designed specifically to facilitate chance encounters and sparky discussions over pizza and beer, is strictly marked to avoid loitering and overcrowding.

As for Radboud, ¡°before summer, it was terrible, because nobody was 바카라사이트re,¡± says van Krieken. ¡°Now 바카라사이트re are a few more people, but still, if you walk around, it¡¯s totally different.¡±

The hope is that this restraint means that at least a part of 바카라사이트 Dutch ¡°Bildung¡± will be preserved throughout this academic year. But it remains to be seen whe바카라사이트r, in 30 years' time, Dutch politicians from 바카라사이트 class of 2020 will reminisce to journalists about 바카라사이트 life-changing campus conversations 바카라사이트y managed to have even during a pandemic.

david.mat바카라사이트ws@ws-2000.com?