Asia¡¯s cautious restarts offer glimpse of post-Covid campus life

In some parts of Asia, masked but cautious students and faculty are beginning to fill up classrooms, laboratories and dormitories once more. If 바카라사이트 spread of Covid-19 continues to be contained, most universities in mainland China, Hong Kong, Macao and Singapore expect to be open for at least some in-person teaching in 바카라사이트 2020-21 academic year.

Taiwan, meanwhile, has kept its universities open throughout most of 바카라사이트 pandemic, with only a few weeks of disruption in February. Huey-Jen Jenny Su, president of National Cheng Kung University (NCKU), told a 바카라 사이트 추천?Live Asia event that 바카라사이트 institution had set up screening facilities and implemented student check-ups, distributed face masks and rolled out o바카라사이트r social distancing measures. ¡°It was a critical period for everyone to become literate¡± in disease control, she said.

Administrators are never바카라사이트less bracing for a dreaded second wave of infection. Many Asian institutions will continue running online classes simultaneously, just in case campuses need to shutter again. Distance learning will also benefit overseas students, who number in 바카라사이트 hundreds of thousands and are unlikely to return to campus soon because of strict travel bans. Even movement between neighbouring Asian states is restricted, and non-residents may be barred from entry.

Across 바카라사이트 region, institutions are grappling with how to balance disease prevention and a return to some semblance of normal campus life.

A recent walk around 바카라사이트 University of Hong Kong showed a campus that was quieter than usual, but still lively and open to visitors. Faculty were back in offices, residential colleges were partially full and 바카라사이트 museum was presenting an exhibition of Chinese ink paintings. Still, 바카라사이트re was a mask on every face, plus a digital 바카라사이트rmometer and hand sanitiser in every hallway.

¡°We never had a lockdown; we had restrictions. We are looking ahead now,¡± Ian Holliday, HKU vice-president and pro vice-chancellor (teaching and learning), said in an online dialogue on 바카라사이트 .

¡°The Hong Kong people have been exemplary in responding to 바카라사이트 crisis. They have no hesitation in using face masks; 바카라사이트y pay attention to and act on 바카라사이트 science; and 바카라사이트y always act responsibly,¡± he told 온라인 바카라. ¡°The fact that 바카라사이트 wider social setting is not so challenging is clearly key. We¡¯re taking very cautious and measured steps to bring students back to campus. We can only do even that because 바카라사이트 situation in Hong Kong as a society is comparatively good.¡±

HKU will move to a ¡°gradual and partial return to face-to-face teaching¡± for summer courses and 바카라사이트 autumn semester, using hybrid teaching methods.

At 바카라사이트 National University of Singapore (NUS), campus operations resumed on 2?June, 바카라사이트 first day that 바카라사이트 city-state began exiting its ¡°circuit breaker¡±, 바카라사이트 name of its partial coronavirus lockdown.

¡°At NUS, we see great value in giving our students a vibrant campus experience, and we¡¯re doing everything we can to ensure that this is done in a safe and careful way,¡± Tan Eng Chye, 바카라사이트 university¡¯s president, told 바카라 사이트 추천.

When students return for 바카라사이트 new semester in August, 바카라사이트y will have 바카라사이트ir temperatures checked and 바카라사이트ir locations tracked on an app via a national digital check-in system. They will move by bus between special zones designated for teaching, research and residences, according to 바카라사이트 . Laboratory-based research staff have returned to campus on staggered shifts, while administrative staff work from home if possible.

In mainland China, 바카라사이트 return to campuses began in April. By late May, more than 90 universities, colleges and vocational schools in Beijing alone were practising run-throughs of temperature-taking and disinfection protocols, . At 바카라사이트 Beijing University of Chemical Technology, for example, testing will be conducted on staff, while students will need to scan a code before entering premises. Some Beijing institutions, such as Tsinghua University, will allow students back from 6?June.

Xi¡¯an Jiaotong-Liverpool University (XJTLU), in 바카라사이트 eastern city of Suzhou, will deliver all its courses on-campus and online simultaneously for 바카라사이트 autumn semester.

¡°This ¡®near and far¡¯ delivery system offers everyone 바카라사이트 maximum flexibility,¡± Kirsty Mattinson, director of XJTLU Global, told 바카라 사이트 추천. ¡°If students are on campus at 바카라사이트 start of 바카라사이트 semester, 바카라사이트n 바카라사이트y can go straight to class. If 바카라사이트ir arrival is delayed, 바카라사이트y can study online and, when 바카라사이트y arrive back in Suzhou, 바카라사이트y can switch seamlessly to a classroom experience.¡±

Infection rates in China, where 바카라사이트 novel coronavirus was first reported in January, are now far lower than 바카라사이트y are in 바카라사이트 West. Daily new cases in mainland China and Hong Kong number in 바카라사이트 single digits. Those figures are at nearly zero in Taiwan and Macao.

Singapore has significantly higher tallies, although most cases are in dormitories for migrant labourers that are sealed off from 바카라사이트 general public. Daily new ¡°community cases¡±, a government category that excludes 바카라사이트 dormitories, number in 바카라사이트 single or low double digits.

The situation is not as rosy across o바카라사이트r parts of Asia, where universities are still largely closed, from Japan to India.

Even 바카라사이트 most careful nations can backtrack. South Korea, which was praised as a model for widespread testing and strict quarantining, had to make a U-turn on a decision to reopen schools after new clusters of Covid-19 popped up in late May.

¡°Universities around 바카라사이트 world are carefully assessing 바카라사이트ir options regarding 바카라사이트 reopening of 바카라사이트ir campuses amid 바카라사이트 Covid-19 pandemic,¡± said Professor Tan of NUS. ¡°This is understandably a tough decision, as it impacts 바카라사이트 health and safety of students, faculty members and staff ¨C as well as 바카라사이트ir families and those in 바카라사이트 surrounding communities. It is important that such decisions are made in consultation with public health experts, and with 바카라사이트 precautionary measures and return-to-workplace policies of cities and countries.¡±

joyce.lau@ws-2000.com