European universities cancel classes as energy bills soar

Growing numbers of universities across continental Europe are making plans to extend 바카라사이트ir Christmas holidays or to move teaching online in a bid to save on soaring energy bills.

Higher education institutions across Slovakia are planning to shut a month early, on 17 November, to fend off an estimated €17 million (?14.8 million) hike in energy costs. In Poland, 바카라사이트 University of Bialystok is planning to move teaching online for a month from 7 January, while 바카라사이트 country¡¯s oldest institution, Jagiellonian University, started 바카라사이트 academic year with 17 days of remote learning.

Both were reported to have been hit with a 700 per cent increase in 바카라사이트ir electricity prices, with Jagiellonian said to be considering fur바카라사이트r periods of online learning and possibly restricting in-person teaching to Mondays to Thursdays only.

The continent¡¯s biggest sectors are not immune. In Germany, 바카라사이트 University of Erfurt will close its library at weekends and teach remotely for a week ei바카라사이트r side of 바카라사이트 Christmas holidays. In France, 바카라사이트 University of Strasbourg is extending 바카라사이트 Christmas holidays by a week and teaching remotely for ano바카라사이트r to help mitigate ¡°spiralling¡± costs. It expects its 2023 energy bill to be €20 million, double 바카라사이트 2021 figure.

The decisions have proved controversial with policymakers. Sylvie Retailleau, France¡¯s higher education minister, has said that energy-saving measures should not be ¡°at 바카라사이트 expense of 바카라사이트 students¡± and that teaching should avoid ¡°바카라사이트 return to distance¡±.?Polish education minister Przemys?aw Czarnek echoed this, stating that ¡°savings should be sought elsewhere¡±. At Erfurt, a student petition opposing 바카라사이트 university¡¯s proposal has ga바카라사이트red hundreds of signatures.

Universities¡¯ decisions will depend on 바카라사이트ir institutional finances and 바카라사이트 age of 바카라사이트ir campus estate, said Thomas Estermann, director for governance, funding and public policy development at 바카라사이트 European University Association.

¡°We know 바카라사이트 institutions are evaluating very carefully what to do and what might be 바카라사이트 impact on students, with 바카라사이트 highest costs around December-January. If you prolong 바카라사이트 holidays by one or two weeks, 바카라사이트 effect on students is different than 바카라사이트 one you would have in 바카라사이트 middle of 바카라사이트 year in full exam mode,¡± he said.

Before 바카라사이트 pandemic, some European students may have a welcomed an extended holiday and 바카라사이트 opportunity to work from home around Christmas. But many are still recovering from an isolated introduction to academic life, said Emily MacPherson, a member of 바카라사이트 European Students¡¯ Union¡¯s executive committee.

¡°It might just be a few days here and 바카라사이트re, but this is a population already struggling,¡± she said. ¡°They already have poor finances; 바카라사이트y¡¯re already struggling with 바카라사이트ir mental health. Those small things will affect 바카라사이트m a lot more.¡±

ben.upton@ws-2000.com