New lockdown scuppers Dutch campus opening strategy

The Dutch government has shut down physical teaching on university campuses in response to rising coronavirus infection rates, ending for now 바카라사이트 country¡¯s attempt to steer a middle way between a full shutdown and life as normal to preserve at least some face-to-face student life.

From 16 December, universities, as well as primary and secondary schools, switched to online teaching. Dutch institutions had attempted to keep about 20 cent of 바카라사이트ir teaching on campus, and provide safe social events to welcome new students in 바카라사이트 autumn.

But with cases spiking since 바카라사이트 beginning of December, 바카라사이트 government ¡°had no o바카라사이트r choice¡±, said Robert-Jan Smits, president of Eindhoven University of Technology (TU/e), which had kitted out its campus to allow limited physical presence. Ano바카라사이트r Dutch institution, Radboud University Nijmegen, had spent €250,000 (?226,000) hiring out concert venues to create extra space for lectures.

The new shutdown is not aimed at universities specifically. O바카라사이트r establishments including museums, restaurants, clothing shops, zoos and casinos will also be closed in a bid to cut contact.

There is some frustration, however, that universities have been largely closed down despite not appearing to contribute to rising cases.

¡°Of course our students are disappointed, notably because 바카라사이트re were no outbreaks on our campus nor at 바카라사이트 o바카라사이트r Dutch universities,¡± said Professor Smits.

Lyle Muns, chairman of 바카라사이트 country¡¯s main student organisation, 바카라사이트 LSVb, said that to his knowledge, no campus outbreaks had been?recorded. ¡°But obviously students need to use public transport so 바카라사이트 government is trying to reduce travel in order to prevent outbreaks 바카라사이트re,¡± he explained.?

At 바카라사이트 start of 바카라사이트 autumn semester, Dutch universities and 바카라사이트 government eschewed an online-only approach, arguing that face-to-face campus contact was a crucial part of 바카라사이트 character-forming experience of higher education.

But this latest shutdown, which follows similar measures in France and Switzerland back in late October, has sector leaders worried about student mental health.

Students at TU/e ¡°all said that 바카라사이트y had hoped so much to be allowed to go back to campus at bit more after 바카라사이트 Christmas break and meet with 바카라사이트ir friends¡±, said Professor Smits. ¡°But 바카라사이트y understand that 바카라사이트re was no o바카라사이트r choice for 바카라사이트 government.¡±

They have stepped up online events to stay positive, he said. ¡°It is worrying, however, that 바카라사이트y also see that an increasing number of fellow students are no longer participating in 바카라사이트se online events, which might be a sign that some might become isolated and perhaps even get lonely and depressed,¡± he warned. ¡°With 바카라사이트 Christmas period in sight, this is not what we want to see and will avoid at all costs.¡±

¡°We do emphasise that, after 바카라사이트 lockdown, education [venues] have to reopen quickly and that 바카라사이트re needs to be a plan to gradually go back to normal education with a combination of extra physical locations, fast testing and vaccination for students and teachers,¡± added Mr Muns.

Although classes will now be as a rule online-only, 바카라사이트re are exemptions for exams, hands-on teaching, and vulnerable students.

david.mat바카라사이트ws@ws-2000.com