It has been nearly two months since we transitioned to our new work approach to help slow the spread of the virus. Perhaps many of you now consider distance education has become the new normal. I’m happy to see how well you have adopted the changes, since I know the change is significant. Huge efforts are being made, particularly within teaching, where many teaching staff are still working hard to find solutions for various modules and examinations for current and coming courses.
We can’t say when life will return to the way it was and should probably assume that there will be some impact even in the autumn semester. By then, hopefully, we will be able to combine distance and campus teaching. We will be informed about this soon by the vice-chancellor, who has said that a unified approach for autumn planning will be announced no later than May 15. Preparations are currently ongoing for this policy decision, including within Sahlgrenska Academy. One aspect being discussed for our comments to the vice-chancellor is that the faculties face very different conditions and that decision processes may need to be adapted to this fact.
Another important question is how to welcome our first-semester students if we begin the autumn semester by continuing to distance teach. It can be difficult for completely new students to jump right in to distance education. We have heard through our contacts with other universities that some have already decided to bring first-semester students to campus in smaller groups and in adapted forms. Perhaps a similar solution is possible here.
Naturally, this drawn out situation is tiresome. I hope you have been able to arrange a good working environment for yourself. You should feel comfortable talking to your supervisor or with your health and safety representative if you have any problems with your working environment related to remote work. It is also important that you take resting up seriously, so that you have the energy to continue working for as long as the pandemic is with us.
Take care,
Agneta Holmäng
