Due to the coronavirus situation, the Board of the University of Eastern Finland decided on 13 March 2020 that the UEF University Regulations will be temporarily amended so that teachers in charge of courses can decide on changes to the ways their courses are organised and evaluated.
“By changing the way teaching and exams are organised is our way of responding to the coronavirus situation as smoothly as possible,” says Miia Turtiainen, Director of Student and Learning Services.
Under normal circumstances, these kinds of changes should be decided by the Faculty Councils but, due to the situation, the university wishes to minimise bureaucracy.
According to Turtiainen, the way a course is organised can be changed from, e.g., in-person teaching on campus to a recorded lecture or to a lecture organised online.
“Exams can also be changed to independently completed assignments that do not require physical presence on the campus.”
Changes can be made to ongoing courses and, indeed, they can be expected already in the week starting on 16 March. Teachers and units in charge of courses will directly inform course participants of any possible changes.
Turtiainen emphasises that it is not possible to move all teaching and exams online.
“When it comes to taking exams on campus, we seek to make sure that there is enough distance between the students, and we will take care of matters relating to hygiene. Of course, no one should come to an exam if they have a fever or are feeling otherwise ill.”
For the time being, the university recommends that its staff members do not organise gatherings of more than 10 people. This, however, is not directly applicable to teaching.
“We are, however, encouraging our teachers to start using alternative ways to organise their courses, whenever this is possible.”
The IT Service Desk is on call also during the weekend and is prepared to assist teachers if they wish to change the way their course is organised. The IT Service Desk can be contacted by email: servicedesk (at) uef.fi
Tips on how to organise online teaching are available on the university's website:
https://www.uef.fi/en/etaopetuksen-valineita
Instead of the teacher in charge of the course, the decision on the way teaching is organised can also be made by the Dean or the Vice-Dean. When the situation becomes normal again, the Rector will decide on the termination of this temporary authority given to teachers.
For further information, please contact:
Director of Student and Learning Services Miia Turtiainen
miia.turtiainen(at)uef.fi