Dutch universities close over Covid-19
Due to the coronavirus outbreak, universities and universities of applied sciences in the Netherlands will offer no physical education for the rest of this month. Exams in lecture halls are canceled, as are other educational activities, the associations involved announced.
As part of extra measures announced in the fight against Covid-19 on Thursday, Rutte called on higher education programs to cancel classes in lecture halls, and to find alternative means for teaching students. And the higher education institutions are giving heed, the Association for Universities and the Association for Universities of Applied Sciences said to NU.nl.
"We support this measure from the Ministry of Education. Combating the coronavirus is now the first priority in society," chairman Maurice Limmen of the Association for Universities of Applied Sciences said.
There will be no more physical lectures for the rest of this month, exams in lecture halls are canceled, as are other educational activities, the Association for Universities said. Internship activities can continue - the intern and work placement provider must assess the situation themselves.
How the higher education institutions will continue teaching is not yet clear. That is being examined per institution.
UPDATE #coronavirus: New measures announced by the government to limit the consequences also have major consequences for #UvA. All education this month will be offered digitally as much as possible, home working is recommended & major events are cancelled https://t.co/e45GOOrn65
— UvA Amsterdam (@UvA_Amsterdam) March 12, 2020
De VU staakt met onmiddellijke ingang het onderwijs (ook postgraduate) en de tentamens op de VU Campus | VU cancels all classes (also postgraduate) and exams at VU Campus effective immediately https://t.co/Qlnz2WMbdB
— Vrije Universiteit Amsterdam (@VUamsterdam) March 12, 2020
Because of the new corona guidelines in the Netherlands our Master's Open Day today is cancelled https://t.co/nES91qshYX
— Radboud University @Radboud_uni@mastodon.social (@Radboud_Uni) March 12, 2020
Unfortunately we have to keep our doors closed in the coming weeks. Take care everybody! https://t.co/bFn1WwpjmQ
— Universiteitsmuseum Groningen (@univmuseum) March 12, 2020
For my students @univgroningen
— Roelof Salomons (@RoelofSalomons) March 12, 2020
Lectures cancelled #Covid_19 , but please try to read as much as you possibly can about what is happening
This cannot be taught in a classroom https://t.co/eHt5dhN5Lz
All study rooms in the UB City Centre and UB Zernike are closed from 13 March until at least 10 April.
— Library - University of Groningen (@Bibliothecaris) March 12, 2020
At UB City Centre, Self-service A (pick-up/return books) and Service desk remain open.
Online services (incl. loan requests/SmartCat) are available. https://t.co/LirtVtGSA9
#Corona update:
— TU Eindhoven (@TUeindhoven) March 12, 2020
- No classes from March 13 through March 20.
- Education will be restarted on March 23, with a focus on online lectures.
- All employees, other than teachers, are expected to work from home up to and including March 31.
More information: https://t.co/ldkjbIkolN pic.twitter.com/qfyl2GRBNo
From tomorrow, 13 March 2020 until at least 31 March 2020, there will be no on-campus education at TU Delft; this includes exams. In the coming period, education will be offered online as much as possible. More information on: https://t.co/iHXd0fw01Z
— TU Delft (@tudelft) March 12, 2020
The Hogeschool van Amsterdam said that lessons are continuing as usual on Friday, as the university prepares for continuing digitally. From Monday the college will be closed until March 31st.
The Erasmus University Rotterdam told AD that it will focus on online education, though some work needs to be done before the university is able to teach its about 32 thousand students online.
The Hanzehogeschool in Groningen said that all its physical lectures and exams are canceled with immediate effect, and students will be informed about further measures.
Utrecht University canceled all classes and exams for Friday, and is preparing to "offer education digitally as much as possible starting Monday, March 16," the university said on Twitter.
The five major student associations in Leiden - Minerva, Augustinus, Quintus, Catena and SSR - are also closing their doors for the rest of the month.
Primary- and secondary schools will remain open for the time being - a fact that has parliamentarians from both the coalition and opposition parties worried.