Coronavirus instructions stay the same as in December
The third period continues as a hybrid model, in which distance learning and contact learning are adjusted in accordance with the epidemic situation. The current remote work policy has been extended to the end of June. Visiting on the campus can be increased flexibly if the situation so allows in the spring. Decisions on contact teaching will be made on 26 January.
On Monday, 11 January, the regional management team for preventing infectious diseases noted that the epidemic situation in the Central Finland Health Care District is still in the acceleration phase even though the recent infection rate has been moderate. The team noted that even though the infection rate had reduced, it is difficult to make any conclusions about the situation because also the testing rate has reduced.
The City of Jyväskylä’s recommendation still is that no private events of more than ten people should be organised in January and February. Private events refer to all events that are not open for public. In addition, the City of Jyväskylä has outlined that all recommendations and limitations related to hobbies and sports are valid until 28 February.
Teaching and internships
To achieve learning outcomes, necessary contact teaching (e.g. laboratory teaching, teaching of practical and art subjects) will be organised with more stringent safety arrangements: safety distances of at least two metres are kept between people in the teaching facility, the teacher provides face masks for participants and the students are recommended to use masks. Faculties and independent institutes define what is necessary contact teaching.
Ongoing internships can be continued and new ones started if it is possible for the internship place. The instructions of the internship place and valid safety instructions must be followed during an internship.
In issues related to studies, please contact the course teacher and, when necessary, your education coordinator or study counsellor.
Exams
Regular exams can be arranged with more stringent safety arrangements: a safety distance of two metres is kept between people in the exam facility, the aim is to limit the number of participants in one room to 20 persons, the used facilities are as large as possible, access to the facilities is arranged so that crowdedness can be avoided in lobbies, and the teacher provides face masks for participants. Exam participants are strongly recommended to use face masks.
• The eExam facility is kept open. It is recommended to use face masks in the facility.
• Read more about online exams.
Self-study facilities keep closed
Self-study facilities on the campus are closed until further notice. In addition, it is not possible to study or spend time in lobbies, cafés and cafeterias on the campus. Exception to this is study facilities (such as computer classes), if it is necessary to use software that is available only in the facilities.
Library services are still open and printing is possible in library facilities. Cafeteria services are also open on the campus, but the opening hours may change.
Travelling
The coronavirus epidemic is in the acceleration or spreading phase in different parts of Finland and the situation is even more serious in most EU countries and many countries outside Europe. The Finnish Institute for Health and Welfare (THL) recommends to avoid all travelling to the United Kingdom, South Africa and Ireland. To prevent the spreading of the new variant of the coronavirus, also all other travelling in Finland and abroad should be limited only to what is necessary. Acceleration of the epidemic situation in Finland or in the travel target may also result in the closing of borders between countries or in them.
Anyone returning to Finland must self-quarantine for ten days. According to the updated instructions of THL, the person must avoid all contacts, going to shops, hobbies, etc., during the self-quarantine.
Risk assessments and quarantine plans must still be made for all persons arriving in JYU from abroad.
Regardless of possible vaccination, those arriving in JYU from abroad must observe authority instructions on the ten-day self-quarantine as well as keep safe distances, follow hand and cough hygiene and use face masks. COVID-19 testing takes place through public health care.
Academic Sports start online on 25 January
The City of Jyväskylä has recommended to interrupt all indoor sports sessions of citizens over 18 until 28 February. JYU follows this recommendation.
with streamed group fitness classes and study-related sports classes that are implemented remotely. The start of ballgame sessions will be moved to a later date. Services during the rest of the term will be decided before the end of February.
International students arrived in Jyväskylä
Around 160 exchange students arrived in Jyväskylä for the spring term. Twenty of the students came from outside the EU. In addition, a few doctoral students arrived, as well as a few international master’s degree programme students after completing studies remotely in the autumn.
Thanks to proper advance preparations, the arrival went well. The arrived persons have followed the ten-day quarantine and no infections have resulted.
Use of face masks and the Koronavilkku application
The mask recommendation is valid until further notice in Jyväskylä. According to the recommendation of THL on 8 January, all who are 12 or older are recommended to use face masks, including primary school classes 6–9, upper secondary schools and higher education institutions.
When working and moving on the campus, it is responsible behaviour to wear a face mask. JYU strongly recommends to use face masks also in free time and to install the Koronavilkku app.