Rector's statement posted on 3 June 2020
The Rector of the UPC, Francesc Torres, has said in a new video statement addressed to the university community that face-to-face teaching will be resumed gradually and that students will be able to begin work placements from 8 June onwards. The coming academic year is being planned with face-to-face activity. In addition, bachelor's and master's degree students are being consulted regarding the exceptional distance teaching during this past term. Answers can be submitted until 7 June.
Jun 03, 2020
Dear all,
At this time, we are progressively resuming face-to-face activities at the University, with all the precautions set out in the lockdown exit plan approved at the Governing Council's last meeting and also taking into account adjustments stemming from negotiations with trade unions at the University. I hope all of you and those close to you are well and in good spirits moving forward.
It is expected that the face-to-face teaching that was postponed due to the lockdown will gradually be resumed, as the health regions where our campuses are located enter Stage 2, presumably from Monday 1 June onwards. This new stage allows us, from next week, to begin processing permits to join placements on Monday 8 June, by certifying that health and safety requirements are met at the entities and companies where the external placements take place. I encourage students to pay attention to the announcements made by schools and units.
We are planning the activities and timetables for the coming academic year with a face-to-face scenario in mind. We foresee a manner of academic normality in which all the health and safety measures dictated by the health authorities are in place. However, we are preparing to be able to move to blended-learning or remote teaching scenarios if the evolution of the pandemic requires it. For this reason, we are finalising an extraordinary budget of specific investments and measures of €1.5 million to ensure that, in any scenario, the new year can develop smoothly.
A consultation is currently being made to bachelor's and master's degree students on the exceptional distance teaching situation this semester. The deadline for responding is 7 June. I encourage you to participate. Your responses will be very useful for us to better plan the coming 2020-2021 academic year, especially the complaints and suggestions section.
I wish you luck and success and I hope that this academic year ends in the best possible way. At the UPC, all of us, teaching staff and administrative staff, remain committed to doing everything we can to make this work.
Thank you.