COVID-19: Current regulations and perspectives

22. January 2021
Dear university members,
 
At the end of the semester, we would like to inform you about current developments and provide an outlook for the upcoming summer semester 2021: 
 
Last week of winter semester 2020/21 and semester break.
The operating mode "orange" remains in place for the last days of the winter semester as well as for the semester break. In order to be able to continue to guarantee this operating mode, we ask you to strictly observe the hygiene and safety regulations in the proven manner, to already pay attention to the increased safety distance of 2m and to wear FFP2 masks where possible, especially in prolonged, direct contact with other people. 
 
As you know, the Angewandte has purchased a supply of FFP2 masks and Covid rapid tests. These can be requested for use in connection with artistic teaching, in the workshops, and during exams and university entrance exams with a brief written explanation from the Covid Staff Office (covid@uni-ak.ac.at). Large-scale distribution of FFP2 masks and testing is not possible at this time due to resource constraints. We therefore invite you to make use of the services offered by the City of Vienna in particular.
 
Outlook summer semester 2021
Currently, the Rectorate is working out different operating variants for the summer semester. In addition to the revision of the safety and hygiene regulations (increased safety distance, FFP2 masks), an Angewandte-wide test strategy is under discussion. The aim is to ensure that the artistic and practical courses can be held on site as comprehensively and safely as possible with the help of regular tests. The prerequisite for this is that Angewandte - similar to what is practiced for schools - is granted the necessary financial resources for these Covid additional costs by the Ministry of Science (BMBWF). The extremely difficult negotiations with the BMBWF are ongoing. We will inform you about the concrete planned measures as soon as possible.
 
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Finally, we would like to thank you for your commitment and dedication in what has once again been a challenging semester: All teachers, both in artistic and scientific subjects, for your flexibility and the creative solutions that you find to ensure an upright and qualitative teaching even under difficult conditions; all employees in the workshops, who consistently maintain the essential operation on site with a lot of dedication; all employees in planning, service and administration, who for almost a year have ensured that university operations continue to run smoothly under constantly changing conditions; and last but not least, all students, who have supported the drastic and restrictive measures and in many different ways have contributed to a lively university despite the virus. 
 
The coming semester will once again demand a great deal of us. We are all the more committed - at all levels and with all our strength - to enabling the most stable and continuous attendance possible. In the third semester under Covid-codistions we aim to hold artistic courses on site and also to guarantee final examinations taking place on site as well. Just as it is necessary for a discursive and open university as we know and need it. 
 
With best regards,
Gerald Bast, Bernhard Kernegger, Barbara Putz-Plecko, Eva Maria Stadler and Maria Zettler
 
 
Rektorat
Rektorate