Important information for staff and students at Tampere Universities: switching to online instruction as of 16 March; SportUni suspends all classes and activities

Latest updates on the coronavirus: tuni.fi/coronavirus

Published on 17 March 2020 at 9.30 am:

The Finnish Government has today 16 March decided on measures in order to curb the spread of coronavirus in Finland. The measures will be in force until 13 April 2020.

According to the Government’s decision, the premises of educational establishments including universities and universities of applied sciences will be closed and contact teaching will be discontinued on Wednesday 18 March. Instead of contact teaching, instruction will be organized by alternative means as comprehensively as possible.

Staff will switch to telework where possible. It is advisable to collect devices and materials needed for remote work or study on Tuesday 17 March.

The Finnish Government’s press release (in Finnish): https://valtioneuvosto.fi/artikkeli/-/asset_publisher/10616/hallitus-totesi-suomen-olevan-poikkeusoloissa-koronavirustilanteen-vuoksi 

Tampere Universities are making preparations to comply with the Government’s decisions together with other Finnish higher education institutions. Further instructions will be given tomorrow Tuesday 17 March.

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Apart from sports facilities, the premises of Tampere University and Tampere University of Applied Sciences will not be closed for the time being, despite switching mainly to online instruction as of 16 March. Until further notice, examinations will be arranged according to original schedules. Electronic examination facilities as well as other facilities (library, restaurants) are in use. Operations will not be transferred to other facilities. Even though we recommend switching to studying and working remotely, our premises are in use. The operation of the Tampere University Teacher Training School (Normaalikoulu) continues as normal for the time being.

Guidelines and instructions issued on 13 March for Tampere University:

• All teaching at Tampere University (faculties, Language Centre, Open University) will be delivered remotely as of Monday 16 March. The units will separately provide more information to their staff and students about practical teaching arrangements and possible exceptions regarding, for example, laboratory classes and clinical training.
• All meetings of the administrative bodies will be conducted remotely.  
• As a rule, we avoid close contact and continue our operations remotely. Separate guidelines will be issued later for holding public defences.

Instructions issued on 13 March for Tampere University of Applied Sciences:

• Teaching at TAMK will be arranged using alternative means such as digital learning environments and online media, starting from Monday 16 March. Each study field has its own action plan and will inform students directly via email and text message. Teaching that is not suitable for distance-learning and is vital considering the progress of the studies can be arranged in smaller groups at campus facilities.
• Students' services are mainly available online (Student's Guide).
• The staff is requested to negotiate with their superiors about the possibility of working from home.

All SportUni sports activities will be suspended from Saturday 14 March until further notice. The sports facilities in Atalpa, Tamppi-areena, TAMK sports centre and Bommari will remain closed as of 14 March.

Tampere Universities provide regular updates on the coronavirus situation by continuously updating a news piece displayed on the intranet main page and on weekdays by providing information via email. Depending on the target group, emails will be sent from the following addresses:  tuni.koronainfo [at] tuni.fi (tuni[dot]koronainfo[at]tuni[dot]fi) (Tampere Universities), tau.koronainfo [at] tuni.fi (tau[dot]koronainfo[at]tuni[dot]fi) (Tampere University community) and tamk.koronainfo [at] tuni.fi (tamk[dot]koronainfo[at]tuni[dot]fi) (TAMK community). Do not reply to the messages sent from these addresses. Information about the coronavirus situation is also published on the website, but the intranet is our primary communication channel.

Questions about the coronavirus situation: korona [at] tuni.fi (korona[at]tuni[dot]fi)