30.7.2020

Dear all

The Rector's Council, after authorization of the Senate, decided in yesterday's session to determine the way of conducting the courses for the Fall Semester 2020-21.  The meeting was attended by the members of the PS, the head of YSFM, the heads of the Network for the Promotion and Development of Learning and colleague Christos Rodosthenous.

The courses will be offered based on the schedule that has already been prepared and published, in the designated rooms, days and hours.

Due to the need to implement distancing measures, the capacity of each room / laboratory can not exceed 50% of the standard seats.  For example, a classroom of 64 seats cannot accommodate more than 32 students.

Courses in which the enrolled students do not exceed 50% of the normal capacity of the designated room / laboratory, will be offered in full physical presence according to the schedule.

Courses in which the enrolled students exceed 50% of the normal capacity of the designated room / laboratory, will be offered with a combination of physical and distance learning (blended learning), as follows:

• The audience (enrolled students) will be divided into two equal groups, in alphabetical order (Group 1: Surnames from A-M, Group 2: Surnames from N-Ω).  Each group will attend with physical presence each lesson / workshop on a weekly basis, in the designated space, day / hour, however in half duration. The other team will attend the other half of the course.
• The "lost" teaching / learning time should be "covered" in each lesson / laboratory by adding a distance teaching / learning activity, lasting about 60 minutes, common to both groups.  Distance activity does not involve extra lecturing, but the use of alternative forms of teaching / learning.
• This activity will be clearly defined (day / hour) in the syllabus.  Its content will be determined by each teacher, in the context of the adjustment that is necessary to be made in relation to the course in full physical presence.  Each teacher has the flexibility and responsibility to decide how to organize his / her lesson based on the above parameters.

Student Services, in collaboration with the Presidents of the Departments and on the basis of social distancing measures, will determine until August 7, 2020 the courses that will be offered with full physical presence and the courses that will be offered with blended learning.  At the same time, in the time schedule, in consultation with each teacher, one hour will be added for each lesson in which distance learning will be planned.

Τhe mid-term and final examinations, if the conditions with the pandemic remain as they are today, will be sought to be carried out in person, on the basis of the distancing measures mentioned above.  Similar arrangements will be made for the final exams.  However, there is the possibility to carry out distance examinations, if the teachers so wish, in consultation with their Department.

The Learning Enhancement and Development Network will offer a number of distance learning activities to academic students on issues related to distance learning.  A relevant announcement will be sent by the Coordinators of the Network in the near future.

The Rector's Council expresses the certainty that our University, together with academics, students and administrative staff, will respond with adequacy and quality to the challenges before us, having as first concern the health and safety of the entire university community.

On behalf of the Rector's Council

29.8.2020

Dear colleagues/ Dear Students

The University has prepared a detailed safety and health management guide (click here), which is also based on the guidelines from the Cyprus government and in accordance with the academic decisions of the Senate and the Rectors council. Please take a few moments to read it carefully. We will be in regular contact for questions and clarifications separately with each sub-groups (academic, administrative staff and students) for the careful implementation of the protocol.

The final schedule of classes will be announced to everyone by Monday.

Over the previous semester we have proved that through institution-wide collaboration and understanding, rapid action and multi-layered planning we can achieve so much and make the best of a challenging situation. As a new semester begins, I am confident we will succeed tackling the health crisis issues as we have in the past. We are the Cyprus University of Technology.

I thank all those who contributed in any way to the preparation of the health protocol.

Panayiotis Zaphiris

Rector, Cyprus University of Technology

3.12.2020

Dear Students,
Dear Academics,
Dear Colleagues,

We have safely navigated through the difficult and unpredictable conditions brought upon us by the pandemic during the Fall semester of the current academic year. The entirety of the academic community, teaching staff and students, has risen to the challenges and stood tall in the face of adversity due to the Covid -19 pandemic. Supported by technology, we developed new skillsets, acquired new knowledge, adopted modern teaching and learning methods and employed new ways of communication.

The primary concern of our University is twofold: a) finding alternative ways and methods of teaching to maintain the high level of knowledge offered to our students, acting quickly, and making the most out of digital teaching tools, and b) complying with all hygiene and distancing rules, as announced by the State, to protect and ensure the health of all University members, and to reduce the risk of disease spread. One of our main concerns is also the support of those students, who will need additional technical equipment supply in order to attend their online courses smoothly during the Spring Semester.

Based on the latest epidemiological data and taking into consideration the relevant predictions for the following months, the governing bodies of the University have formed a General Teaching Framework for the Spring Semester 2020-2021 as follows:

Teaching in Spring Semester 2020-2021
All the teaching in the Spring Semester 2020-2021 will be carried out remotely, online. Laboratory courses and internships are excluded. Conducting courses with physical presence will require splitting students into smaller groups as well as a strict implementation of the health protocols. The clinical practice will continue as normal following the provisions of the health protocols. Any requests for exceptions to the above should be submitted to the Vice Rector for Academic Affairs Office.

Mid-term and Final Exams of the Spring Semester 2020-2021
In due course, the Senate will take decisions regarding the conduct of midterm and final examinations of the Spring Semester based on the epidemiological picture and the forthcoming decisions of the State.

Finally, we call on all members of the University community to abide by the health measures announced by the State and the University. In addition, we inform you that all the necessary actions have been taken so that additional information will be made available and training will be provided at the beginning of the Spring Semester, with the aim to assist all University members to develop self-protection behaviors during the COVID-19 pandemic. 

These challenging times that we are going through at present create an environment in which we learn how we will cope with any difficulties that may follow. I am confident that through this adversity we will evolve and continue our important work as an academic Institution. 

My greetings and best wishes for the upcoming holidays!

Professor Pantelis Kelires
Vice-Rector for Academic Affairs

Cyprus University of Technology