But this will look different than before the start of the corona pandemic, the minister was convinced at a press conference on Thursday. Digital concepts such as blended learning with a change from face-to-face and distance teaching will continue to be used. The universities decide autonomously on the organization of their studies.
Famann sees vaccination as the key to full operation. He therefore appealed to all 380,000 students to be immunized. In the coming winter semester, the universities have also been given the legal opportunity to put the 3G rule into effect for their area. The minister also has a “fresh (women) men-focus” in mind: The first semester students should come to the universities so that they can experience their studies up close.
Concepts such as blended learning or flipped classrooms would probably remain, however, said the minister – students come together for a phase of presence at the beginning, then work independently with online support and then deepen what they have learned together in a new phase of presence. How details such as the rules for wearing a mask will look like depends on the infection situation before the start of the study in October.
Famann rated the academic year, which ran until the end of September, as “successful”. The students would have “punished the lamentable discourse about lost semesters”. Examination activity has increased according to the current status and the number of degrees has already reached the second-highest value of all time, despite the current semester. “Successful studies were possible.” This has to do with the elimination of part-time activities, closed bars, etc., which would have made it possible to focus on studying. “That sounds cynical, I know that.” However, this development could be observed in all European countries.
Accordingly, in a survey, 78 percent of the students described the loss of social life as the greatest limitation, well before the deterioration in their financial situation. Nevertheless, 73 percent would have the impression that they have mastered the situation well or very well. The image of the desperate student is generally wrong, but in individual cases it is, according to Famann. Therefore, the number of full-time equivalents in psychological student counseling has also been increased by 40 percent.
The rector of the University of Applied Arts, Gerald Bast, announced that his university would be in analog operation in the winter semester. Since the beginning of the current semester, most of the courses at the Angewandte have taken place in full – although unlike other universities, the Kunstuni does not have any mass subjects.
“The universities have implemented good digital concepts, but you shouldn’t misjudge them,” said Bast. “Digital lessons cannot achieve what we mean by university”: “The interaction discourse between people does not work in digital mode – not yet. Perhaps there will be other digital devices in ten years.” Despite the lectures in attendance and the work in workshops, there was not a single corona case at the Angewandte, thanks to tests and the 3G rule, and only three positive tests were recorded in the in-house test street. Cutting back the numerous free test offers would be a “catastrophe”, said Bast.
