Distance education support available for teachers, campuses are open and Exam rooms in use

Published: 16 March 2020 at 12:28 :: News from Oamk

Oulu University of Applied Sciences (Oamk) moves mainly to distance teaching. Teachers are offered support for web-based teaching. Every unit has a digital mentor from whom one can ask for help. In technical matters and problems ICT Services are at your disposal. Training for Zoom and Teams remote working tools is available this week. Registration is not needed for the training.

ICT Services have published instructions for IT matters for working remotely.  

Peda Service coordinated by the Professional Teacher Education will start on Tuesday. Further information on this will be available later.

If possible, live video feed should be used with discretion to avoid putting unnecessary load on the networks. We also wish that the students would not stream videos etc. in the university network.

Staff of Oamk has a Secapp crisis communication system in use. Please make sure that you have installed the Secapp application on your work phone or on the telephone number that has been registered for you in Oamk’s personal data system. This will enable real time communication in urgent cases. See instructions in Heimo and you may also call to Janne Jokilehto, tel. 050 356 7306 or Antti Hirvonen, tel. 050 317 4870 if you have questions or problems in installing the application on your phone.

Sick leave with one’s own notification 7 days

The length of the self-notification of sickness leave has temporarily been raised. Doctor’s certificate is not needed for sicknesses of 7 days or less. The goal of this decision is to decrease the workload of health care. All absences for sickness must be reported to the supervisor without delay and a notification of absence should be made to Sympa. The new instructions are in force as of 16 March and until 31 May 2020.

Practical training of students

Oamk is trying to find a solution that would enable teaching, learning and students’ graduation in this situation. Every unit of Oamk will give its own instructions regarding practical training and will instruct students. Teachers will consider also solutions where students would be able to complete studies of next autumn now instead of the practical training.

Also employers’ instructions should be followed in practical training and project studies. For example Oulu University Hospital has notified that it will suspend practical training of those students who have completed less than 100 credits. On the other hand, nursing students who have completed at least 100 credits may act as auxiliary manpower in the hospital.

Project rooms on campuses are open for the time being. Guidance is implemented online.

Exam and those belonging to high-risk groups

Exam rooms are open on campuses. Their cleaning has been enhanced and e.g. hand disinfectants and disinfection tissues are available for cleaning in the rooms. Alternative methods for taking exams are being arranged for those belonging to high-risk groups.

Study councelling remotely

Study councelling will be carried out remotely (e.g. through AC, telephone and email). Already agreed appointments will be changed to online meetings and study councellors will give more detailed information by email.

Campuses are open

Our campuses are still open and one can come there. Even though the majority of teaching is online, small group and laboratory activities are continued in some studies.

Note! Do not come to work or school if you are ill. Students and employees returning from abroad must stay at home and study and work remotely for 14 days after return. Stay at home if you suspect that you have been exposed to the coronavirus.

The decision on possible closing of campuses will be made by other authorities.

All public events have been cancelled

Oamk has cancelled all public events until 31 May. The School of Media and Performing Arts is pondering whether some of the events could be streamed online.

Dance teacher education has been suspended but training schools of music and communication are still in operation.

Domestic travel cancelled

All travels of Oamk’s staff, including domestic travel, have been cancelled for the time being.

Exceptional arrangements in the restaurants

Due to the coronavirus situation the selection has been reduced in the school canteens and special attention is paid to hygiene. See also Compas Group’s bulletin.

Follow different communication channels

Oamk’s crisis management team is meeting daily. The team will update the instructions as the situation and authorities’ guidelines change.

The coronavirus situation and the actions it causes will certainly raise many questions and feelings. Continuing working according to the schedule is one key element giving rhythm to everyday life. Oamk is seeking solutions to challenges that we are facing.

Please be active yourself and follow these channels:

oamk.fi/coronavirus, Secapp, Heimo, Oiva, Moodle, Tuudo and email

And finally, a good rule of thumb for washing your hands: handwashing is thorough enough when it lasts as long as it takes to sing “Happy birthday to you...” twice.

Good work and study week to everyone!