Announcement of the Rector regarding the organization of education in the academic year 2021/2022 at the Warsaw University of Life Sciences

Dear

We are beginning to plan the winter semester of the 2021/2022 academic year with hope and prudence – based on forecasts and collected data, we initiate activities aimed at conducting classes in a full-time mode.

The global situation caused by the coronavirus epidemic has changed the whole world, including our university. Conducting classes remotely, long hours spent in front of a computer and a sense of uncertainty have been with us for over a year. In my opinion, SGGW has met the challenges of digitization of the learning process and digital functioning of universities. Classes are held on-line, constant access to the pool of lectures increases thanks to the SGGW SCIENCE channel on YouTube, and our proficiency in using digital platforms is already a fact.

Regardless of the fact that we operate remotely, we strive to ensure that the next semester of studies at SGGW is already full-time. Lecturers working at SGGW have been vaccinated, the administrative staff are being vaccinated, and the research conducted among our students shows that over 80% declare their willingness to undergo vaccination. These facts fill us with optimism and allow us to look to the future with hope. The last few months have shown us all clearly that nothing is certain in the world. The epidemic has taught us a great lesson in humility and has shown the need to actively adapt to changing conditions. We also know that, as a university, we are a place with a rich and varied structure with many tasks to fulfil. We are not just a knowledge provider. We are a community where we want to meet each other and have discussions at the bustling campus.

Consequently, taking into account the prognosis of the epidemic situation, the opinions of employees and students and the actions taken by other universities, I am convinced that it will be possible to return to full-time education at SGGW in the academic year 2021/2022. When planning classes in the winter semester, we should also remember about good practices developed during distance education and use them to improve the quality of the teaching process.

Prof. Michał Zasada, PhD, DSc
Rector