The guidelines of the Ministry of Education and Science on organizing the 2021/2022 academic year

In view of the current epidemiological situation, the Ministry of Education and Science predicts, as a rule, the return to conducting educational activities at universities in their seats in the 2021/2022 academic year. Final decisions in this regard will take into account the COVID-19 incidence rate and governmental decisions. Should the epidemiological risk increase, hybrid learning may be introduced, and, in special cases, also the return to distance learning.

LIFTING THE TEMPORARY RESTRICTION ON THE FUNCTIONING OF UNIVERSITIES

In mid-August, it is planned to repeal the regulation on the temporary restriction on the functioning of certain higher education and science entities in connection with the prevention, counteracting and combating of COVID-19.

The lifting of the temporary restriction on the functioning of universities entails:

restoring (as of the day of repealing the regulation) the possibility of carrying out mid-term evaluations of university teachers,

maintaining the validity of student ID cards, doctoral student ID cards, as well as official ID cards of university teachers – they remain valid in the period of restricting or suspending the functioning of the university and 60 days following the end of this period. Therefore, if the regulation is repealed mid-August, ID cards remain valid until mid-October. In the first half of October, ID card holders should come in person to the university to extend the validity of their ID cards.

CONDUCTING CLASSES PROVIDED FOR IN CURRICULA USING DISTANCE LEARNING METHODS AND TECHNIQUES

As regards the possibility of conducting classes provided for in curricula using remote learning methods and techniques, Article 67(4) of the Act – the Law on higher education and science directly provides for a possibility of achieving some learning outcomes, covered by a curriculum, as part of classes conducted using distance learning methods and techniques.

These classes should be conducted with the use of infrastructure and software ensuring synchronous and asynchronous interaction between students and lecturers conducting the classes. It is important that conducting classes using distance learning methods and techniques may be implemented if permitted so by the specific nature of education in the case of a specified field of study.

The specific requirements related to conducting classes distance learning methods and techniques have been laid down in the Regulation of the Minister of Science and Higher Education of 27 September 2018 on studies.

Source: www.gov.pl