Press release

14th December 2020

Joint press release by the Senate Chancellery for Science and Research and the State Conference of the Rectors and Presidents of the Higher Education Institutions in Berlin (LKRP)
 

The Senate Chancellery for Science and Research and the Berlin colleges and universities have agreed on further measures as part of the Berlin phased plan for college and university operations under pandemic conditions in order to take account of the colleges’ and universities' responsibility to society as a whole for reducing contact and the risk of infection. Both sides already agreed on 20th October 2020 to forego in-person events as far as possible in the week before Christmas and after New Year's Eve. This agreement is now being further adapted:

• No in-person events will take place at the universities and colleges from 16th December 2020 until 10th January 2021.
• Exceptions to this will be made up until 18th December 2020 for already planned in-person examinations and absolutely essential practical formats that cannot be carried out in digital form. The number of participants is to be limited to an absolute minimum. Participation is voluntary for students, and they will not suffer any disadvantages if they do not participate.
• Practical medical formats at the Charité – Universitätsmedizin that cannot be postponed may still take place.
• Academic libraries are only allowed to offer online services and loan facilities from 16 December 2020 until 10th January 2021.
   

The colleges and universities are thus still in phase two of the three-phase Berlin phased plan and are able to continue to grant their employees, researchers and artists access to their workplaces. It is already the case, in principle, for the 2020/2021 winter semester that state, private and denominational universities and their institutions are not allowed to open to the external public, and that they carry out their teaching using online formats and not in person. The current ordinance allows exceptions for practical formats that cannot be carried out digitally and for examinations, provided the basic requirements and protection and hygiene rules are adhered to.

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