12/02/2021

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 universities and colleges have agreed to continue the stipulated measures for restricting contact and containing the pandemic until 31st March 2021. The following will continue to apply:

• There will be no in-person events at the universities and colleges until 31st March 2021.
• Exceptions may only be permitted for already planned in-person examinations, including entrance examinations, and for absolutely essential practical formats that cannot be carried out in digital form. In these exceptional cases, the number of participants must be limited to a maximum of 25 people in an examination room. Participation is voluntary for students. They will not suffer any disadvantages if they do not participate.
• Practical medical formats at Charité – Universitätsmedizin Berlin that cannot be postponed may still take place.
• Academic libraries are only allowed to offer online services and loan facilities up until 31st March 2021. If the course of the pandemic permits, the services may be expanded.

In principle, state, private and denominational universities and colleges, and their institutions, are thus not allowed to open to the external public for the 2020/2021 winter semester and will carry out their teaching using online formats and not in person during this period. The universities and colleges are extending the time allowed for theses and term papers until 31st March 2021, in accordance with their respective framework regulations, or are making comparable provisions.

In order to help protect members of the universities and colleges and contain the pandemic, efforts are to be made, in particular, to continue to restrict contact and any possible travel. Employees whose work does not absolutely have to be carried out in person on campus for organisational or technical reasons will continue to work from home as far as possible, in agreement with their supervisors.

Press contacts:

Hans-Christoph Keller
State Conference of the Rectors and Presidents of the Higher Education Institutions in Berlin (LKRP)
Press Spokesperson
Head of the Communication and Media Department
Humboldt-Universität zu Berlin
Tel: 030 2093-12710
Email: hans-christoph.keller_ @hu-berlin.de

Matthias Kuder
Press Spokesperson for Science and Research
The Governing Mayor of Berlin
Senate Chancellery for Science and Research
Tel: 030 9026-5010
Email: matthias.kuder_ @wissenschaft.berlin.de