UNSA Senate: Conclusions on modifying teaching process at University of Sarajevo and Recommendations for students and employees

In view of the current epidemiological situation in BiH and the Region and the decisions and recommendations of the Crisis Staffs of the KS and the FBiH Ministries of Health, the University of Sarajevo held the 22nd Extraordinary Senate Session with one Agenda item:

Organization of teaching process at the University of Sarajevo under conditions of coronavirus (COVID-19) breakout

Bearing in mind the following facts:

• about 27,000 students study at the University of Sarajevo, of which 18,500 are full-time and full-time self-funders,
• about 45% of students come from outside Sarajevo Canton, of which about 1300 are housed in dormitories,
• about 4% of students come from outside BiH, mainly from the countries of the Region,
• almost all the faculties and academies of Sarajevo University have more than 250 students, and the highest number of OUs at any one time have more than 250 students in one place,
• there are currently about 100 students at the University of Sarajevo through various mobility programs,

in order to protect the health of students and employees of the University of Sarajevo and to prevent the emergence and spread of coronavirus infection, the Senate of the University of Sarajevo, in accordance with Article 57 of the Law on Higher Education and Article 59 of the Statute, issued the following Conclusions on modifying the teaching process at the University of Sarajevo. Sarajevo for a period of two weeks beginning on 12/03/2020 and Recommendations on student and employee behavior.

Conclusions 

1. The theoretical and practical teaching in the classroom at organizational and sub-organizational units of the University of Sarajevo is being suspended. It is offered to organizational and sub-organizational units to organize and realize online teaching using already established DL study platforms, free platforms, intranets, e-mail and all available electronic communication channels.
2. Classes held outside the premises of organizational and sub-organizational units are completely suspended.
3. Classes that cannot be completed online must be reimbursed in full upon conditions returning to normalcy, in consultation with OU student associations.
4. Teachers and associates of the University of Sarajevo are charged with intensive consultation and communication with students through available e-communication channels.
5. Students are obliged to use the time of online realization of teaching to maximize their learning and preparation of exams, whose terms at this moment remain in accordance with the already established academic calendar for the 2019/2020 academic year. 
6. Except those from risk categories and those with manifest symptoms of respiratory infections managers and employees of the University of Sarajevo are to enhance work in the workplace, from home if needed regarding the preparation of materials for online teaching, intensive consultations with students through e-communication, monitoring of the realization of online teaching and learning, increased measures of hygiene of space and equipment, increased control of entry into the facilities and retention in the same and reduction of personal contacts.
7. All activities involving gatherings and direct contacts of a large number of persons, including activities from the UNSA Enrollment Promotion Project in the 2020/2021 study period, are canceled. Enrollment promotion should be conducted through media and social networks.
8. The University of Sarajevo will continue to monitor and act on the epidemiological situation and recommendations of the relevant institutions.
9. The Crisis Staff of the University of Sarajevo is being formed, consisting of the Rector, Vice-Rectors and Presidents of groups of sciences and arts.

COVID -19 Recommendations for acting for students and employees of the University of Sarajevo

In accordance with the recommendations of the World Health Organization, as well as in accordance with the Law on the Protection of the Population from Infectious Diseases (Official Gazette of the Federation of BiH, No. 29/05), procedures aimed at early detection of a possible COVID-19 case and prevention should be implemented spread of pathogens prevented.

In this regard, for all students and staff who have resided in China, Iran, South Korea, France, Germany and Spain for the last 14 days and who have traveled to BiH from Italy, especially the Italian provinces of Lombardy, Veneto, Emilia Romagna and Piedmont, within 14 days of leaving the affected areas:

• active health surveillance (reporting of a medical condition to a territorially competent epidemiologist by address of residence/residence)
• self-isolation based on a border sanitary inspector's decision to undergo health surveillance to monitor the onset of respiratory illness symptoms.

In the light of these recommendations, it is also necessary to implement:

• Active health surveillance of healthy students and staff coming from the affected areas who do not have some of the symptoms of respiratory distress, which implies self-isolation at home or in a student dormitory (organized accommodation) and should be staying alone in the room. So, whenever possible, arrange for such a student or employee to reside alone in the room and not to share the room with other persons.
• Students and staff coming from the affected areas who have some of the symptoms of respiratory distress (sudden onset of at least one of the following symptoms: fever, cough and shortness of breath ('fight for air') should contact the competent epidemiological service.

Given the dynamic evolution of the epidemiological situation, both in BiH and in the region and in the world, these recommendations may change and it is therefore necessary to follow the websites of the Federal Institute for Public Health (https://www.zzjzfbih.ba/covid-19/ ) and the Institute for Public Health of the Sarajevo Canton (https://www.zzjzks.ba/coronavirus/), which provide daily updates of coronavirus data as well as prevention measures.

General protection measures:

In addition, it is necessary in the organized accommodation of students, as well as in the premises of the University of Sarajevo, toilets and in the premises where catering is organized:

• washing hands with soap and running water and drying hands with disposable towels or using alcohol-based disinfectants
• absence of work/teaching responsibilities for employees and students who have symptoms of respiratory tract infection, have fever, sore throat, cough and shortness of breath
• regular and at least twice daily ventilation of the premises
• encouraging outdoor seating whenever the weather permits.

We remind students and staff to adhere to the recommendations of general safeguards:

• washing your hands regularly with soap and water or using an alcohol-based disinfectant
• when coughing and sneezing, it is necessary to cover the mouth and nose with a tissue paper and then throw it in the waste bin and wash your hands
• Avoid close contact and non-verbal communication (handling, hugging, kissing) with people who have symptoms of respiratory tract infection, fever, sore throat, cough and shortness of breath