• Our starting point is: "Distance when it works, campus when it's needed"
• Everyone must follow the recommendations of the Public Health Agency of Sweden.
• Students should only be on campus when it is really necessary. 
• Students should only participate in campus elements when it is deemed necessary with regard to quality, fairness and the implementation of the education in relation to the learning objectives.
• There may be some elements of teaching and examinations on campus.
  • As far as possible, we need to limit the opportunities to carry out activities at campus.
  • The basis is that the university must continue with the written examinations on campus where it is necessary to maintain the quality and fairness of the education. We encourage teachers to strive to reduce the number of written examinations on campus by using alternative forms of examination where possible.
  • Special exceptions continue to apply to police and nursing educational programmes, but even within these programmes, a review should be made of current routines and safety measures against the spread of infection.
  • Planned activities in the lab environments are maintained, but further special assessment of needs and conditions is carried out. Review of the protective measures taken in laboratory environments is checked to ensure that safety is adequate. This applies to e.g. protective equipment, number of people in the lab environment at the same time, etc.
  • Until further notice, workplace placement/internship/clinical training/teaching (VFU) is carried out to the extent permitted by the accountable authority’s guidelines in the current situation. Thus, there may be variations between educational areas where VFU occurs.
• The university has set up the following recommendations to minimise the spread of infection:
  • Wash your hands frequently
  • Stay home if you're sick
  • Keep a distance of 1.5 meters
  • Avoid larger groups of people
• Hand sanitiser have been placed on certain premises such as student pantries, computer halls etc.
• The university's education activities are not covered by the 8 person limit (see below).
• Specific for students in risk groups
  • Students are advised, following the advice of the Public Health Agency of Sweden, to consult with their doctors about what they can do to reduce the risk of becoming ill.
  • The university makes general adjustments in the campus environment to minimise the spread of infection.
  • Students who do not consider that the adjustments are sufficient can apply to defer the start of studies or for temporary interruption of studies. 
• Specific for employees
  • Working from home is preferred. Only be present on campus when necessary with regard to the nature of the tasks.
  • Meetings should, if possible, be conducted in digital form.
  • Conferences and business trips are postponed or carried out digitally.
• The campus remains open. However, accessibility to the university's premises, such as the library, will be limited to the public.

Distance

We recommend that people keep a distance of 1.5 meters on university premises. We have put up signs so it will be easy for everyone on the premises to do the right thing and follow the recommendations in place. Each individual must also take personal responsibility and practice social distancing.

Limit of larger groups

Large parts of the university activity are not covered directly by the 8 person limit in general gatherings and public events. However, we are making great efforts to ensure the normative meaning of the government decision. This means that we further adapt our operations to minimise the number of people staying on campus at the same time, and to carry out the necessary campus steps as safe as possible.

The Vice-Chancellor's decision taken on 5 June is valid from 15 June until further notice. Previous decisions from 5 May concerning the period up to 8 November are thus no longer relevant. The Vice-Chancellor's decisions can be found via the Registrar’s Office, see Reg. 258-20.

The Vice-Chancellor's decision means that from 15 June, educational activities can return to more ordinary forms under the following conditions:

• The regulations, general advice, and recommendations applicable to the rest of society are taken into account.
• Teaching is conducted while taking the necessary precautions.
• If the work allows, employees can work from home at the discretion of their immediate manager.
• Written examinations conducted via the Student Centre can be carried out while observing the necessary precautions, taking into account the university's overall need for written examinations and in which examinations in nursing and police educational programmes continue to be a priority.
• Project Corona is responsible for developing appropriate structures to ensure the above in necessary consultation with the students.

The Vice-Chancellor's decision affects previous decisions. Earlier in the spring, the university made a number of decisions that are now affected, as follows

Carrying out teaching activities

Previous decisions: Teaching activities, including examinations, on premises about which the university makes determinations, are to be carried out in a distance form, with general exceptions for nursing and police educational programmes.

Decision according to the new recommendations: The government states that education providers can return to regular activities, provided that the regulations, general advice, and recommendations applicable to the rest of society are taken into account. What is an appropriate way of following the relevant general advice in each case is up to the education provider to decide. One way is that the education provider continues to conduct distance education whenever possible, for example for theoretical elements, but resumes on-site teaching on the premises for practical elements. In view of this, teaching activities must continue to be carried out taking into account the necessary precautions and in accordance with the recommendations given by the Public Health Agency of Sweden. Structures need to be developed to ensure this. These will be drawn up according to particular protocols via Project Corona.

Working at home

Previous decisions: If the work allows it, employees can work from home at the discretion of their immediate manager.

Decision in light of the new recommendations: The current decision is still in force.

Written Examinations

Previous decisions: No written examination organised through the Student Centre are to be carried out, with the exception of those regarding which the Vice-Chancellor has made specific decisions.

Decision according to the new recommendations: Written examination organised through the Student Centre can be carried out taking into account the necessary precautions. This means, however, that the Student Centre will have more limited resources to implement written examinations, which is why these resources need to be carefully allocated.

According to previous decisions, written examinations in nursing and police education as well as teacher education have been carried out.

As the possibility of carrying out activities on the university's premises opens up for more educational programmes this autumn, Project Corona needs to develop structures to ensure the correct allocation of these resources. Previous decisions on exemptions for written examinations via the Student Centre must therefore be reassessed in relation to the university's overall need for written examinations. However, the nursing and police educational programmes continue to be prioritised.

For the time being, we are still in level lime with the main rule "distance when it works, campus when it’s needed".

Campus elements

Written examinations on campus

The basis is that the university must continue with the written examinations on campus where it is necessary to maintain the quality and fairness of the education. At the same time, we need to strive to reduce the number of written examinations on campus by using alternative forms of examination where possible, and also prepare for a possible further tightening of the corona restrictions. The following measures must be implemented:

• Teachers are encouraged to review the planning of future examinations with special regard to the possibility of converting written examinations on campus to "digital examination with the support of Zoom". Support for this is being developed within the Student Centre right now and Zoom training of invigilators is being prepared. It is currently not clear from what date this support is available - we will return with more information on this.
• Teachers are also encouraged to prioritise the work of transferring the written examinations on campus to other alternative forms of examinations in order to further reduce the pressure on campus.

Lab environments

Planned, necessary laboratory activities continue and a review of routines and safety measures is ongoing. This applies, for example, to protective equipment, the number of people in the lab environment at the same time, etc.

Other campus elements

Other campus elements are decreased further in regards to a review with managers and teachers in charge. When examining the need for campus elements in accordance with the checklist for prioritising campus elements, the risk of the spread of the virus must now weigh very heavily. Qualitative distance compensation must be developed and used as far as possible, and when this is not possible, additional safety measures at the campus elements in question must be taken into account. The goal is clear: reduce teaching activities on campus.

Checklist

A checklist has been drawn up to be able to make the necessary priorities about which elements should be implemented on campus, who makes decisions, and what teachers should do after a decision has been made. The checklist has been sent to all employees by email. 

You can also find the checklist here (pdf)

A supplement to the checklist regarding the planning and coorindation of campus components (pdf)

At present, you can assume in your planning that any teaching that can be carried out remotely will continue to take place remotely.

Filming and GDPR

Information regarding what applies when it comes to GDPR in connection with filmed lectures, etc. is available in Swedish (see the Swedish webpage). 

The university's employees are advised to follow the information available from the Public Health Agency of Sweden and the government. Your manager will provide you with information specific for your department. The Public Health Agency of Sweden has issued general advice regarding the novel coronavirus, for example, that employers should ensure that staff and visitors keep a distance between each other.

Measures for employees

• Working from home is preferred. Only be present on campus when necessary with regard to the nature of the tasks.
• Meetings should, if possible, be conducted in digital form.
• Conferences and business trips are postponed or carried out digitally.
• New review of routines and protective measures at necessary campus activities (eg in the educational areas excluded from distance education and lab environments). A discussion takes place with the organisation of safety representatives regarding planned measures.

Deducation from sick pay

Compensation for the deducation from sick pay is regulated directly with the Social Insurance Office. The application applies retroactively from 11 March.

Insurance when working at home

In the case of telework, occupational injury insurance (TFA and PSA) applies. Unlike work at work, the accident is required to be directly related to the work you do, i.e. the injury occurs while performing your duties. For example, if you injure yourself when you are making coffee in the kitchen, this does not count as an accident at work, even if it occurs during fixed working hours.

Headset

If you need a headset, these are available at the IT service desk. Make an appointment for pickup via email it@hb.se. Please note that you should also make an appointment for any other matters at the IT service desk.

Receiving visitors from another country

The Dean of Faculty/Head of Professional Services makes decisions on a case-by-case basis. When the University of Borås receives visitors who have travelled here from another country (e.g. guest lecturers, visiting researchers, partners), the recommendations of the Swedish Ministry for Foreign Affairs apply. The department receiving the guest(s) plans for the stay taking into account the pandemic and health and safety at work concerns. Workplace introductions and meeting colleagues are to be planned to take into account the current recommendations and precautions, and the responsible manager is to ensure that the relevant staff are informed of the visit in good time.

Working at home

Working from home is preferred. Only be present on campus when necessary with regard to the nature of the tasks.

You should discuss with your manager what applies to you. The main rule is still that you and your manager are to come to an agreement on working from home if the work allows it. It is still important that we follow the Public Health Agency of Sweden’s recommendations to reduce the spread of infection.

Work travel

Conferences and business trips are postponed or carried out digitally.

Within Sweden: Together with your manager, an assessment is made about the need for the intended work travel in relation to any alternatives as well as the situation around the pandemic, any local infection rates, etc. If the work travel is deemed to be necessary after such considerations are made, please ensure that the relevant recommendations and restrictions are complied with. Take note of the Public Health Agency of Sweden's information

Abroad: We follow the recommendations of the Swedish Ministry for Foreign Affairs. The Dean of Faculty/Head of Professional Services makes decisions on a case-by-case basis. Otherwise, the same precautions apply as do for domestic travel, as well as that the guidelines applicable locally/regionally at the destination are followed. 

On the staff website, there is information regarding the cancellation of work travel. Read more about this.

Do not forget

• If the situation requires, make sure to change your bookings in KronoX. It is recommended that everyone delete their own bookings if necessary. 
• Review your information under the heading "Personal data" in Primula. It is important that the university has up-to-date information about, for example, your next of kin. 
• Read through these pages with tips and advices (the pages will regularly be updated)
  • Tips if working from home
  • Tips for distance education
  • Tips for digital meetings

• The campus remains open. However, accessibility to the university's premises, such as the library, will be limited to the public.
• You need an access card for all doors leading to corridors with study rooms, offices, and open spaces for staff and students.
• As far as possible, avoid both planned and spontaneous larger groups of students in, for example, entrances, auditoriums, examination or lecture halls.
• There will be a stricter limit of the number of people who may be in lecture halls, computer halls and study rooms at the same time.
• The furnishing has been thinned out in lecture halls, and it has been highlighted which places one can use in computer halls and auditoriums. 
• The starting time for lectures will be spread out during the day to reduce the number of students who are on campus at the same time.
• The furnishing in open spaces has been thinned out.
• Service desks in public areas have been equipped with an acrylic glass.
• The restaurant is closed.
• A comprehensive signage has been carried out on campus with distance markings, information regarding the university's recommendations, requests to leave the halls immediately after examination or teaching, etc. 

Information regarding how many people can be present in different rooms, which technical capabilities are present in each room, etc. is found in KronoX.

In KronoX, you can also see information about the rooms that have been renovated during the summer. For example, if you want a room for streaming or recording a lecture, you can use the search bar in the upper right corner of KronoX and type "E-meeting". Then you will find the appropriate spaces. Just keep in mind that this information is not complete yet, but more information is in the works! You can find a manual about this on the KronoX webpage.

Refurbishment have taken place in lecture halls/teaching spaces around the university and students are referred to the places that have been adapted with regards to the coronavirus. In certain teaching situations and spaces, adaptations may be possible, but this is always conducted under one’s own responsibility and with respect for students' desire not to sit closely to other students. We would also like to remind teachers that they should leave the lecture hall/teaching space as they found it at the beginning of the class. If you notice problems or defects in the premises associated with these adaptations, please quickly inform the Campus Facilities and Sustainability Office.

The purchasing of some technical equipment is underway.

Access card

Do not forget to have your access card with you when you are on university premises. It is needed in order to pass through doors and use the lifts.

Cleaning

Cleaning of the university's premises is intensified with cleaning of handles and buttons that many people often touch.

Coordination of campus components

A coordination group has reviewed the bookings for campus components that have been submitted. In some cases, they have had to shift some campus components by 15 minutes in either direction to address the number of people present in corridors and stairwells. Check your schedule to see if any changes have been made to your campus components. If the coordination group has seen a need for shifts of more than 15 minutes, the relevant teacher is contacted.

Entrances

Choose the entrance closest to where you are going and, as far as possible, plan an outdoors route when navigating around campus. Take a look at the map and find the entrance closest to your destination

Gym

The gym is still open – we have ordered extra cleaning so that it is possible to work out here when other gyms close. There is also information in the gym about how to clean all equipment both before and after use.

Special opening hours

For several of our operations, special conditions regarding opening hours or possible closures apply. More information about special opening hours

The university's premises are generally open to students and staff. For work enviroment reasons and the risk of infection, some areas, such as the textile labs, are closed to students since there is no teaching there for the moment.

Technology for students

The university has no possibility to lend out computers or other technology to students for home work. However, students continue to have access to the premises. The premises are locked to the public.

Do you want to stay up to date with what information the students get? Take a look at the student website. 

Study abroad

The university follows the recommendations of the Swedish Ministry for Foreign Affairs. If they advise against travel abroad, the university will advise students not to carry out planned studies abroad.

How should I act if I find out that one or more of my students has COVID-19?

If a student is diagnosed with COVID-19, they receive special instructions from their physician. This information lets them know what applies when it comes to sick leave, possible quarantine, contact tracing, and information for others. It is these individuals themselves who are responsible for providing any necessary information to others.

The student provides this information to the programme or course coordinator. The programme or course coordinator is to then notify the Head of Department directly, who in turn informs the Dean of Faculty and Head of Professional Services in order for the university to maintain an overall view of the spread of infection.

If several students in the same group/programme have reported a COVID-19 infection, the university's Head of Professional Services contacts, if necessary, the infectious disease control physician for an assessment when it comes to measures to be taken.

The Head of Professional Services convenes, if necessary, a meeting of staff who work with crises for further management of the situation.

Comprehensive information should always be provided to the Head of Department, Dean of Faculty, chief safety representative, HR manager, and student representative.

How should I act if I suspect I've contracted COVID-19?

According to the infectious disease control physician, you are legally required to test yourself if you suspect you have COVID-19. Therefore, if you have symptoms which you suspect may be due to COVID-19, contact your healthcare provider for testing immediately. The testing is free of charge and you should stay at home until you have received the test results. Read more at Vårdguiden (Vårdguiden 1177 is a Swedish service providing healthcare by telephone and the central national infrastructure for Swedish healthcare online.)

Am I obliged to inform my manager if I am found to have COVID-19?

Physicians and the healthcare system determine whom an infected person must inform. However, if an employee, voluntarily or as instructed by the healthcare system, provides this information to a manager, it is important that the manager makes an assessment regarding infection and informs the Dean of Faculty (in cases of infection within the Faculty) and Head of Professional Services (in all cases of infection) to make an assessment when it comes to measures to be taken. If necessary, the infectious disease control doctor is contacted. In this way, the university will have an overall view of the spread of infection and have the opportunity to take action based on it.

How should I act as a manager if I find out that an employee has COVID-19?

If an employee is diagnosed with COVID-19, they receive special instructions from their physician. This information lets them know what applies when it comes to sick leave, possible quarantine, contact tracing, and information for others. It is these individuals themselves who are responsible for providing any necessary information to others.

The relevant manager makes an assessment regarding infection and takes those measures deemed relevant based on the situation and its circumstances. The relevant manager directly informs the (in case of infection within the academy) and head of administration (in case of all infection). In this way, the university will have an overall view of the spread of infection and have the opportunity to take action based on it.

The Head of Professional Services convenes, if necessary, a meeting of staff who work with crises for further management of the situation.

Comprehensive information should always be provided to the Head of Department, Dean of Faculty, chief safety representative, HR manager, and student representative.

What happens if many employees in a group/area have found COVID-19?

If several employees in the same group are ill in COVID-19, the responsible manager should contact the relevant Dean of Faculty (in cases of infection within the Faculty) and Head of Professional Services (in all cases of infection).

If several employees in a group/work area have reported COVID-19 infection, if necessary, the infectious disease control physician will be contacted for an assessment when it comes to measures to be taken.

The Head of Professional Services convenes, if necessary, a meeting of staff who work with crises for further management of the situation.

Comprehensive information should always be provided to the Head of Department, Dean of Faculty, chief safety representative, HR manager, and student representative.

Please read the frequently asked questions (are updated continuosly)

“Spikningar” (notifications of thesis defences)

Read more about how “spikningar” (the traditional notifications of thesis defences) will be conducted during the autumn semester. 

If you have questions about the university's actions regarding the coronavirus outbreak, contact your immediate manager.

If you have questions about the coronavirus, please contact the national information number SOS Alarm 113 13. This number conveys information to the public in the event of serious accidents and crises in society.

In case of flu-like symptoms and respiratory problems, contact healthcare services through the medical information telephone number 1177 and follow their instructions.

Public Health Agency of Sweden's questions and answers  

Travel information from the Swedish Ministry for Foreign Affairs (Only in Swedish)

Krisinformation.se – emergency information from Swedish authorities 

Information to students from CSN, The Swedish Board of Student Finance (in Swedish only

Information from The Swedish Agency for Government Employers (in Swedish only)