In the opposite trajectory by the CUT, the University of Cyprus will move, regarding the return of its students in the new academic semester, which begins on September 6th.
The Senate of the University of Cyprus yesterday reaffirmed the decision it had taken on July 7th, based on which teaching will be conducted for all students with physical presence but with the necessary presentation of SafePass (it will include a vaccination certificate, either a certificate of illness with coronavirus, or a negative result in PCR or rapid test). At this point it is worth noting that the academic institution intends to arrange for the provision of free rapid tests to its needy students, without excluding soon to consider reopening the Health Center for testing throughout the university community, which it did last academic year. At the same time, he will continue vaccinations on his "Walk-In".
The decision does not negate 50% of the capacity of the classrooms, as in force in the protocol, so the University clarifies that in the case where the facilities / classrooms do not allow the course to be conducted in person for all students, then the course will be conducted simultaneously with physical presence and remotely through modern technology (the audiences will be broken into two). In the face-to-face course, priority will be given to students who have a vaccination certificate or have been ill with COVID-19. However, for vulnerable groups of students/teachers and upon presentation of the relevant medical certificate, distance monitoring and teaching will exceptionally be examined.
It is noted that a proposal corresponding to the decision of the CUT, for entry into the courses of only vaccinated students, which was rejected, fell on the table.
In a message to the university community, Rector Tasos Christofides, explaining the decision, noted that access to the university premises will only be allowed to students and staff members who have been vaccinated with at least one dose and have elapsed 21 days since the day of their vaccination, or have evidence that they have been sick with COVID-19 in the last six months, or are holders of a negative PCR test or a negative rapid antigen test performed no more than 72 hours before the arrival. As mentioned by the Rector, the above will be confirmed by the use of an application (a platform will operate on which students will upload their SafePasses) and will be controlled by the teachers, and in the case of teachers by authorized persons of the university.
It is worth noting that students who do not provide SafePass will not attend the course remotely and will receive an absence. Only those who will be determined by the academic institution, as the part of the audience of a course, who, for reasons of following the protocols regarding the capacity of the room, will be able to attend it remotely.
The University of Cyprus also makes it clear that this decision in no way negates its effort to promote vaccinations, as it considers that only in this way can we come out of the pandemic sooner.
In a statement, Progressive notes that its proposal was to return all students to face-to-face teaching by presenting SafePass in the manner that is true in the rest of society, capacity at least 80% as proposed by universities since July, at no cost to students. That is, the inclusion of the rapid test and even free of charge. Proodeftiki also mentions that it eventually supported the rector's proposal, as it went through the Senate (but without fully satisfying it), as it was the only one that ensured the greatest participation of students in teaching with physical presence.
The decision of the University of Cyprus was welcomed by the student faction Anagennisi, noting that it is a decision that listens to a large extent to the concerns of students and is close to the demands of the student as a whole as well as, contributes to the safe return of students to the university without discrimination and categorization of students. At the same time, the Renaissance calls on the Government to take decisions within the same framework and in accordance with the students and the decision of the University of Cyprus. The position of the Renaissance is the free conduct of the tests that the Government is going to determine in order to allow the entry of students to the Universities, for the entire student community and the creation of stations for the conduct of tests in universities. The Renaissance formulated a vertical disagreement with the decision of the CUT.
Dean CUT's response to criticisms
Moreover, in the aftermath of the decision of the Cut Senate to enter its premises only vaccinated students, with the rest staying in distance education, the rector of Panagiotis Zafiris was asked to take a stand on the strong reactions of the students. As Mr. Zafiris mentioned, there is no question of distinguishing students, as this decision is the only solution that can be implemented under the circumstances. He also pointed out that it is in the interest of the students that the decision is in the interest of the students, underlining that "those who chose to be vaccinated, return to the classroom. Those who stay home gain time to think and choose whether they want to be vaccinated. If they choose to do so three weeks later they will be in the classroom. In other words, they have the ability to return to the halls as normal."
Mr. Zafiris made it clear that any decision of the State will not affect the decision of the Senate, as universities are autonomous entities, their decisions as well as the way they operate are determined by the Senate. "And for the State to decide that it will conduct a free PCR test and rapid test does not affect our final decision and so we will proceed," said the rector of cut.
However, on the issue of possible intervention by the Government in the decision of the CUT, the Minister of Health, Michalis Hadjipantelas, was also asked to take a position, who replied in the negative. According to the Minister, the CUT is an autonomous organization and the Ministry of Health cannot interfere with its own decisions. "We believe that universities should follow the decision taken by the Council of Ministers. If the universities themselves, however, decide to follow stricter measures, it is something that we cannot intervene for", said Mr. Hadjipantelas.
This position does not clarify the scene for what will eventually be promoted by the Ministry of Health at the Meeting of the Council of Ministers on September 1 and how any decision affects the universities.
