CORONAVIRUS: INFORMATION FOR INTERNATIONAL STUDENTS

March 10th 2020

Coronavirus COVID-19 infection – Information about on line exams - Update March 10, 2020

Dear students,

the Prime Minister of Italy, in order to prevent the spread of the Coronavirus COVID-19 infection, has extended the suspension of frontal teaching activities.

Following the information provided in these days aimed at ensuring, as far as possible, the continuity of your educational path and the regularity of the Academic Year, the University of Parma advises that the possibility to take exams “online” through the platform "Teams" has been assessed and considered viable. Unfortunately, this method cannot be used for exams that require a practical or a written test. In any case, the decision on how to take the exams belongs to the Professor, also in consideration of the peculiarities of the different courses and in accordance with the recommendations formulated by the Department.

In this regard, in accordance with art. 38 of the University Didactic Regulation, the need for evaluations to be “always individual.…. take place in conditions that guarantee the deepening, objectivity and fairness of the assessment in relation to the teaching or activity followed and with what is explicitly requested for the purpose of the test. " In addition, the same Regulation provides the following indication: "The exam commissions are composed of the President and one or more members chosen from among the other official professors of the course, the researchers and scholars of the subject appointed by the Course Council and defined at the following paragraph 11. The exam session is considered valid when at least two members of the commission are present, including the President. In the case of online registration, only the President of the Commission signs the electronic report."

For the exams that will be carried out "online", the student will receive appropriate operational indications about the technical tool to be used; in any case, I anticipate that the examination will take place in the following ways, being understood that each Commission will take all the necessary measures to ensure the correct performance:

1. Each student will be invited to participate in the exam by a member of the Commission by Microsoft's "Teams" program.
2. Roll call will be carried out in order to verify Students’ presence, then the exam will be declared open and the students will be called to carry out the test in the order considered appropriate by the Commission.
3. The identity of the candidate will be verified by showing a valid identification document and the exam will be performed.

Please note that each Department is organizing all the activities to make it possible to start this procedure for carrying out online exams as soon as possible, with times and methods according to the different situations; therefore, I thank you in advance for your understanding.

Here you can download a step-by-step "Guide", and here you can view the video tutorial (in Italian).

For further information or technical requests, it is possible to address to the appropriate communication channel (supporto.lezionionline@unipr.it), while for questions concerning the organization of the exam session calendar, please refer to the Academic Affairs Office of the different Departments.

Thank you again for your attention and collaboration,

Best wishes

The Rector

Prof. Paolo Andrei

March 5th 2020

To the University of Parma community
Students, teachers, technical and administrative staff

Subject: precautionary measures against the spread of the Coronavirus COVID-19 infection - Update March 5, 2020

Dear students, dear colleagues,

the Presidency of the Council of Ministers issued the Decree of 4 March 2020 which, by defining the measures to combat and contain the spread of the COVID-19 virus throughout the country, confirmed the precautionary measures already communicated previously, extending the suspension of educational activities until March 15, 2020.

The constant updating of the internal provisions relating to the organization of the activities allowed in this moment of emergency (many of which are managed on line) can be read on our institutional website (www.unipr.it), where we have dedicated a page (in evidence) which summarizes all the available information.

Aware of the inconvenience that everybody is facing, I would like to thank you again for your collaboration: I am sure that each of us is doing his best to overcome this emergency, with due attention to health prescriptions and with the sense of responsibility that the moment requires.

I hope that, as soon as possible, our University wil again be the meeting place we all want and know, but I am convinced that this test, like all those that life holds for us, can be a reason of growth for everyone and for the entire academic community we belong to.

Best wishes.

The Rector

Prof. Paolo Andrei

text of the Prime Minister's Decree of 4 March 2020

 

March 1st 2020

To the whole University of Parma community
Students, teachers, technical and administrative staff

Subject: precautionary measures against the spread of the Coronavirus COVID-19 infection - Update March 1, 2020

The Italian Presidency of the Council of Ministers has just published the text of the Prime Minister Decree of March 1st 2020 which, in art. 2, establishes the following provisions regarding our Region:

• sospensione, sino all’8 marzo 2020, dei servizi educativi per l’infanzia di cui all’articolo 2 del decreto legislativo 13 aprile 2017, n. 65 e delle attività didattiche nelle scuole di ogni ordine e grado, nonché della frequenza delle attività scolastiche e di formazione superiore, comprese le Università e le Istituzioni di Alta Formazione Artistica Musicale e Coreutica, di corsi professionali, master, corsi per le professioni sanitarie e università per anziani, ad esclusione dei corsi per i medici in formazione specialistica e dei corsi di formazione specifica in medicina generale nonché delle attività dei tirocinanti delle professioni sanitarie, ferma in ogni caso la possibilità di svolgimento di attività formative a distanza;  
• sospensione, sino all’8 marzo 2020, di tutte le manifestazioni organizzate, di carattere non ordinario, nonché degli eventi in luogo pubblico o privato, ivi compresi quelli di carattere culturale, ludico, sportivo e religioso, anche se svolti in luoghi chiusi ma aperti al pubblico, quali, a titolo d’esempio, grandi eventi, cinema, teatri, discoteche, cerimonie religiose; 

• apertura al pubblico dei musei e degli altri istituti e luoghi della cultura di cui all’articolo 101 del codice dei beni culturali e del paesaggio, di cui al decreto legislativo 22 gennaio 2004, n. 42, a condizione che detti istituti e luoghi assicurino modalità di fruizione contingentata o comunque tali da evitare assembramenti di persone, tenendo conto delle dimensioni e delle caratteristiche dei locali aperti al pubblico, e tali che i visitatori possano rispettare la distanza tra loro di almeno un metro. 

In accordance with the above, I think appropriate to summarize the measures to be adopted up to 8 March 2020 at the University of Parma, without prejudice to any further updates that may become necessary.

1. Lectures and office hour

All lectures are suspended until March 8th.

As already specified in previous communications, from Monday 2nd March teachers who have to recover lessons suspended during the last weeks (First Cycle Degree Courses, Master Degree Courses, Single-cycle Degree Courses) will be able to make available teaching materials and video lessons on the Elly web site.

As regards the technical instructions about the use of distance teaching tools, all the teachers and students are asked to follow the previous communication.

Activities regarding the reception of Students are not suspended. Teachers are requested to take all useful measures aimed at allowing students unable to come to University with facilities (using, if necessary, telephone or telematic methods in addition to the usual attendance procedures).

2. Masters and specialization courses

All lectures are suspended until March 8th.

If deemed appropriate by the Coordinators of these training activities, lessons or groups of lessons can be organized according to distance teaching methods, also using different IT solutions than those suggested for First Cycle Degree Courses, Master Degree Courses and Single-cycle Degree Courses.

3. Research Doctorates courses

All lectures are suspended until March 8th.

The research activities of Research Doctorates’ students can continue inside University locations, in accordance with the provisions of the Coordinators of the various Doctorates, taking care to ensure adequate distancing between the people operating in the same areas.

Final tests: the Coordinators and Teachers' Colleges of the Doctorates can evaluate whether to arrange the completion of the final tests scheduled during the suspension period using telematic methods. Otherwise, the new scheduling of the final tests (not carried out during the suspension period) must be decided with adequate advance, and in any case in compliance with the terms of notice provided for by specific University regulations

4. Traineeships

Internal traineeships are suspended until 8 March 2020, with the exception of those carried out by doctors in specialist training and by trainees in the health professions. For traineeships carried out outside the University structures, any restrictions provided by the host bodies and companies apply, also in relation to their geographical location. In this regard, we communicate from now that the Municipality of Parma has ordered the suspension of the traineeships carried out at its Educational Services until March 15.

5. Graduation sessions and exams

Graduation sessions and exams are suspended until March 8th.

The new dates of the academic calendar will be communicated by the Departments this week, following appropriate coordination at University level. In any case, the new deadlines will be communicated well in advance.

In order to facilitate students and allow the streamlining of the administrative procedures of the student secretariats, a new electronic procedure for the presentation of the degree theses will be communicated to all interested students in a short time.

6. Libraries, study areas and museums

The University Libraries provide the loan service, allowing students to access it in a limited and regulated manner in order to avoid gatherings of people. It is important to verify the size and characteristics of the locations open to the public, so that visitors can respect the distance of at least one meter between them. The same access rules apply to the University museum structures.

The study areas remain closed.

7. Student secretariats and other offices providing services to the public

As happened during the past week, the Student Secretariats and all the other Offices which provide services to the public guarantee their opening. Public will be admitted in a limited and regulated manner, in order to avoid gatherings of people, and depending to  the size and characteristics of the locations, so that visitors can respect the distance of at least one meter  between them.

8. Cultural events, conferences, press conferences

All cultural events open to the public, press conferences, scientific meetings and congresses are suspended, unless further updates, until March 8th.

9. Competition procedures

The suspension of the competition procedures is confirmed, with the exception of situations in which candidates are assessed exclusively on a curricular basis and / or electronically. Competitions for health personnel are excluded, including state and qualification exams to practice the profession of doctor.

With regard to the new scheduling of meetings and interviews suspended during this period, adequate information will be provided in advance, and in any case in compliance with the terms of notice provided for by the applicable University regulations. Notices will be published on the institutional website of the University.

10. Missions and other special indications

The indications regarding the conduct of the missions and the other special measures (not related to the previous points) remain confirmed.

Text of the Prime Minister's Decree of 1 March 2020

 

23 February 2020
12:00 a.m.

To all the students, to the Faculty, technical and administrative staff of the University of Parma

In close relation with the unforeseen evolution of the COVID-19 “Coronavirus” on the Italian territory and in agreement with the Italian Ministry of University, the Emilia-Romagna Region and the other regional universities, in order to minimize the risk of contagion as well as to facilitate students who may encounter serious difficulties in travelling to reach the University:

• all lectures and didactical activities in all University structures (lectures, traineeships, internships, exams and graduation sessions) are temporarily suspended from Monday 24^th to Friday 28^th February 2020, the suspension also including any educational activity carried out at the sanitary structures located in Piacenza and its province. It is also guaranteed that the deadlines and the planned dates of the academic calendar will be adjusted accordingly.

It is furthermore confirmed that any other activity will regularly take place and that the university structures and offices will remain open during the usual working hours.

Furthermore, the University of Parma invites everyone to behave carefully attending the safety rules approved by the Italian Ministero della Salute, Istituto Superiore della Sanità and Regione Emilia-Romagna, namely:

• 14-day quarantine, under active surveillance, for anyone having contacts with confirmed cases of COVID-19 “Coronavirus” infection;
• stay at home, under active surveillance, for anyone entering the Italian territory after being in the areas and regions hit by the virus outbreak in the Democratic Republic of China;
• interruption of the working activities, also if performed outside the city of residence, for anyone residing in one of the cities hit by the virus outbreak and officially listed by the competent authorities, presently: Codogno, Castiglione d'Adda, Casalpusterlengo, Fombio, Maleo, Somaglia, Bertonico, Terranova dei Passerini, Castelgerundo, San Fiorano, and Vo’ Euganeo
• obligation to contact the toll-free number 1500 in case of symptoms of infection

The indications above are provided in order to reduce the risk of infection. This University will promptly provide to inform about any further official update.

 

23 February 2020
8:00 p.m.

UNIVERSITY OF PARMA: UNTIL MARCH 1ST ALL THE EVENTS ARE SUSPENDED; MUSEUMS, LIBRARIES AND STUDY AREAS ARE CLOSED

Competitive exams are also suspended

Following the ordinance signed today by the President of the Region, Stefano Bonaccini, and the Minister of Health, Roberto Speranza, to contrast the spread of Coronavirus, we communicate further updates following what has already been communicated by the University this morning at 12:00.

In addition to all educational activities, cultural events, conferences, meetings, press conferences and events of any kind, which require groupings of people, will be suspended from Monday 24 February and until Sunday 1 March.

The libraries, museums and study area of the University will also be closed. The competitive exams already scheduled in the University until March 1st are also suspended.

It is specified that the suspension of teaching and training activities does NOT apply to doctors in specialist training and trainees from the health professions.

The decisions that have been taken, as well as those that will be taken in the coming days, derive from a constant and timely coordination with the competent Authorities on the matter (the only ones entitled to issue or prescribe behaviors and rules to follow); in fact, these are issues that require an adequate involvement of all the institutions in charge.

We ask you, therefore, to follow them scrupulously, while praying at the same time to avoid attitudes that can generate unnecessary misunderstandings or confusion from the interpretative point of view.

If there are further elements to consider, I will take care of keeping you informed with the due and usual timeliness, and with the use of the University's official communication channels: the website www.unipr.it, the emails sent via the lists of University and institutional social profiles.

Thanks for collaboration.

The Rector
Prof. Paolo Andrei