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Archive for April, 2020

Development of a Simple Ventilator

April 21st, 2020 | by

RWTH and Luisenhospital are supporting Viessmann in developing a simple ventilator. Mass production is possible at short notice, as it was possible to fall back on the proven technology of gas condensing boilers.

Full Press Release

Online Semester is an Optional Semester

April 20th, 2020 | by

On 15 April 2020, the NRW Ministry of Culture and Science of the State of published a University Ordinance dealing with the impact of the Coronavirus Epidemic on university studies, which also affects the standard period of study.

It defines the summer semester 2020, which started in North Rhine-Westphalia as an online semester on April 20, as an optional semester.

RWTH, however, largely continues to operate, with a few exceptions (concerning excursions, for example). “We are doing everything possible to avoid extending the period of study for our students,” explains Professor Aloys Krieg, RWTH Vice-Rector of Teaching. For example, RWTH has been offering online teaching resources since April 6, 2020.

RWTH Press Release: Online Summer Semester

AStA: Coronavirus FAQ

How to Wear a Face Mask Covering the Nose and Mouth

April 20th, 2020 | by

In order to protect oneself and others from infection with SARS-CoV-2, the Robert Koch Institute (RKI) recommends wearing a mask covering both mouth and nose in certain situations in public places.

This applies in particular to situations where several people meet in closed rooms and stay there for a longer period of time (for example at the workplace) or if it is not possible for individuals to maintain a distance of at least 1.5 meters to others (for example in public transport or in shops).

It is important that the mask is worn tightly over the mouth and nose. Furthermore, it must be changed when it becomes wet; it must not be manually adjusted (even unconsciously) and must not be worn around the neck. A leaflet with information on the various types of masks can be found on the Internet at www.aachen.de/corona (in German, see Schutzmasken-ABC).

Updated Coronavirus Regulations and Effective Dates at RWTH

April 16th, 2020 | by

The new regulations mandated by the federal and state governments as well as the Robert Koch Institute have resulted in some adjustments or extensions of the RWTH regulations previously in place. For an overview of the updated dates and regulations, please visit http://www.rwth-aachen.de/corona/fristen.

Due to the worldwide spread of the coronavirus, the Robert Koch Institute is no longer providing information on specific risk areas. The special regulations for employees living in the district of Heinsberg and in the Netherlands are also no longer in place. Some regulations will be further adapted in due course, depending on the upcoming decisions of the Federal State of NRW, which are expected to be announced over the next few days and weeks. The crisis management team and the University management are making every effort to put in place updated regulations for RWTH as soon as possible, soon after the state has mandated the new regulations. The overview on the RWTH website will be updated accordingly, and any new regulations will be communicated via this blog.

RWTH Regulations and Effective Dates

Blood Donations in the SuperC

April 16th, 2020 | by

Providing enough blood for hospitals and vulnerable patients is a challenge during the coronavirus pandemic. The Blood Donation Unit of Uniklinik RWTH Aachen thus depends on the support of the population to ensure the supply of safe blood products in these difficult times. Until April 24, 2020, blood drives will continue to take place exclusively at the Sparkassenforum of the SuperC, Templergraben 57. Donations can be made on weekdays between 11:30am to 5pm. Uniklinik would like to point out that there will be no blood donation appointments at the University Hospital or other external locations until further notice.

Further information on restrictions for blood donors is available at www.wir-teilen-blut.de (de). Generally, the following rules apply: Those who would like to donate blood should feel healthy and well, those who feel ill are advised to stay at home. Dates can be arranged using the BALU+ blood donation app, so as to avoid waiting periods. Of course, donors can also come by at any time without arranging an appointment beforehand.

AStA Launches #IchHabKultur Program

April 14th, 2020 | by

In light of the ban of public gatherings of more than two people and the suspension of in-person events, RWTH Students’ Committee AStA is now providing a regularly updated overview of digital offerings, such as streams of live concerts from home, do-it-yourself tutorials, online consultations, and active communities at https://www.asta.rwth-aachen.de/kultur-statisch/.

Easter Greetings from the Pastoral Carers of the Aachen Universities

April 11th, 2020 | by

The pastoral care providers of the Aachen universities have published a letter to all students, teachers and employees. The summer semester lecture period should have started this week. But due to the outbreak of the coronavirus, other things have become more important, such as flattening the infection curve as much as possible through concerted action. Each and every one of us is doing their part. This leads to many limitations and personal challenges – in addition to the organizational, technical and economic aspects that are currently being discussed. Some may already be highly concerned for people close to them or for their own health.

In these difficult times, university chaplains Pastor Matthias Fritz from the Catholic University Community (mf@khg-aachen.de) and Pastor Dr. Swantje Eibach-Danzeglocke from the Protestant Student Community (esg-eibach@rwth-aachen.de) offer their support by offering confidential telephone and video consultations. Should it become necessary, the pastoral staff are also available to offer support with rituals of mourning in the case of loss.

Even if in-person contacts are currently hardly possible, you are invited to share thoughts and requests with other university members. A digital “Prayerwall” at www.prayerwall-aachen.de has been set up for this purpose. Every evening at 7.30 pm, the care units provides you with a short film that invites you to take a personal look back at the day and to pray. The current link can be found on the Facebook pages of KHG and ESG Aachen.

New Campaign #RWTHhilft Launched

April 9th, 2020 | by

Let’s stick together – despite the need for distance – and be there for one another. RWTH with its citizens’ forum RWTHextern, sponsoring association Förderverein proRWTH e. V., and AStA Students’ Committee have jointly initiated a relief action to support students put at a disadvantage by the Corona crisis. The idea of “#RWTHhilft” emerged in several areas at the University, based on the wish of RWTH members to contribute financial support. “We feel a strong sense of solidarity and engagement, which is great, and we want to make a difference together,” explains Rector of RWTH Aachen University, Ulrich Rüdiger.

The Freunde und Förderer von proRWTH are initially providing a budget of 30,000 euros for bridging scholarships from a special fund. In addition, they are now launching a fundraising campaign.

Initially, support will be given to students who, for example, cannot participate in the “online semester” due to a lack of equipment or who find it difficult to do so and would therefore be put at a disadvantage. When they receive the students’ applications, the Social Committee of the Students’ Parliament will assess the need for funding and organize the distribution and disbursement of the funds together with proRWTH.

Those who would like to support and donate can transfer a donation with the reference “Bridging Scholarship” to the Förderverein proRWTH e.V.

The bank account details for donations are:

Freunde und Förderer der RWTH Aachen e.V. | proRWTH
IBAN: DE36 3905 0000 0000 0159 41
BIC: AACSDE33

https://www.rwth-aachen.de/cms/root/Die-RWTH/Aktuell/Pressemitteilungen/April/~harhe/Neue-Aktion-RWTH-hilft-startet/lidx/1

http://prorwth.de/

Exams: New Dates Have to Be Replanned

April 8th, 2020 | by

In line with the press release from the NRW Ministry of Culture and Science, no attendance-based classes will be held any time soon. The summer semester will initially commence as an “online semester”, as previously communicated. Attendance-based exams cannot take place and written exams will not start April 24 as previously planned. RWTH will develop and communicate a new plan for examinations as soon as the requirements can better be assessed. No regular oral examinations can be held at present either. The newly planned exam dates must therefore be replanned once more. It is still uncertain when written exams can be taken again.

https://www.asta.rwth-aachen.de/corona-faq/

Summer Semester Starts April 20 as an “Online Semester” Throughout NRW – RWTH Has Been Offering Courses Online Since April 6

April 7th, 2020 | by

There will not be a “zero semester” at universities in North Rhine-Westphalia. NRW Minister for Culture and Science Isabell Pfeiffer-Poensgen wants to give students and universities security in their future planning. RWTH has been offering courses online since April 6, 2020. The NRW Ministry of Culture and Science made the following announcement on April 7, 2020.

Due to the increasing spread of the coronavirus in North Rhine-Westphalia, the start of the summer semester at universities in the state was already postponed to April 20 back in mid-March. It is still unclear whether the contact-reducing measures currently in effect can expire on April 20 or whether and in what form they may have to be continued. Therefore, the Ministry of Culture and Science, together with the NRW State Rectors’ conference, the universities of applied sciences, and the art and music colleges, has agreed to start the current summer semester from April 20. This will initially begin as an “online semester”. The universities have promised to make a wide range of courses available online as part of the solution. This ensures that the summer semester can take place and avoids a so-called “zero semester”, which would put students at a disadvantage.

In the Standing Conference of the Ministers of Education at the end of last week, all the states in Germany agreed on the common goal of avoiding a situation where the summer semester would not be credited.

“The health of students and instructors is still our top priority. Since it is currently not certain when universities will be able to resume regular attendance classes, flexible and pragmatic solutions are now required. Starting the semester with online classes is therefore a good alternative. In this way, we are giving the more than 780,000 students in North Rhine-Westphalia and our universities security for planning the coming months,” explains Minister of Culture and Science Isabel Pfeiffer-Poensgen.

Go to the full press release