Archive for July, 2020
Regulations for Written and E-exams
In light of current developments, the Crisis Management Team has decided to enforce a requirement to wear a mouth and nose covering in the corridors of RWTH from August 10. In written exams, candidates can take off their mouth and nose covering when they are at their exam desk, as long as the safety distance of 1.5 m is maintained there. The covering does not have to be worn during the exam. If an exam participant is declared to be infected with COVID-19, all participants and supervisors will be informed and considered category II contact persons according to the definition by the Robert Koch Institute (RKI). In such cases, no quarantine order will be enforced.
SARS-CoV-2 Testing for Individuals From Risk Areas
According to the current Corona Entry Regulation North Rhine-Westphalia (CoronaEinrVO), individuals entering NRW or those returning to the state from a risk area (apart from a few regulated exceptions, such as students entering the state to take or prepare for exams related to their training or studies) have to undergo a 14-day quarantine at home and contact the local public health department immediately. Only individuals who can present a negative test result may be exempted from this quarantine order.
At the instigation of the Ministry of Labor, Health and Social Affairs (MAGS), centers for testing SARS-CoV-2 have been set up at airports in Dusseldorf, Cologne/Bonn, Dortmund, and Münster/Osnabrück.
Support and Advice on Career and Job Entry Questions Continues Online
With their career@home series, the RWTH Career Center continues to supports students, even during the coronavirus situation. The Career Center Team has already offered more than 80 online workshops this summer semester. From one-day seminars on career planning or networking to company presentations with Q&A sessions and job application training, all the offerings that are usually held in person have now been turned into virutal events. Due to the great response, the range of services is being continuously expanded. In August, for example, workshops on personality and career as well as on the application process will be offered.
New Quarantine Provisions for Students
The Federal State of North Rhine-Westphalia (NRW) has recently adjusted its legal provisions, lifting the quarantine measures for students traveling from risk areas to NRW in order to complete or prepare for their exams as part of their studies or for other vocational purposes.
For these reasons, from Tuesday, July 21, 2020, RWTH will lift the one-week entry ban from the University imposed on students traveling to Aachen from risk areas.
As a result, such students may participate in exams, courses, etc.
The provision that students with respiratory symptoms are not allowed in the buildings of RWTH (unless they have been cleared by a doctor, e.g. confirmed as having a cold) will remain in place.
RWTH Develops Novel Ventilator
The PV1000, a simple and robust solution for use in ICUs, is currently being developed at RWTH. Launched by several RWTH departments and institutes, the project has reached an important milestone: the device’s graphical user interface will now be tested by experts in hospitals throughout Germany.
Shocked by the lack of ventilation beds in many countries at the beginning of the coronavirus pandemic, scientists at RWTH Aachen University have been developing an emergency ventilator since April. The “People’s Ventilator PV1000” is designed to fill the gap in situations where conventional ventilators are in short supply. It is a simple and robust device that is suitable for use in intensive care units for several weeks.
Initiated by the Chair of Medical Information Technology (MedIT), the Institute of Automotive Engineering, and the Chair of Embedded Software, the project now involves 30 volunteer researchers headed by Professor Steffen Leonhardt. The project receives support from several RWTH institutions as well as companies in the region.
150 Years of RWTH: Special Anniversary Show
On October 10, 1870, the first lecture was held in Aachen. To commemorate this historic day, RWTH had originally planned a big show and ceremony in C.A.R.L. lecture hall complex – now, due to the coronavirus pandemic, the University is instead presenting an online show at 8:15pm on its birthday featuring Ralph Caspers and Shary Reeves.
When teaching first began at RWTH Aachen University, it was still known as “Königliche Rheinisch-Westphälische Polytechnische Schule.” In his inaugural speech, founding director August von Kaven promised to aim for “rapid, wonderful progress in the application of science.” 150 years later, RWTH Aachen University is ready to show the world what it stands for today through the medium of film.
“The Show” at the C.A.R.L. was supposed to have been the highlight of a series of celebrations – however, in light of the pandemic, these events, unfortunately, had to be canceled. Instead, RWTH now invites you to join us for a prime-time anniversary show, which can be experienced together and yet spatially separated. It will be broadcast on October 10, 2020 at 8:15pm via the video platform YouTube.
Full Press Release: Special RWTH Anniversary Show
Library of the Department of History to Reopen
The library of the Department of History will resume part of its services on July 21. Students will then have the opportunity to book one-hour or two-hour sessions for research purposes. The physical distancing and hygiene regulations in place at RWTH must be adhered to.
For further information, please visit the website of the Department Library (de).
Oral Exams Via Zoom – Information on Data Protection
The regulations for oral examinations using Zoom have been updated. It is now no longer necessary for students to consent in writing to taking the oral examination via Zoom. However, students must be informed about their rights during the examination. The mandatory data protection declaration can be found at: CLS Digital Teaching & Learning. Please always use the most recent version.
Joint Broadcast by the NRW University Radio Stations on the “Corona Semester”
As announced by Hochschulradio Aachen, on July 17, six university radio stations from North Rhine-Westphalia will review and take stock of the summer semester in a joint broadcast. This is the second collaborative project between the university radio stations from Aachen, Bochum, Bonn, Dortmund, Duisburg/Essen, and Siegen. The first joint broadcast in April 2020 focused on the start of the “digital semester.” A recording of the broadcast is available at: Campus NRW: Semesterstart. Read the rest of this entry »
Free Take Away Lunch for Students in Financial Hardship
As announced by Studierendenwerk, Aachen students in financial distress due to the coronavirus crisis are now offered a daily free meal in the Mensa Academica and Mensa Vita dining halls. The project was launched on July 13.
The pandemic has hit many students hard. As some of them have lost their jobs, they are now facing financial hardship, according to a statement from Studierendenwerk. To support students in need, the Federal Ministry of Education and Research is now providing grants to help cover the months June to August 2020: Financial Aid from the BMBF. Furthermore, Studierendenwerk Aachen has alleviated student hardship since the beginning of the pandemic by adjusting the rental conditions for residence halls. As Dirk Reitz, managing director of Studierendenwerk Aachen, explains: “Since the beginning of the pandemic, we have been supporting students in need with various initiatives. Now we are pleased to be able to make an important contribution by offering a free take away lunch in the dining halls!”
Free meals are offered to students who can prove that they have received an interim grant from the BMBF or who have been granted hardship support according to the rules defined by their student representative bodies. Such support includes, for example, a loan from AStA or a bridging grant from the proRWTH association. In addition, all students who have had their semester ticket refunded due to social hardship can benefit from the free lunch initiative.
The AStA Student Committee will provide students in need with a certificate of eligibility for the free lunch initiative. For information on criteria of eligibility and the application process, please refer to the AStA website.