New recommendations for campus education issued by the Public Health Agency

— I am happy to announce that students, researchers, universities and university colleges can prepare to move towards more campus-based activities. Higher education institutions need to make assessments of how this is to be done based on their conditions in dialogue with the Public Health Agency and regional authorities," says Matilda Ernkrans, Minister for Higher Education and Research.

The Public Health Agency is thus changing its national general guidelines to reduce the spread of covid-19. The recommendation that higher education takes place at a distance as a starting point is now removed. This means that higher education at universities and university colleges will be held on site from 1 June. During the press conference, the minister stressed that the pandemic has shown the importance of research and innovation and that she was very proud of the efforts that students and staff have made to ensure that the education could continue. Her hope is that the universities can return to the majority of the studies on campus as soon as possible during the autumn.

The message is commented as follows by Eva Dannetun, Deputy Vice-Chancellor of Education and Chair of Mid Sweden University’s coordination group for corona adapted education:

“This is of course very positive news. We are all looking forward to meeting more students on campus during the autumn. The coordination group will meet on Monday next week to discuss more in detail how the Government’s decision will be handled at Mid Sweden University. We will get back to you with more information after that meeting," says Eva Dannetun.

“It will mean a lot of work for the universities to return to campus education and I would like to emphasize that the universities still have a responsibility for implementing the education in a manner that follows current recommendations. This means that some universities may need to make different assessments and take different measures than others," says Matilda Ernkrans.

At the press conference, Britta Björkholm from the Public Health Agency of Sweden emphasized the importance of the gradual return of the return “not everyone can come back at the same time”. FHM’s advice is still to avoid large groups, to conduct teaching in smaller groups whenever possible, and that students and staff remain at home if they have any flu-like symptoms. The recommendation to work from home is still valid. 

In a press release from the government it is stated that the decision is made at this point to enable possible summer courses, but above all so that education providers can plan for the autumn semester. The Public Health Agency will update the information aimed at universities to provide guidance on how to conduct education on campus in a safe manner.