Dagført 12. oktober 2021 / Update from October 12th 2021:

Setrið fylgir almennu koronuleiðreglunum frá korona.fo.

Follow the guidelines from corona.fo.

Dagført 20. mai 2020 / Update from May 20th 2020

Góðu lesandi,

Viðfest er kunning frá rektaranum, nú okkara virksemi meira ella minni heldur fram sum vanligt.

Í dag er ársdagur hjá Setrinum. Vit fylla 55 ár, og høvdu umstøðurnar ikki verið so órógvaðar av COVID-19, høvdu vit helst hildið dagin á øðrvísi hátt.

Rektarin, sum enn er í Glasgow vegna heilsukreppuna, ið enn valdar har, sigur, at fremsta raðfestingin nú er próvtøkurnar og prógvhandanirnar, sum standa fyri framman.

Hevur onkur av tykkum tørv á at fáa tekstin týddan, eru tit vælkomin at seta tykkum í samband við Lestrarskrivstovuna ella Brynhild (292517).

 

Vinarliga,

Lestrarskrivstovan

_____________________________________________________________________________________________

Dear student

55^th Anniversary for the University and an Update on Plans for the Autumn

I hope this find you well and coping with – hopefully even enjoying – things getting closer to normal with life on the Faroe Islands. Writing from the UK, where the situation is still very serious indeed, I can say that many are looking on with admiration at what has been achieved so far on the Faroes.

Firstly, there is an important birthday greeting to share. Today the University of the Faroe Islands has its 55th anniversary! Many of you will know the history better than I do, but I know enough to be able to say that it is a remarkable history and an outstanding achievement for a population of some 52,000 people to have created such a University. We should all, in my view, be very proud of that.

Most recently, of course, we have together experienced what will be recorded as one of the most remarkable periods in the University’s entire history. I imagine the historians will speak very well of the way staff and students have dealt with this period.

In ordinary circumstances we would have marked and celebrated this occasion more fully, but the recent circumstances have not allowed for that. However, we are at the moment taking steps to mark the occasion a little more fully in the weeks ahead.

At this moment the top priority for everyone at the University remains supporting students to complete their studies as fully and as well as possible, and to see the ‘class of 2020’ graduate, move on with their lives and careers, and make their contributions to the world based on the education they have received.

However, for those who still not graduate this summer, I can also provide a brief update about our current planning for the new academic session beginning in August. We will plan to start as normal – or as close to normal as possible. That will mean teaching and other activities taking place face-to-face, rather than remotely, though perhaps with continuing precautions along the lines of those we have at the moment. Plans are currently being made for an introduction/welcome week for students along these lines, with some faculty-based events and also some larger, all-University, events. However, if circumstances require it we will modify the plans.

That said, we must also have some preparations for the possibility that circumstances will not allow us to start up and/or continue as ‘normal’ in the new session, and the University Leadership Team will be considering this over the next couple of weeks. Part of the preparation will involve strengthening our capacity to deliver online teaching and to further support staff and students in working that way. This is likely to have value for us in any circumstances, since it is something we can make use of in the future – whether to deal with Covid-19 or some other issue, or, perhaps just as importantly, to become part of what we more routinely are able to do.   

You will hear from me further in due course, but in the meantime, I wish you all the very best as you approach your final assessments.

Yours faithfully

Chik

 

Dagført 01. mai 2020 / Update from May 1st 2020

Góðu lesandi

Niðanfyri er dagførd kunning frá Chik Collins, rektara um støðuna hjá tykkum lesandi á Setrinum, nú samfelagið verður latið meira upp.

Høvuðsboðskapurin er, at møguleikar nú verða fyri at víðka eitt sindur um virksemið hjá lesandi á sjálvum Setrinum, men at undirvísingin sum heild framhaldandi verður talgild.

Hetta er grundað á tilmæli frá myndugleikunum, sum vórðu kunngjørd í gjár.

Leiðslan á tykkara deild fer nú at kanna, hvat kann fyriskipast fyri tykkum á tryggari grund á Setrinum, og tit fara tí í komandi viku og vikurnar eftir tað at frætta nærri um hetta.

Rektarin takkar tykkum fyri tolni og minnir á, at allar leiðreglur um frástøðu og reinføri framhaldandi mugu takast í størsta álvara, eftirsum COVID-19 framvegis er ein stórur altjóða trupulleiki, hóast støðan í Føroyum í løtuni er heilt góð.

Hevur onkur tykkara tørv á at fáa tekstin hjá rektaranum niðanfyri umsettan í størri mun, kunnu tit seta tykkum í samband við Lestrarskrivstovuna.

***

Dear Student

As promised on Wednesday, I am writing again to update you on the arrangements for the University for the week beginning 4th May. These arrangements are based on the advice announced by the government yesterday and also a detailed discussion which we have since had with government officials.

The position is that now we are able to allow University staff to begin to return to work regularly in our buildings. Some will continue to work from home due to relevant health issues.

However, we are not able yet to return to teaching taking place in our buildings as normal. Instead, we must continue with our existing arrangements for remote teaching and learning for most things, though with some limited exceptions being made for some groups of students, based on need.

That said, we will now be willing to consider requests from staff to extend  permissions a little to include some further on campus activities which are perhaps not entirely essential, but which will help us to support students further where we think there is a strong need, and where we are confident that it can be done safely. This might, for example, mean allowing groups of students to come for one class on campus in a week, to help with challenges around motivation and isolation. It might also mean that some more of the exams and assessments which will be happening in the coming weeks will be able to take place in our buildings rather than remotely.

Academic staff and Deans of Faculty have been asked to consider possibilities and to come forward to the University Leadership with requests. So, students can expect to be hearing from their faculties and programme teams about this from next week and in the weeks ahead.

Of course, all activity at the University will have to be conducted in line with the guidance regarding social distancing and cleanliness. You will all know about this already, but the main things are:

• Observing social distancing – keep two metres away from other people at all times. Rooms will be organised for any activity to ensure this is possible;
• Hand washing when entering and leaving our buildings and at regular intervals while within buildings – and we will seek to ensure hand sanitizer is also available (though hand washing is still best);
• Do not come to to University if you are feeling unwell or develop any symptoms which could be an indication of Covid-19 infection (and the possible symptoms are many);
• Coughing or sneezing should be controlled with elbows and/or tissues and hands washed – again!
• Remember all of the above also when travelling to and from University, when in common spaces within the buildings and also more generally when you are not at home. Cleanliness and social distancing should be carefully observed at all times and everywhere.

 

It is vital that we remember that the cororna crisis is not over. Rather the first stages of it have been well handled on the Faroe Islands allowing a relaxation of the lockdown measures. But internationally the crisis is raging. The virus can return and it may not work out so well a second time, especially if people become forgetful or complacent. We as a University need to be at the forefront in reminding people of this and demonstrating our awareness of it in our own actions. Education, knowledge, understanding and expertise now more than ever clearly matter in our world – and that is one reason why the world needs you all for the future!

We must also be ready, as we take these careful steps forward, to be prepared to take steps back if the virus looks like it may take a new hold. We will, of course, monitor developments carefully and be ready to do whatever is required. Hopefully things will progress well.

Thank you to all of our students for your patience, co-operation and support during these past seven weeks. I have seen great dignity, maturity and responsibility in the way that students have conducted themselves. I feel you have done yourselves and our University proud.

Let’s look to build on that achievement together as we go forward.

 

Yours faithfully

Chik

Professor Chik Collins, Rector (Vice Chancellor) of the University of the Faroe Islands

Fróðskaparsetur Føroya/University of the Faroe Islands

J.C Svabos gøta 14, P.O. Box 272, FO-110 Tórshavn, Faroe Islands

ChikC@setur.fo |+298 292502

 

Dagført 29. apríl 2020 / Update from April 29th 2020

Góðu lesandi,

Eg vóni at tit øll hava tað gott. Eg skrivi fyri at geva eina stutta endurskoðan av støðuni á Setrinum.

Sum tit minnast, so skrivaði eg eftir páskir fyri at boða frá at vit fóru at halda á fram við fjarundirvísing, til í fyrsta lagið við endan av hesi vikuni – fríggjadagin 1. mai – tó við ávísum avmarkaðum undantøkum fyri nakrir bólkar av lesandi, alt eftir tørvi.

Fyrst og fremst, vil eg gera greitt at við at halda á fram við okkara serligu ásetingum, so hava vit fylgt ráðgeving frá landsstýrinum. Setrið hevur ikki sett egnar serstakar leiðreglar og vit fara at halda á fram við at arbeiða í tøttum samstarvið við landsstýrið framyvir.

Sum tað næsta, kann eg boða frá at vit í løtuni bíða eftir nærri ráðgeving frá landsstýrinum, áðrenn vit koma við nýggjum boðum um hvussu vit koma at virkað frá komandi viku av – frá mánadegnum 4. mai. Tað er sera ósannlíkt at vit fara “aftur til vanligt”, so vit eiga at fyrireikað okkum uppá at halda á fram við nøkrum – møguliga enn nakað breiðum – serligum ásetingum, serliga tá tað kemur til fjarstøðu og reinføri. Eg fái givið nærri boð móti endanum av hesi vikuni, ella í seinasta lagið tíðliga í komandi viku.

Meðan vit bíða, vildi eg veita tað kunning eg kann, uttan at gita ella hugleiða ov nógv. Týðandi er at vit, sum tit nokk eri samd í, hava megnað at handfara smittuna væl í Føroyum – sum tit nokk vita ikki er støðan allastaðni. Sum eitt universitet hava vit spælt ein ja-ligan leiklut í at stuðla hesum góðu úrslitum og vit fara at tryggja at vit eisini gera tað framyvir.  

Eg havi verið í áhaldandi samskifti við Ráð Teirra Lesandi hesa tíðina og hevði ein gevandi fund við teimum í gjár. Vit møtast aftur um tvær vikur. Um tú hevur nakað tú metir vit áttu at umhugsa ella verða varug við, ella um tú hevur persónligar avbjóðingar ella trupulleikar í samband við lesturin, ella sum ávirka tín lestur, vil eg vinarliga heita tykkum á at seta tykkum í samband við Setrið fyri at prátað við viðkomandi starvsfólk og fáa stuðul.

Hósmorgun fara vit at hava næsta felagsfundin fyri lesandi við sálarfrøðingi, so gangnýti hendan møguleikan, um tú heldur tað kann hjálpa tær- Kunning er á heimasíðuni og á Facebook.

Annars, vil eg takka tykkum fyri at hava hildið okkum til góðar seinastu sjey vikurnar og vit vóna at tit koma at halda á fram við hesum í komandi vikunum. Hetta er so týðandi fyri okkum øll.

Tú hoyrir nærri frá mær skjótt.

Vinarliga,

Chik

_____________________________________________________________________________________________

Dear student

I hope this finds all of you well. I am writing with a brief update regarding the current circumstances at the University.

As you will remember, I wrote to you all after Easter to say that we would continue with remote teaching and learning until at least the end of this week – Friday 1st May – though with some limited exceptions being made for some groups of students, based on need.

Firstly, I want to clarify that in continuing with these arrangements we have been following advice from government. The University has not been pursuing any policy of its own, separately from government, and we will continue to liaise closely with government over how we approach things going forward.

Secondly, I want to inform you that at this stage we are awaiting further advice from government before we provide new communication about how we will proceed from next week – from Monday 4th May. It is highly unlikely that we will be ‘returning to normal’, and so we should be prepared to continue with at least some – and perhaps still quite extensive – special measures in terms of social distancing and hygiene. However, I will be able to update you more precisely towards the end of this week, or at the beginning of next week at the latest.

Meanwhile, I wanted to keep you informed as best I can, rather than guessing or speculating too much. The main thing, I am sure you will agree, is that the situation with the virus has so far been well managed on the Faroe Islands – which is not, as you will know, the case everywhere. As a University we have played a positive part in supporting these good outcomes and we will make sure that we continue to do that.

I have continued to meet regularly with the Student Council during the current situation, and had a futher very useful meeting with them today. I will meet with them again in two weeks time. But, in the meantime, if there is something that you feel we need to be aware of or thinking about, or if you have some personal challenge or problem related to or affecting your academic work, please get in touch with the University to let the relevant people know and to seek support.

There will be another session for students to meet as a group with a psychologist this Thursday morning, so please do make use of this opportunity if you feel it can help you. The information is on the website and on Facebook.

More generally, thanks to all of you for ‘sticking with us’ these past seven weeks – and please continue to ‘stick with us’ in the weeks ahead. That is so important for everyone.

You will hear from me further in the coming days.

Yours faithfully

Chik

 

 

Dagført 20. apríl 2020 / Update from April 20th 2020

Góðu øll lesandi

Tíðin til felags lestrarvegleiðing á Zoom er broytt og framyvir verður Zoom lestrarvegleiðing mikudagar kl. 10.00-11.00. Komandi tvær vikurnar fara vit at hava eina yvirskrift til lestrarvegleiðingina.

Leinkjan er:

Join Zoom Meeting

https://setur.zoom.us/j/316303139

 

Mikudagin 22. apríl kl. 10.00

Hendan dagin fer Kirstin at hava eina framløgu um evnið: Motivatión í tíðini við Korona - eitt innlit í motivatiónshugtakið og hvussu ein kann betra um motivatiónina tá arbeitt verður heimanífrá?

Mikudagin 29. apríl kl. 10.00

Fara Johild og Paulina at tosa um evnið: At fyribyrgja einsemi í frástøðu

 

Um tit hava eitt evni sum tit hugsa er viðkomandi til lestrarvegleiðingina á Zoom, eru tit vælkomin at senda okkum ein teldupost.

Tit eru altíð vælkomin at seta tykkum í samband við okkum:

Lesandi á Søgu- og samfelagsdeildini, Føroyamálsdeildini og Náttúrvísindadeildini seta seg í samband við Kirstin Sigurðsdóttir Rasmussen, tlf. 29 25 26 ella kirstinr@setur.fo

Lesandi á deildini fyri Heilsu- og sjúkrarøktarvísindi seta seg í samband við Johild Dulavík, tlf. 29 22 65 ella johildd@setur.fo

Lesandi á Námsvísindadeildini seta seg í samband við Paulinu Poulsen, tlf. 29 94 14 ella paulinap@setur.fo

 

Heilsan

Johild, Paulina og Kirstin

---

Dear students,  

The times for the student counselling sessions on Zoom have changed. From now on, the sessions will be on Tuesdays at 10.00 to 11.00 and on Wednesdays at 11.00 to 12.00.

 

The link is:

Join Zoom Meeting

https://setur.zoom.us/j/316303139

 

On Thursday, April 23^rd at 11.00, Kirstin will be giving a presentation on the subject: Motivation in times with Corona – an insight to ideas on motivation and how to increase motivation when working from home.

If you have a particular subject you think would be beneficial for the student counselling sessions on Zoom, you are welcome to send us an email.

You are always welcome to contact us:

Students at the faculties of History and Social Science, Faroese Language and Literature or Science and Technology are to contact Kirstin Sigurðsdóttir Rasmussen at 29 25 26 or kirstinr@setur.fo

Students at the Faculty of Health Sciences are to contact Johild Dulavík at 29 22 65 or johildd@setur.fo.

Students at the Faculty of Education are to contact Paulina Poulsen at 29 94 14 or paulinap@setur.fo.

  

Kindly,

Johild, Paulina og Kirstin

 

Dagført 15. apríl 2020 / Update from April 15th 2020

Góðu lesandi,

Løgmaður hevur boðað frá, at samfelagið letur spakuliga upp aftur nú tað tykist sum, at vit hava “stýr” á smittuni. Uttanríkis- og Mentamálaráðið hevur tó mælt Fróðskaparsetrinum at halda fram við fjarlestri fyribils. Samstundis kunnu vit møguliga byrja at umhugsa at geva undantøk í støðum har nógv talar fyri hesum og har vit eru vís í, at trygdarátøk kunna yvirhaldast.

Hetta vil siga, at verandi støða við fjarundirvísing og starvsfólki, ið arbeiða heimanífrá, heldur fram á Setrinum til fríggjadagin 1. Mai. Tá vit nærkast 1- mai fara vit at kunna nærri um, hvussu verður í viku 19, sum byrjar 4. Mai. Vit fara tó at taka støðu til serstakar umbønir um tíðaravmarkað frávik frá verandi átøkum, sum vit hava nevnt omanfyri.

Hesa vikuna savna allir dekanar upplýsingar um undirvísing fyri tað, sum er eftir av hesi lestrarhálvuni, har mett verður, at vit koma at hava avbjóðingar, um vit halda á við at arbeiða heimanífrá – her er t.d. talan um próvtøkur, ransóknarsotvuarbeiði og venjingar hjá millum annað sjúkrarøktarfrøðilesandi og orkulesandi. Seinni í hesi vikuni og í komandi viku fara vit at taka avgerð um, hvussu vit møta hesum avbjóðingunum, og síðani fara dekanarnir at kunna starvsfólkini, sum so fara at kunna tykkum lesandi.

Tað er týdningarmikið at leggja dent á, at vit við hesum eru aftur, har vit vóru áðrenn samfelagið varð sett niður í ferð, og nógv bendir á, at tað verður ikki í nærmastu framtíð, at vit koma aftur til gerandisdagin, ið vit høvdu áðrenn korona. Vit fara at halda á við at lurta eftir serkunnleikanum og fara fram varliga og sera trygdina hjá okkum øllum í hásæti.

Annað, ið eg stutt skal nevna her:

• Deildirnar halda á fram við at verða so liðaliðar sum gjørligt tá tað kemur til freistir fyri innlatingar av uppgávum og annað. Vit skilja at fleiri lesandi, eins og starvsfólk, fara framhaldandi at arbeiða heimanífrá undir avbjóðandi umstøðum, og at ikki øll fara at meta tað trygt ella gott at koyra teirra børn í dagstovn ella skúla júst nú, av ymiskum orsøkum.
• Vit fara skjótt at kunngerða enn ein møguleika hjá lesandi at luttaka í einum fundi við einum sálarfrøðingi – og vit vóna at lesandi fara at taka hetta høvi til sín.
• Eg vil eisini aftur, sum heild, eggja lesandi til at virkið seta seg í samband við starvsfólk á Setrinum, um tey hav trupulleikar ella annað teimum tørvar hjálp til. Hetta kann verða beinleiðis knýtt at útbúgvingini ella hvussu tey klára seg við at lesa heimanífrá undir verandi umstøðum.

Vinarliga ansi tykkum og   haldi áfram við at raðfesta trygd. Setrið virkar støðugt fyri at stuðla okkara lesandi í at fullfíggja hesa lestrarhálvuna har tað er gjørligt.

 

Vinarliga,

Chik

_____________________________________________________________________________________________

Dear Student

The Faroese government has announced some partial steps towards reopening society in light of the early progress in controlling the corona virus. However, the Ministry has indicated that the University should continue to deliver online learning for the time being. At the same time, it has been indicated that we can begin to think about some partial relaxation of our current arrangements for groups of students where there is a strong case for that, and where we are confident that safety measures can be observed.

Given this, the University Leadership Team is confirming that we will continue with our current arrangements until Friday 1st May. As we approach that date, we will issue further advice as to plans for the week beginning 4th of May. However, we will also consider specific requests for some limited and well-justified exceptions to this, as indicated above.

This week, Deans of Faculty are collating information on all aspects of education across the remainder of the current academic session which will pose challenges for us if we are limited to remote working – including some examinations, laboratory work and practical tasks in disciplines like nursing and engineering. At the end of this week and during next week we will make decisions about how we will deal with these challenges, and these decisions will then be communicated back to staff via Deans and from there also to students.

It is important to stress that we are not at this stage ‘returning to normal’ and for various reasons we do not consider that will be likely for some time to come. We will continue to take good heed of expert opinion and proceed in a precautionary manner, prioritising everyone’s safety.

A few other things briefly to mention:
• The Faculties will continue to show reasonable flexibility in dealing with students around deadlines for assessment and other matters. We understand that many students, like staff, will be continuing to work at home in challenging circumstances, and that not everyone will feel it is safe or wise, for various reasons, to allow their children to return to kindergartens or schools at this time.
• We will soon be announcing another opportunity for students to participate in an online group session with a psychologist – and we hope students will take up this opportunity.
• More generally, I want to again encourage students to pro-actively be in touch with University staff if they have challenges or things they need support with, whether these be directly related to the content of their studies or related to how they are coping with the current circumstances of continuing their education from home

Please take care and continue to prioritise safety. Meantime, the University will be working hard to try to support students to complete their programmes for the session, where that is possible for everyone.

Yours faithfully

Chik

 

Dagført 7. apríl 2020 /Update from April 7th 2020

Dagført 1. apríl 2020 /Update from April 1st 2020

Góðu lesandi, [for English see below]

Fleiri av tykkum hava spurt okkum, hvussu verður við lestrarstuðlinum frá Studna, um lestrartíðin hjá tykkum verður longd orsaka av korona/covid-19. Setrið hevur umrøtt støðuna við Studna seinastu vikuna. Studni boðar frá, at lesandi, ið orsaka av korona verða seinkaði við lestrinum, kunnu fáa longdan lestrarstuðul.

Kunnu vera 60 ECTS seinkaði

Sambært reglugerðini hjá Studna kunnu lesandi verða 60 ECTS seinkaði við lestrinum. So um tú gerst seinkað/ur orsaka av korona, so er ikki neyðugt at boða Studna frá, so leingi tú ikki er seinkað/ur meiri enn 60 ECTS.

Ert tú longu 60 ECTS seinkað/ur í lestrinum, kanst tú søkja Studna um at fáa longdan lestrarstuðul. Tá skalt tú seta teg í samband við tín útbúgvingarleiðara við einum fyrispurningi. Útbúgvingarleiðarin syrgir síðani fyri, at Studni fær boð um, hvussu nógv tú ert seinkað/ur orsaka av korona. Tú skalt sostatt ikki seta teg í samband við Studna.

Onkur lesandi eru bangin fyri at missa rætt til fullan lestrarstuðul, um tey t.d. fara at lesa víðari í Danmark eftir at hava lokið bachelorprógv á Setrinum. Um tú fært longdan lestrarstuðul frá Studna í samband við korona, so fer hetta neyvan at ávirka, hvussu nógv lestrarstuðuls-klipp tú kanst fáa frá t.d. SU í Danmark seinni.

Prógv í juni

Tit, ið eftir ætlan skuldu fáa prógv í juni 2020, skulu seta tykkum í samband við tykkara útbúgvingarleiðara ella vegleiðaran til ritgerðina og boða frá, um tit orsaka av korona ikki megna at lata inn endaliga ritgerð ella at fara upp til endaliga próvtøku til ásettu freist. Útbúgvingarleiðarin/vegleiðarin syrgir síðani fyri, at Studni fær boðini um, at lestrartíðin er vorðin longd. Tú skalt sostatt ikki seta teg í samband við Studna.

Krav um lestrarvirkni

Treyt fyri at fáa longdan lestrarstuðul er, at tú ert lestrarvirkin í øllum tíðarskeiðinum.

Tit, ið arbeiða innan Heilsuverkið í løtuni

Tit, ið eru partur av koronatilbúgvingini hjá Heilsuverkinum, hava sent okkum fyrispurning viðv. lestrarstuðli nú tit arbeiða meiri enn vanligt. Studni upplýsir, at lesandi kunnu forvinna tað, sum svarar til 20.000 kr. um mánaðin í 12 mánaðir, áðrenn hetta ávirkar útgjaldið frá Studna. Tað vil siga, at um tit í løtuni forvinna meiri enn 20.000 kr., so verður hetta ikki nakar trupulleiki, so leingi tit ikki hava forvunnið ov nógv tilsamans seinastu 12 mánaðirnar.

Hevur tú spurningar ella ivast tú í onkrum, ert tú vælkomin at seta teg í samband við Lestrarskrivstovuna á tlf. 352520 ella LSS@setur.fo

______________________________________________________________

Dear students,

We have received several messages from students, who are concerned about their student grants from the Faroese Student Grant Fund in case they are unable to complete their studies as planned because of the state of emergency caused by the covid-19 virus. We have discussed this issue with the Student Grant Fund and the Fund will give additional grants to students, who will not be able to complete their studies as planned.

If you are eligible for grants from the Faroese Student Grant Fund and you must extend your time of study because of the state of emergency caused by the covid-19 virus, you need to contact your programme leader or thesis supervisor. The programme leader or supervisor will then make sure that the Student Grant Fund will be notified.

If you have any questions you are welcome to contact Student Services by phone to +298 352520 or by e-mail to LSS@setur.fo.

Vinarliga / Kind regards

Rannvá Dávadóttir

Lestrarskrivstovan / Student Services

Fróðskaparsetur Føroya / University of the Faroe Islands

+298 292520

 

Dagført 27. mars 2020 /Update from March 27th

Góðu lesandi,

Eg vóni at tit øll hava tað gott, hóast verandi umstøður.

Eg hevði aftur ein fund við Ráð Teirra Lesandi mánadagin, og vit hava eisini fingið boð beinleiðis frá lesandi um, hvussu tað gongst tykkum. Vit eru varug við, at fleiri avbjóðingar eru, men alt bendir á, at tit sum heild, megna at handfara hesar avbjóðingar væl.

Vit eru sjálvandi eisini varug við, at tað er trupult fyri summi av tykkum at virka heimanífrá, tí tit hava børnini heima, og verða eisini órógvaði av øðrum heima við hús. Sum eg havi víst á í øðrum samskifti, so vil eg mæla tykkum til at seta tykkum í samband við starvsfólk á tykkara útbúgving, um hesar ella aðrar avbjóðingar ávirka tykkara førleika at fylgja lestrinum. Starvsfólk skilja tykkara støðu, og har tað er møguligt og neyðugt, kunna freistir fyri innlatingar verða longdar.

Fyri lesandi, ið møguliga eisini hava tað trupult sálarliga, vilja vit aftur vinarliga biðja tykkum boða okkum frá. Vit arbeiða við at økja um tøkan stuðul frá undirvísarum og lestrarvegleiðarum, og eisini eru aðrir stuðulsmøguleikar – meira serkønar – sum vit kunna vísa tykkum á. Vit ynskja at hjálpa tykkum.

Zoom tykist sum heild  at virka væl. Eg havi tó fingið boð um, at summi lesandi halda seg aftur við at tendra myndatólið á teirra teldu. Eg ráði tykkum til at tendra myndatólið, um tit síggja tykkum før fyri tí. Bert tað at síggja øll á skerminum “lyftur” alla upplivingina, betrar um samskiftið og hjálpir eisini fólki til at merkja samband við onnur.

Annars eru fleiri góð ráð á netinum, ið kunna hjálpa tykkum við at handfara avbjóðingarnar við at arbeiða heimanífrá – so, um tit føla tørv á tí, kundu tit kanska leita eftir og møguliga finna okkurt, sum kann hjálpa tykkum.

Seinastu vikuna hava vit sæð tekin um, at átøkini, ið eru sett í verk fyri at tálma smittuni av virusinum, hava eina jaliga ávirkan á støðuna í Føroyum. Hetta er sera eggjandi, men enn kemur tað at taka nakað av tíð, áðrenn vit trygt kunnu byrja at linka um hesi átøk. Tí fara vit framhaldandi at leggja dent á at menna okkara nýggju hættir at virka sum hægri lærustovnur, tí vit mest sannlíkt koma at nýta hesar í størri ella minni mun komandi rúmu tíðina. Bert tíðin kemur at vísa, hvussu leingi hetta verður.

Eg vóni at tit í vikuskiftinum kunnu slappa av og gera okkurt sum tykkum dámar. Tit eru vælkomin til at seta tykkum í samband við meg, um tað er nakað tit ynskja at umrøða – ella um tit bert ynskja at siga “Hey” og fáa eitt lítið prát.

Vit vilja enn eina ferð takka fyri ta vælvild og tann stuðul, ið tit hava víst í hesum avbjóðandi tíðum – og vilja eisini tryggja tykkum, at starvsfólk á Setrinum arbeiða hart fyri at stuðla tykkum.

 

Vinarliga,

Chik

______________________________________________________________________________________

*English*

Dear student

I hope this finds you well in the current circumstances.

I met with the Student Council again on Monday. We have also been receiving communication from students about how they are doing. We appreciate that there are many challenges, but the general indications we have are that people are dealing with them, on the whole, well.

We are, of course, aware that for some students it will be difficult working at home with children to look after and perhaps with the distractions of other members of the household around. As I said in my last communication, if these kinds of things – or anything else – might be impacting on your ability to get your University work done, please discuss with staff in your programme. Staff will be sympathetic. Where possible and necessary, assessment deadlines can be extended.

For students who might be struggling psychologically, again, please let us know. We are working to increase the support available through our teaching staff and the counselling team and there are other sources of support – more specialised – to which we can make referrals. We want to help you.

Zoom seems generally to be working well. However, I understand that some students are reluctant to turn on their cameras. I would encourage everyone to do that, if they feel at all able to. Just seeing everyone on the screen ‘lifts’ the whole experience, improves the communication and also helps people to feel connected.

There is a lot of useful advice online, by the way, to help everyone in dealing with the challenge of home-working – so, if needed, perhaps have a look and find something that will help you.

Over the past week there have been signs that the virus control measures are having some welcome impacts on the Faroe Islands. That’s very encouraging. But it will be some time before the measures can be safely relaxed. So, we should continue to invest in our new ways of working – we are likley to be making use of them for some time to come, to a greater or lesser extent. Only time will tell.

I hope that this weekend you will find at least some time to relax and to do something that makes you happy. And feel free to get in touch with me if there is anything you would like to discuss – or just to say hello and have a chat.

Thank you again for the understanding and support students have been showing in these challenging times – and be assured that University staff are working very hard to try to support you.

Yours faithfully

Chik

 

Dagført 20. mars 2020 kl. 19:30 / Update from 20th March 2020 at 19:30 PM

Góðu lesandi á Setrinum, [for English see below]

Niðanfyri er ein heilsan frá rektaranum. Heilsanin er á enskum, og um onkur hevur trupult við at skilja tað, kunnu tit venda tykkum til Lestrarskrivstovuna á LSS@setur.fo.

 

Dear students at the University of the Faroe Islands,

Below you can see a message from the rector.

________________________________________________________________________________________

Dear students

I just wanted to send a message as the week ends to say thanks to all of you for your patience and for the very constructive and supportive approach that students have shown in the current circumstances. It has been very important in allowing us to progress with some urgent tasks that will help us a lot in the coming weeks.

I know that many of you are facing not just the challenge of studying from home and taking classes and meetings online, but having to do that while you have children at home and while fulfilling other tasks (including home schooling) and caring responsibilities. I know from past experience that can be incredibly difficult even for just a few days, and our current situation is going to continue for some weeks at least.

So, if you are struggling to keep up with everything for this reason, please get in touch with teaching staff and/or the counselling team (see the University website or the Facebook page) to discuss the situation and get some advice and support. If it will not be possible for you to do everything in terms of your studies, then you can discuss what adjustments can be made and how everything might work as a result.

You will have seen that schools are to remain closed until at least the 14^th April – which is also the date the University set when we were in touch with you on the 11^th of March. But, of course, the situation may continue for some time after that. So, let’s continue to invest in making our current arrangements work as well for everyone as we can.

I have been advised of that the situation for some parents can be made more difficult by the lack of communication and guidance from some of the schools as to what children should be doing at home and how parents can help. If it will be helpful, I am prepared to raise that with the Ministry. I will discuss this with the Student Council when I meet with them on Monday, so why not get in touch with them to let them know if this would be helpful?

Also, as I mentioned in my video message the other evening – available on the Facebook page and via YouTube – we are determined to try to support students who might be feeling isolated or even just a bit down about the whole situation. Please, if you are feeling that way, reach out to friends, classmates, the student counsellors (again, see the University website or Facebook page) or teaching staff to let them know and get some support. Now, more than ever, I feel, people are aware that we need to understand and help each other and are willing to do that.

Over the past couple of days there have been some encouraging signs that the virus is not getting out of control on the Faroe Islands, and may even be coming under a degree of control (I really wish I could say the same about the UK). Let us hope this proves in the coming days to be true. In this situation, I am sure you’ll all agree, there is a risk that people might become complacent and the good work – to which we have all undoubtedly contributed – might be undone. So, please just continue to take great care.

I cannot finish without mentioning again the students in our Faculty of Health Sciences who currently have seen their education suspended to allow them to assist with meeting the health and social care needs of the Faroese population. I am sure you will all join me in expressing again my admiration and gratitude for the work they are doing.

Finally, I hope that you are able to relax in some way this weekend and to spend some quality time somehow doing something that makes you happy.

Feel free to email me if you want to share anything with me – or even to invite me for a chat over Zoom. I will be happy to try to make the time to do that.

 

Yours faithfully

Chik

Professor Chik Collins, Rector (Vice Chancellor) of the University of the Faroe Islands

Fróðskaparsetur Føroya/University of the Faroe Islands

J.C Svabos gøta 14, P.O. Box 272, FO-110 Tórshavn, Faroe Islands

ChikC@setur.fo |+298 292502

 

Dagført 19. mars 2020 kl. 21:30 / Update from 19th March 2020 at 21:30 PM

Góðu lesandi á Setrinum, [for English see below]

Nú vit eru noydd at avmarka fysiska sambandið við onnur menniskju, so er sera týdningarmikið at røkja okkara sálarheilsu. Heimheilsustovnurin, WHO, er komin við fleiri góðum ráðum til, hvussu vit kunnu handfara strongd, nú vit verða biðin um at halda frástøðu og at vera heima hjá okkum sjálvum. Fólkaheilsuráðið hevur umsett ráðini hjá Heimsheilsustovninum og kunnu tey síggjast HER. Eisini Felagið Føroyskir Sálarfrøðingar er komið við góðum ráðum til, hvussu vit kunnu røkja okkara sálarheilsu í hesum tíðum. Ráðini frá teimum síggjast HER.

Vit vilja mæla tykkum til at lesa ráðini og at biðja um vegleiðing, um tit kenna ótta, stúran ella strongd, nú lesturin á Setrinum er ávirkaður av støðuni við korona-virusinum.

Sum tit eru kunnaði um fyrr í dag, so verður møguleiki hjá tykkum at hitta lestrarvegleiðararnar mána-, miku- og fríggjamorgnar til eitt prát og at seta spurningar. Hetta er eitt gott høvi at hava samband við onnur.

Vinarliga

Lestrarskrivstovan

____________________________________________________________________________________________

Dear students at the University of the Faroe Islands,

At a time like this, when we are told to keep physical distance from other people, it is very important for us to focus on maintaining good mental health. The World Health Organization (WHO) has given some guidelines for how we can cope with stress now that we are asked to keep physical distance and to stay at home. You see read the guidelines from WHO HERE. The BBC has published an article with good advice on how we can protect our mental health during the corona outbreak. For more you can visit www.bbc.com/news/health-51873799.

 We recommend that you to read the guidelines and seek advice if you experience loneliness, anxiety or stress.

 As communicated to you earlier today, you can join Zoom-sessions with the students counsellors on Tuesdays and Thursdays where you can have a chat with the counsellors and fellow students, and you can also ask questions to the counsellors. This is a good opportunity to socialise despite the physical distance.

Best wishes 

Student Services

 

Dagført 19. mars 2020 kl. 12:30 / Update from 19th March 2020 at 12:30 PM

Góðu lesandi á Setrinum, [for English see below]

Her kemur enn er ein heilsan frá lestrarvegleiðarunum 😊

Í gjár høvdu vit lestrarvegleiðing á Zoom og tað riggaði væl. Afturmeldingarnar sum vit fingu frá lesandi vóru, at tað er gott at hava eitt stað, har lesandi á Setrinum kunnu møtast til eitt prát og at spyrja spurningar.

Avleiðingarnar av brádligu broytingini frá vanligu undirvísingini til fjarðundirvísing eru m.a., at summi eru sera einsamøll um dagarnar. Tað er týdningarmikið, at vit í hesi støðu minnast til at røkja okkara sálarheilsu. Nøkur av ráðunum eru, at vit eru sosial umvegis netið og varðveita mynstrið í vanliga gerandisdegnum.

Vit ynskja at skapa eitt stað, har sum vit kunnu vera saman og tosa um ymiskt í samband við lesturin og lestrarlívið, nú fjarðlesturin er skotin í gongd. Hetta kann vera eitt gott hugskot, so at einsemi ikki gerst ein ov stórur partur av gerandisdegnum. Tú luttekur við at fara inn á Zoom-leinkið HER.

Lestrarvegleiðing verður á Zoom mána-, miku- og fríggjadagar kl. 10.00-11.00.

Um onkur av tykkum ynskir lestrarvegleiðing á Zoom á enskum er møguleiki fyri tí týs- og hósdagar kl. 10.00-11-00.

Hóast lestrarvegleiðingina á Zoom skulu tit ikki halda tykkum aftur við at seta tykkum í samband við lestrarvegleiðingina. Er okkurt, sum tit ivast í ella eru stúrin um, eru tit hjartaliga vælkomin at seta tykkum í samband við okkum umvegis telefon ella teldupost. Vit arbeiða heimanífrá og eru til taks í vanligari arbeiðstíð.

Tit eru altíð vælkomin at seta tykkum í samband við okkum:

Lesandi á Søgu- og samfelagsdeildini, Føroyamálsdeildini og Náttúrvísindadeildini seta seg í samband við Kirstin Sigurðsdóttir Rasmussen, tlf. 29 25 26 ella kirstinr@setur.fo

Lesandi á deildini fyri Heilsu- og sjúkrarøktarvísindi seta seg í samband við Johild Dulavík, tlf. 29 22 65 ella johildd@setur.fo

Lesandi á Námsvísindadeildini seta seg í samband við Paulinu Poulsen, tlf. 29 94 14 ella paulinap@setur.fo

Vit ynskja tykkum alt tað besta og framhaldandi góða eydnu við lestrinum.

Bestu heilsur

Kirstin, Johild og Paulina

______________________________________________________________________

Dear students,

Following the successful Zoom-session yesterday we have decided to have regular sessions every week. Sessions in English will be Tuesdays and Thursdays at 10am. At the sessions you can have a chat with us and ask us questions.

The consequences of the sudden changes of the teaching from face-to-face teaching to distant teaching can make some people feel very lonely. It is important for us to remember to look after our mental health in this situation. A good advice is to keep up our social life through online tools or media and to maintain our daily routines.

We wish to create a place where we can be together and talk about issues related to your studies now that we have had to introduce distant learning. We think that this is a good way to prevent the loneliness some might experience. You can take part in the sessions via Zoom HERE.

You are also always welcome to contact us directly, if you have any questions or experience anxiety. We are working from home and you can reach us during working hours.

Student at the Faculty of History and Social Sciences, Faculty of Faroese Language and Literature and Faculty of Natural Sciences can contact Kirstin Sigurðstóttir Rasmussen by phone +298 29 25 26 or by e-mail KirstinR@setur.fo

Students at the Faculty of Health Sciences can contact Johild Dulavík by phone +298 29 22 65 or by e-mail to JohildD@setur.fo

Students at the Faculty of Education can contact Paulina Poulsen by phone +298 29 94 14 or by e-mail PauliaP@setur.fo

We send you our best wishes and the best of luck with the studies.

Best wishes

 

Dagført 17. mars 2020 kl. 19 / Updated 17th March 2020 at 7pm

Góðu lesandi á Setrinum [for English see below],

Hetta er ein heilsan frá lestrarvegleiðarunum 😊

Hóast undantaksstøðuna, sum valdar í løtuni vegna korona, skulu tit ikki halda tykkum aftur við at seta tykkum í samband við lestrarvegleiðingina. Er okkurt, sum tit ivast í ella eru stúrin um, eru tit hjartaliga vælkomin at seta tykkum í samband við okkum umvegis telefon ella teldupost. Vit arbeiða heimanífrá og eru til taks í vanligari arbeiðstíð.

Harumframt verður í morgin, mikudagin 18. mars, kl. 13:00-13:45 fyri lesandi á Námsvísindadeildini og Føroyamálsdeildini, og kl. 14:-14:45 fyri Náttúruvísindadeildina, Deildina fyri heilsu- og sjúrkarøktarvísindi og Søgu- og samfealgsdeildina møguleiki fyri at koma á fund við okkum. Fundurin verður hildin gjøgnum skipanina Zoom, sum tit eisini koma at nýta til fjarundirvísingina. Á fundinum verður møguligt hjá tykkum at seta okkum spurningar um ymiskt í samband við lesturin og lestrarlívið nú koronasmittan hevur havt við sær, at vit ikki kunnu hava vanliga undirvísing. Tú luttekur á fundinum við at fara inn á Zoom-leinkið HER. Rektarin luttekur eisini á fundinum, so tit fáa eisini møguleika at seta honum spurningar, um tit ynskja tað.

Tit eru altíð vælkomin at seta tykkum í samband við okkum:

Lesandi á Søgu- og samfelagsdeildini, Føroyamálsdeildini og Náttúrvísindadeildini seta seg í samband við Kirstin Sigurðsdóttir Rasmussen, tlf. 29 25 26 ella kirstinr@setur.fo

Lesandi á deildini fyri Heilsu- og sjúkrarøktarvísindi seta seg í samband við Johild Dulavík, tlf. 29 22 65 ella johildd@setur.fo

Lesandi á Námsvísindadeildini seta seg í samband við Paulinu Poulsen, tlf. 29 94 14 ella paulinap@setur.fo

Vit ynskja tykkum alt tað besta og framhaldandi góða eydnu við lestrinum.

Bestu heilsur

Kirstin, Johild og Paulina

____________________________________________________________________________________________

Dear students at the University of the Faroe Islands,

This is a greeting from the student counsellors 😊

We just want to let you know that you are always welcome to contact the student counsellors. Because of the state of emergency, we are all working from home, but you can reach us by phone or e-mail during working hours. Please do not hesitate to contact us if you are experiencing anxiety or if your unsure of how the current situation will affect your ability to progress in your studies.

Tomorrow we will hold an online meeting where you can join if you have questions for the counsellors. The meeting will take place at 1:00-1:45pm for students at the Faculty of Education and the Faculty of Faroese Language and Literature and at 2:00-2:45pm for students at the Faculty of Natural Sciences, Faculty of Health Sciences and the Faculty of History and Social Sciences. We will hold the meeting in Zoom, which will also be used for the distant teaching. At the meeting you are welcome to ask us questions related to the current situation. You can join the meeting HERE. The rector will be joining the meeting, so you will be able to ask him questions as well.

Again, you are always welcome to contact us:

Student at the Faculty of History and Social Sciences, Faculty of Faroese Language and Literature and Faculty of Natural Sciences can contact Kirstin Sigurðstóttir Rasmussen by phone +298 29 25 26 or by e-mail KirstinR@setur.fo

Students at the Faculty of Health Sciences can contact Johild Dulavík by phone +298 29 22 65 or by e-mail to JohildD@setur.fo

Students at the Faculty of Education can contact Paulina Poulsen by phone +298 29 94 14 or by e-mail PauliaP@setur.fo

We send you our best wishes and the best of luck with the studies.

 

Best wishes

Kirstin, Johild & Paulina

 

Dagført 17. mars 2020 kl. 9 / Update from 17th March 2020 at 9AM

Góðu lesandi,

Nú vit øll lesa og arbeiða heimanífrá, vilja vit minna tykkum á at tit kunna fáa atgongd til talgilda tilfarið á Landsbókasavninum umvegis teirra heimasíðu og OpenAthens.

Nærri kunning um hvussu tit fáa atgongd er at finna á Facebook-síðuni hjá Landsbókasavninum og teirra heimasíðu.

https://www.facebook.com/Landsbokasavnid/photos/a.321498981253448/3488049937931654/?type=3&theater

Vinarliga,

Lestrarskrivstovan

+298 352520

__________________________________________________________

Dear students,

Now tat we are all studying and working from home, we would like to remind you that you can access the National Library’s digital material through their website and OpenAthens.

More information on how you gain access can be found on the National Library’s Facebook-site, as well as their website.

https://www.facebook.com/Landsbokasavnid/photos/a.321498981253448/3488049937931654/?type=3&theater

Kind regards,

Student Services

+298 352520

 

Dagført 17. mars 2020  / Update from 17th March 2020 

Góðu lesandi á Setrinum [for English see below]

Chik Collins, rektari, eggjar studentunum á Setrinum til at hava tætt talgilt sosialt samband, nú vandin fyri koronasmittu skilir okkum hvør frá øðrum. Síggj røðu hansara her:

____________________________________________

Dear students at the University of the Faroe Islands,

Chik Collins, rector, encourages all student to keep in touch through social media. See his speech here:

 

 

Dagført 16 mars 2020 kl. 21

Góðu lesandi,

Nú eru fyrstu vegleiðingarnar til Zoom-skipanina klárar og liggja á https://moodle.setur.fo/zoom.html

Vinarliga lesið og hyggið vegleiðingarnar væl ígjøgnum. Av tí at skipanin er nýggj fyri bæði lesandi og starvsfólk, fara vit at heita á tykkum um at spyrja hvønn annan og hjálpa hvørjum øðrum, so gott tit megna.

Um tit hava trupulleikar ella tørva hjálp, ber til at seta seg í samband við KT-supportina á support@student.setur.fo ella +298 292599.

Vinarliga

Lestrarskrivstovan

 

Dagført 16. mars 2020 kl. 15:30 / Updated 16th March 2020 at 3:30pm

Góðu lesandi,

Niðanfyri er nýggj kunning frá rektaranum, har hann millum annað svarar nøkrum av spurningunum, ið fleiri av tykkum hava spurt okkum seinastu dagarnar. Kunningin er á enskum, og um onkur hevur trupult við at skilja tað, kunnu tit venda tykkum til Lestrarskrivstovuna á tlf. 292520.

Dear students,

Below you can read an update from the rector and he also answers some of the questions that many of you have asked us over the last couple of days.

______________________________________________________________________________________

Dear Student

As promised in the message I sent last evening, I am writing with an update on the current situation we are facing as a University and what we are doing to address it. I am afraid this is in English – again – but if you are struggling with any aspect of it, please seek assistance from someone who can help. Brynhild Thomsen or the staff in the Student Services Office can also help.

As you know, the guidance we have from government has been that we should stop face-to-face classes for this week and next week, in the first instance. Our approach has been to try to move as quickly as we can to take learning and teaching online for this period. However, looking at the situation, it is more than likely, I feel, that we will have to continue to teach online for some period beyond that initial two weeks, and so we are proceeding with that in mind. It is quite possible that we will not even return to ‘normal’ at our own originally intended date of 14th April – though that is not yet clear. And anyway, the things we are having to do now are likely to change in the future what ‘normal’ will be in terms of teaching and learning – in ways which will be for the better.

The University Leadership Team and our Remote Learning Technology Group had very productive meetings via Zoom this morning – it is a very good platform and I am sure it will help us all a lot. We heard from all of the Deans about how things are progressing in their Faculties, and I was encouraged by what we heard. Colleagues leading the Remote Learning Technology Group have also been making very quick progress. What is very clear is that staff all over the University have been working very hard indeed – including long hours over the weekend – to try to deal with the situation. They all have my very deep gratitude and I am sure you will all also appreciate their efforts.

As students you will all want to know when things might return to ‘normal’, and also how we are going to deliver teaching, learning and assessment meantime. You will also be hoping to receive soon some help and guidance regarding online delivery. And students will also be concerned about assessments and exams. So, here are what I think are the best answers we can give meantime.

Q: When will things return to ‘normal’?
A: We just can’t say. See the second paragraph, above. But we will be working really hard to support our students for however long it may take.

Q: How we are going to continue with delivery of teaching, learning and assessment meantime?
A: There are a range of ways in which this can be done, as indicated in previous communications, and it will depend in part on what the different programme teams in different faculties, and even within the same faculty, think suits them and their students best in light of the nature of the programme delivery and the knowledge and competences of staff, which, of course, vary. As indicated previously, we have purchased institutional access to Zoom. I understand that now students can access the system at https://setur.zoom.us and can host their own meetings (for example for group work), as well as be invited to those hosted by staff.

Q: When can we hope to receive some help and guidance regarding online delivery?
A: You will already be familiar with some of the tools that can be used – with Moodle, Skype, email, social media platforms, etc. We can already do a lot with these. Students will also receive soon – perhaps today, or early tomorrow – tutorial material for the use of Zoom. Staff have already received material of the same kind. And beyond that we have a colleague looking closely at other tools that we can perhaps recommend and provide guidance on. We want to avoid overloading students with too much information about too many tools. Of course, staff at Faculty or programme level might have more specific recommendations for their own students.

Q: What will be done about exams and other assessments which will be affected by the situation?
A: Staff have already been making adjustments to allow for assessments to take place. In some cases that is fairly straightforward. For instance, oral examinations can happen online rather than face-to-face. In other cases the format of assessments can change – say from a traditional examination to an essay or some other format. In some other cases, we may have to make other, further-reaching, adjustments – say for practical group-work or for laboratory work. We will do all that we reasonably can and staff will understand the need to have good communication with students about this.

Another question that has arisen is about ‘real time’ delivery of teaching – say of lectures – as against ‘pre-recorded’ (say a powerpoint with a voice over) and ‘live-recorded’ delivery (a lecture, say, delivered to a class, but also recorded and made available for later viewing). We do understand that ‘real time delivery’ may present challenges for some students, say with children. So, we will encourage and support staff to record live deliveries so that these students can engage with them at a time that works for them. That said, we strongly encourage students whenever reasonably possible to engage with live delivery, as that gives the best opportunities for interaction and a good, active learning experience. It will also be important for teaching staff to have some people ‘with them’ (virtually) when they are doing the delivery.

Finally, the success of what we are seeking to achieve will depend very much on good and regular communication between the University, its staff and its students. As you can probably tell, I am taking that very seriously and I think all our staff are doing that too. I have asked Deans to support staff to ensure it is happening for each of the year groups in each of the programmes we are delivering. Of course, the communication needs to be in all directions. So students should continue to raise questions and provide feedback to us. Please just try to judge where best to address that, depending on the matter in question – to individual lecturers/professors, programme leaders, Deans, the student services office, the University Director, or myself.

The University Leadership Team will meet each morning this week – via Zoom. At each meeting I will be asking about challenges we are encountering and solutions which are being created. We will be sharing the knowledge across the University and trying to learn and grow together as a single and united university – okkara Fróðskaparsetur – to deal with everything. Your communication and feedback will help us with that – and I know that you will approach that with an understanding of the situation and with a positive and constructive spirit.

Yours faithfully

Chik

 

Dagført 15. mars 2020 kl. 23:00 / Updated 15th March 2020 at 11PM

Góðu lesandi, [for English, see below]

Eg skrivi til tykkara fyri at geva tykkum eina dagføring viðvíkjandi støðuni á Setrinum.

Fyrst vil eg takka tykkum øllum fyri tað ómetaliga jaligu afturboðan, sum Setrið hevur fingið frá tykkum  í samband við tey stig, ið vit mettu vera neyðug at taka í síðstu viku. Við hesum hugsa vit ikki, at okkum hevur eydnast at loysa alt til lítar, ella at tað verður uttan avbjóðingar, sum støðan broytist. Hetta er jú ein støða, sum hvørki vit ella nakar annar, høvdu kunnað fyrireikað okkum til.

Í morgin fari eg at hava fund við leiðslutoymið á Setrinum. Seinni havi eg ein fund við tey, ið arbeiða við at fáa skipa fyri, at vit kunnu veita undirvísing og læring til tykkum øll, uttan at vit hittast andlit til andlits. Nærri kunning um hetta kemur seinni.

Setrið hevur nú atgongd til talgildu fjarundirvísingarskipanina Zoom, og eru vit í løtuni í ferð við at geva tykkum øllum atgongd til skipanina. Tú ert vælkomin at royna skipanina her: https://setur.zoom.us. Um tú sleppur inn í skipanina, so sært tú, at skipanin er sera løtt at nýta, og vit fara eisini skjótt at senda tykkum vegleiðing til skipanina. Um tú ikki sleppur inn í skipanina gjøgnum Seturskontuna júst nú, so kanst tú sjálv/ur stovna tær ein brúkara (nógvar vegleiðingar finnast við at leita á netinum). Vit mæla tó til, at tú nýtir Seturskontuna so skjótt hon riggar.

Løgmaður er komin við áheitan um, at vit ikki skulu hittast í størri bólkum. Eg vil tískil heita á tykkum lesandi um ikki at hittast til bólkaarbeiði, verkætlanir o.a. – serliga um tit eru fleiri enn 2-3 fólk. Í Eysturríki eru ikki loyvt hjá fólki at savnast fleiri enn 5 fólk, so hetta er nakað hjá okkum at hugsa um. Tískil heiti eg á tykkum at samskifta og gera bólkaarbeiði talgilt.

Minnist til at fylgja við kunningini um støðuna – á tykkara seturstelduposti, Moodle og á heimasíðuni.

Eg vil enn eina ferð leggja dent á, hvussu týdningarmikið tað er, at vit øll – lesandi og starvsfólk – arbeiða saman við at finna loysnir. Vit hava eina eina greiða ætlan fyri, hvat vit skulu gera, men vit fara í stóran mun at leggja toksporini, meðan toki koyrir. Hetta hevur við sær, at vit mugu vera tolin, stuðla hvørjum øðrum, skilja hvønn annan umframt at hava og nógv og gott samskifti. Latið okkum gera hetta saman – á tann hátt fáa vit best møguligu úrslitini fyri okkum øll.

Til seinast vil eg kunna tykkum um, at steðgur verður í undirvísingini hjá okkara sjúkrarøktarfrøðilesandi. Heilsumálráðið og Mentamálaráðið hava sent Setrinum áheitan um, at sjúkrarøktarfrøðilesandi vera partur av corona-tilbúgvingini í Sjúkrahúsverki Føroya, og koma tey tískil stuðla heilsustarvsfólkunum. Møguliga verða eisini heilsustarvsfólkini á Deildini fyri heilsu- og sjúkrarøktarvísindi biðin um at var partur av tilbúgvingini. Eg eri vísur í, at vit øll ynskja at bera teimum eina tøkk fyri teirra tænastu og veita teimum okkara fulla stuðul. Sum eg skilji, so hava fleiri av okkara sjúkrarøktarfrøðilesandi seinastu dagarnar spurt eftir hesum møguleikanum, og eg haldi, at vit skulu vera sera stolt av, at tey eru partur av okkara Setri.

Vinarliga

Chik

_________________________________________________________

Dear Student

I am writing to give a brief update on the current situation at the University.

Firstly, I want to say thank you to you all for the overwhemingly positive response the University has received from students regarding the actions we felt we had to take last week.

As I have indicated previously, that is not to say that we have managed to get everything just right, or that everything will be smooth as things progress. This is not something we have had time to plan carefully for – and nor has anyone else.

I will be convening a meeting of the University Leadership Team early tomorrow morning, and after that a meeting of colleagues who are working to support our capacity to deliver teaching and learning to you all without having to meet face-to-face. Updates will follow.

We are progressing with setting up the Zoom platform for everyone. We now have a University account which we are trying to make sure all students, as well as staff, will be able to access. Please try to access this at https://setur.zoom.us If you are able to access it, you will see that it is quite an easy system to use, and we will be sending out specific advice on its use soon. If you are not able to access the University’s account yet, then you can access and use the platform as an individual, just by creating a personal account (just do an online search). However, it will be better to use the University account as soon as it is ready.

Given the Prime Minister’s advice this morning about social distancing, we must discourage students from getting together to work on assignments, projects, etc – particularly in groups of more than two or three. In Austria, meetings of more than 5 people are now banned, and that is something to think about. So, please make use of this technology for your communication and any collaborative working with other students.

Please also keep monitoring communication for further updates.

In the meantime, I want again to emphasize how important it is that we all work together in a positive partnership – students and staff – to try to deal with this situation. We have a solid enough idea of what we are going to be doing, but we will necessarily, in many ways, be ‘laying the tracks on which our train is having to run’. That will require a lot of patience, a lot of mutual support and understanding, and a lot of good communication. Let’s do this together – and that way we will get the best possible outcomes for everyone.

Finally, I can also let you know that our student nurses will now see the suspension of their classes. They are being asked to start to work to support the qualified health professionals on the Faroe Islands. It may be that our academic staff from the nursing Faculty will join them soo. I am sure that you will all join me in thanking them for their service and offering our deep thanks and total support for what they will be doing.

I understand that many of them have been asking for this opportunity in recent days, and I think we should be very proud to have them as part of okkara Fróðskaparsetur.

Yours faithfully

Chik

 

Dagført 13. mars 2020 kl. 16:00 / Updated 13th March 2020 at 4PM

Góðu lesandi, [for English, see below]

Sum tit vita, so eru Føroyar og ein stórur partur av Evropa í undantaksstøðu í løtuni. Føroysku myndugleikarnir hava givið boð um, at ongin undirvísing kann fara fram í hølunum hjá Setrinum komandi 14 dagarnar, og at starvsfólk skulu arbeiða heimanífrá.

Fleiri av tykkum hava vent tykkum til okkara, tí tit stúra fyri, hvussu verður við lestrinum hjá tykkum, nú undirvísing í hølunum á Setrinum er avlýst. Vit skilja væl tykkara stúran, men vit ynskja at siga tykkum, at vit arbeiða við at seta átøk í verk, soleiðis at vit – so vítt gjørligt - kunnu hava undirvísing og próvtøkur sum ætlað.

Av tí at ongin undirvísing verður í hølum okkara komandi 14 dagarnar, fer undirvísingin fram sum fjarundirvísing. Nærri kunning um hesa undirvísing verður løgd út á Moodle, so minnist til at kanna Moodle regluliga.

Vit vita, at fleiri av tykkum mugu hava børn tykkara heima, tí dagstovnar og onnur ansingartilboð eru stongd. Undirvísarar hava fingið boð um at taka undirvísingina uppá video, soleiðis at tit, ið ikki kunnu fylgja undirvísingini beinleiðis, kunnu hyggja eftir undirvísingini seinni.

Tit, sum eftir ætlan skulu til próvtøku komandi 14 dagarnar, fáa nærri kunning um júst tykkara próvtøku frá deildini.

Sum sagt, so arbeiða vit hart fyri at fáa fjarundirvísing upp at koyra umframt at umskipa próvtøkur, starvslæru og annað. Hetta tekur tíð, so alt er ikki heilt klárt enn. Deildirnar senda tykkum kunning um undirvísing og próvtøkur so skjótt tað er klárt. Tí er sera týdningarmikið, at tit regluliga kanna tykkara setursteldupost og Moodle.  

 

Vinarliga

Lestrarskrivstovan

LSS@setur.fo / +298 352520

__________________________________________

Dear students,

As you already know, the Faroe Islands, along with large parts of Europe, are currently in a state off emergency. Due to this, the Faroese authorities have asked that all in-person teaching be halted at the University for the next 14 days, and that staff work from home.

Many of you have contacted us with worries about the progress of your studies, now that teaching has been suspended. We understand your fears but wish to reassure you that we are working on implementing measures to ensure that – as far as possible - teaching and exams will progress as planned.

Because no teaching will be held in our buildings over the next 14 days, we are moving over to teaching online. More information on this will be put on Moodle, so please remember to check Moodle regularly.

We know that several of you are having to have your kids at home during this time, because childcare institutions have been closed. Lecturers have therefore been asked and supported to record their digital lectures, so that if you are unable follow the direct live, you can watch it later.

If you have an exam scheduled over the next 14 days, you will receive further information from your faculty about your specific exam.

As previously stated, we are working hard to get online lectures up and running, as well as restructuring exams, internships and other elements. This takes time, so everything is not settled yet. Your faculty will send you updates about your lectures and exams as soon as the information is available. It is therefore vital that you check your student email and Moodle.

 

Kind regards,

Student Services

lss@setur.fo / +298 352520

 

Dagført 12. mars 2020 kl. 10:00 / Updated 12th March 2020 at 10AM

Góðu lesandi,

Niðanfyri er týdningarmikil kunning frá rektaranum viðvíkjandi Corona/Covid-19 frá í dag, hósdegnum 12. mars 2020.

Teksturin er á enskum, og um onkur hevur trupult við at skilja tað, kunnu tit venda tykkum til Lestrarskrivstovuna á tlf. 292520.

IN ENGLISH:

Dear students,

Below you can read an important update from the rector regarding Corona/Covid-19 from today, Thursday 12^th March 2020.

____________________________________

Dear Student

Most of you will now have heard about the statement on coronavirus from the Prime Minister this morning. The implications of this for us are that we progress in line with the advice the University issued yesterday. Please look again at that communication.

There will be no face-to-face classes until further notice. In one or two cases, exams planned for today and tomorrow may go ahead – based on advice from the relevant faculties – with appropriate safety measures in place. However, as of end of tomorrow (Friday 13^th), the University buildings will be fully closed and staff will work from home.

The situation with the coronavirus here on the Faroe Islands is not as bad as elsewhere, so please don’t be unduly alarmed. But the measures we are taking will help to ensure that things do not get too much worse, while also supporting our students at a critical period in their lives and studies.

We understand that many students will be feeling uncertain and possibly quite anxious about the potential impact on their education of what we are having to do – and especially potential impact on examinations and completion of their education, for those at that stage. However, students will also understand that these are extraordinarily exceptional circumstances.

In these circumstances, the University’s priorities are, firstly, safety of everyone, and secondly, doing what we reasonably can to maintain the educational process for our students, making creative use of all of the tools at our disposal. We are also acquiring a new tool, the video-conferencing software, Zoom. This is used by a lot of Universities, but it will take some time, probably, to get it set up and running. Meantime, we have other tools we can use.

This is not something we – or anyone else – have been able to plan carefully in advance, though we feel that we, as a University have been quite proactive in identifying risks and implementing appropriate measures.

In these circumstances, we will need to ask for some patience and a lot of co-operation from all of our students. We are identifying challenges we face and working on solutions. But of course the companies who are providing these tools and services are themselves under a lot of pressure. Not everything is likely to be smooth and unproblematic. Please work with us in a positive and collaborative spirit as we deal with these very challenging times.

You will be hearing from both the University administration and from your Faculties and teaching staff as things progress. A key aspect of that will be, of course, about how we continue the education process without meeting face-to-face.

Please continue to monitor University and other official sources of advice for updates.

Yours faithfully

 

Chik

Professor Chik Collins, Rector (Vice Chancellor) of the University of the Faroe Islands

Fróðskaparsetur Føroya/University of the Faroe Islands

J.C Svabos gøta 14, P.O. Box 272, FO-110 Tórshavn, Faroe Islands

ChikC@setur.fo |+298 292502

 

Dagført 11. mars 2020 kl. 23:00 / Updated 11th March 2020 at 11PM

Góðu lesandi,

Leiðslan á Setrinum hevur tikið avgerð um, at øll undirvísing á Setrinum verður avlýst restina av vikuni. Tað vil siga, at lesandi ikki skulu møta á Setrinum hósdagin 12. og fríggjadagin 13. mars. Tó verða ávísar próvtøkur møguliga hildnar sum ætlað. Lesandi, ið skulu til hesar próvtøkur, fáa nærri kunning frá deildini.

Lesandi á Námsvísindadeildini og á Deildini fyri Heilsu- og Sjúkrarøktarfrøði, sum eru í starvslæru og klinikk, fáa kunning frá deildini.

Vit senda nærri kunning viðvíkjandi undirvísing í næstu viku til tykkara setursteldupost og á Moodle, so minnist til at kanna regluliga.

 

IN ENGLISH:

Dear students,

All teaching on Thursday 12^th and Friday 13^th March is cancelled. This means that students must not come to the university for the remaining of this week. Some scheduled exams for Thursday and Friday may take place as planned. Students participating in these exams will get further information from their faculty.

Students from the Faculty of Education and the Faculty of Health Sciences, who are currently in practice placement, will receive further instructions from their faculties.

We will keep you updated by e-mail to your university e-mail and on Moodle, so make sure to check for updates regularly.

 

Vinarliga  / Kind regards

 

Lestrarskrivstovan / Student Services

University of the Faroe Islands

+298 292520

 

Dagført 11. mars 2020 / Updated 11th March 2020

Góðu lesandi,

Niðanfyri er týdningarmikil kunning frá rektaranum viðvíkjandi Corona/Covid-19 frá í dag, mikudegnum 11. mars 2020.

Teksturin er á enskum, og um onkur hevur trupult við at skilja tað, kunnu tit venda tykkum til Lestrarskrivstovuna á tlf. 352520.

IN ENGLISH:

Below and attached you can read an important update from the rector regarding Corona/Covid-19 from today, Wednesday 11^th March  2020.

>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>> 

Dear Student

Please read carefully the detailed communication regarding new and strengthened advice regarding the coronavirus.

Key messages are about:

• Moving to remote learning, teaching and assessment whenever reasonably possible (until 14th April).
• Some classes will continue to meet where needed, with precautions taken.
• Students only coming to the University where it is really necessary – and following guidance from staff about that.
• Getting guidance about how to pursue your studies/education remotely, if you need that
• Understanding the serious situation we are facing and collaborating positively together – staff and students – to meet the challenge.
• Following all the general guidance about virus control – IT’S SO IMPORTANT.
• Inform us about travel plans (see yesterday’s message).

BUT PLEASE DO READ THE DETAIL BELOW!

Finally, please remember to comply with the requests in yesterday’s message, including informing us about any travel plans.

At this stage we would go a little further than yesterday and say please do not travel internationally unless there are truly exceptional reasons to do so.

Further to yesterday’s message, I am writing with updated advice regarding the situation with the coronavirus. I do so based on discussions with the Chair of the Board of the University and also based on a review of reporting about the way in which the virus has spread in other places.

The fairly clear implication of this reporting is that we must take additional control measures now to try to avoid the situation developing on the Faroe Islands in ways similar to what we are seeing in other countries. I want the University to be doing that now.

Please be assured, that there is no reason to panic, and this is certainly not a panic measure we are taking. Rather we are taking appropriate measures which will, we hope, contribute to ensuring that the virus is controlled here on the Faroe Islands. The measures are quite strong, but they are justified entirely by the risks involved in not taking such strong measures. We must do our part to help to ensure that the virus is controlled.

The main thing that students need to be aware of is that we are now seeking to deliver as much of our education as is reasonably possible – teaching, learning and assessment – remotely, using the existing information technology available to us. We are also getting access to another useful technology, called Zoom – which is used by many other Universities. It is used for video-conferencing of classes. We will now do this until at least the 14^th of April.

So, University staff should be in touch with you fairly soon, I hope, regarding the arrangements for doing all this. Please monitor the main channels of communication you have with academic staff to keep up to date with everything.

It is likely that there will be some need for some classes to meet for some purposes, and in that event we must be careful to ensure a sanitary environment and appropriate social distancing.

The University is now also cancelling all non-urgent meetings and events involving any more than a few people until at least the 14^th of April. The main focus of our activity will be on dealing with the coronavirus situation and keeping the education process going for our students in that situation. This is now our absolutely top priority for all of the staff of the University.

In general, we will now be asking students to come to the University only if it is necessary to do so – for a class or an assessment that cannot happen remotely, or for a discussion which has to be face-to face for some reason. Please discuss things with relevant staff and be guided by the advice we have been receiving and by good, common sense. There is a lot that we should be able to do through the use of IT – Moodle, Skype, email, social media, and hopefully also Zoom – and telephone.

If you are not comfortable with, or unsure about, doing your studies from home, please seek advice and support about that from your classmates or from the academic staff you deal with. I am sure people will be keen to help you.

I am sure that some people will think that we are over-reacting to the situation, but we are very confident that what we are doing is appropriate and proportionate to the risk we are facing on the Faroe Islands. It is important that everyone understands that.

We are asking everyone- staff and students – to work together in a positive and collaborative way to deal with this critically important situation in the right way. We must support each other if we hope to succeed – everyone. As we do, so we will learn a lot of new things – many of which will be of use to us when things settle down, hopefully in the not-too-distant future. At that stage, hopefully some people will say “what was all the fuss about”.

Look out for updates

Please be assured that the University leadership is very focussed on the situation and will keep you updated. Please look regularly for updates. We will seek to avoid closing the University entirely for the time-being, but that is already happening in many other places and we may need to consider it ourselves in the coming days.

Also, please remember to comply with the requests in yesterday’s message, including informing us about any travel plans. At this stage we would go a little further than yesterday and say please do not travel internationally unless there are truly exceptional reasons to do so.

Finally, please remember to follow all the guidance about hand washing, etc, social distancing and to remember the situation we are in and what we need to do. It is SO important – SO IMPORTANT.

Yours faithfully

Chik

 

Professor Chik Collins, Rector (Vice Chancellor) of the University of the Faroe Islands

Fróðskaparsetur Føroya/University of the Faroe Islands

J.C Svabos gøta 14, P.O. Box 272, FO-110 Tórshavn, Faroe Islands

ChikC@setur.fo |+298 292502

 

__________________________________________________________________________________

 

Dear Student (les um Corona á føroyskum her) (frá 10. mars 2020 / from 11th March 2020)

Update from the University on the situation with the coronavirus – including additional guidance and requests.

The University Health and Safety Committee met again yesterday to consider our ongoing response to the corona virus situation. We are continuing, of course, to monitor guidance and updates being provided by the relevant authorities. We are asking students to continue regularly to check for updates from the University, on email, the website and on social media – primarily Facebook. Of course, we anticipate that you will also be looking at updates from the news media and from the relevant authorities on the Faroe Islands.

As you will all know, the situation we are facing is a serious one, and potentially very serious. We can all help to ensure it doesn’t become more serious by paying attention to the guidance we have been receiving and sharing, and by co-operating with requests we are issuing.

What we have already done

We have previously circulated advice regarding regular and thorough washing of hands, coughing and sneezing practices, and social distancing (for instance, non-contact forms of greeting). Please continue to act on this advice.

We have now also placed posters with this advice in both Faroese and English in all buildings, as well as sanitizing gel (spritt). We will be seeking to replenish and increase stocks of gel as soon as we can (it is, of course, in high demand). Meantime, we have asked for notices to be placed at the entrances to buildings, asking everyone to wash their hands on entering and departing from our buildings. Please co-operate with this request.

The University has asked our cleaners to increase the cleaning of door handles, rails and other surfaces – and this is now happening. Students should perhaps themselves take the opportunity to clean their work surfaces, keyboards, smart phones, etc., once or twice a day – I am already doing that myself and am encouraging everyone to do the same.

We have also asked Deans and Health and Safety Committee members to consider other steps and actions which would be relevant to their buildings and work spaces – including seeking to limit access of non-university visitors to the Sjóvinnuhúsið to the main University corridors and toilets.

Further guidance and advice we are now issuing

We would now also encourage students to perhaps increase their general social distancing, sitting a bit further apart in classes and elsewhere, and when having coffeee/eating, and so on.

Students who are experiencing sypmtoms of a cold, flu, sore throat or fever type, should, as a precaution, stay and work at home and advise the relevant member of academic staff that they are doing that. It is difficult for us to give precise guidelines here, and so we need to ask everyone to use common sense and judgement. In doing so, students should consider the possible vulnerability of other students and staff, and of the wider community we are all part of. It’s not simply whether one contracts the virus personally, but who else one might then infect. Again, this means using good sense and reasonble judgement.

We would encourage all students who have underlying health conditions, which may increase their susceptibility to more serious effects of the virus, to consult with their doctor (general practitioner), and to make contingency plans for staying at home, should that prove to be necessary. Students should also consider the potential vulnerabilities of members of their household.

We are also asking at this stage that students inform us of their international travel plans for the period between now and the end of June. We want, of course, to know about travel plans linked to University studies – destination, dates of travel, reason for travel and people travelling.

We would also ask that students be prepared – voluntarily – to share with us their private/personal international travel plans, if they have any, for the same period (until the end of June). We trust that everyone will understand that we are not trying to police anyone’s private life. Rather we feel that it is better to have access to all potentially relevant information in approaching our handling of a serious – and potentially very serious – situation on the Faroe Islands.

For any international travel plans, please notify staff at Setursskrivstovan - Setur@setur.fo

Please be assured that we have asked Deans to collate information at Faculty level about events which are being planned or taking place for the period until the end of June, and about visitors who may be coming from abroad to attend these events. We will make use of this information as appropriate going forward.

Other things we are working on

A further initiative we have taken is to call a meeting of relevant staff to discuss providing additional guidance to other staff regarding use of our IT systems to deliver teaching from home, should that be needed. Further advice will follow on this, but in the meantime we have asked Deans to initiate discussions in the Faculties about how we can try to keep teaching our students if we have to advise staff and students to stay at home. This is something that is already happening in other countries, though we hope it will be avoided here.

We will ensure that advice regarding examinations and other forms of assessment is provided as appropriate as things progress, and also about any possible implications for the graduation ceremony.

I hope that students will find this useful.

Yours faithfully

Chik

 

Professor Chik Collins, Rector (Vice Chancellor) of the University of the Faroe Islands

Fróðskaparsetur Føroya/University of the Faroe Islands

J.C Svabos gøta 14, P.O. Box 272, FO-110 Tórshavn, Faroe Islands

ChikC@setur.fo |+298 292502

 

Dagført 6. mars 2020  / Update from 6th March 2020 

Dear Students

This communication is to reassure you that the University leadership is monitoring and following official advice regarding the Coronavirus and is also convening regular meetings of the University Health and Safety Committee, led by the Rector and Director, to agree and implement any actions we may have to take as a University if further issues develop.

In the meantime, our University remains very much open for business as usual, while continuing to take – and encouraging others to take – all sensible precautions (please refer here also to previous communication from us on this matter).

The Committee is discussing a range of potential issues, including:

• How best to be supporting our students
• Staff and student travel, including international students travelling to or from the Faroe Islands
• Planned events
• Academic programme delivery, including teaching, placements, assessments and coursework
• Possible staffing considerations – including staff who may have vulnerabilities due to underlying conditions or who may have caring responsibilities to be considered in different scenarios
• Communications
• External engagements

 For general information and advice in Faroese regarding the coronavirus, please see here: https://landslaeknin.stps.dk/

And for regularly updated advice – in both Danish and English – please see here: https://politi.dk/corona

I hope this message is helpful and please be reassured we will continue to monitor the situation and provide you with any relevant updates.

If you have any queries, please address them in the first instance to the Student Services office – Setur@setur.fo

 

Yours faithfully

Chik

Professor Chik Collins, Rector (Vice Chancellor) of the University of the Faroe Islands

Fróðskaparsetur Føroya/University of the Faroe Islands

J.C Svabos gøta 14, P.O. Box 272, FO-110 Tórshavn, Faroe Islands

ChikC@setur.fo |+298 292502

 

 

From the Rector regarding the Corona virus

Dear Student

I am writing to you to advise you of the current situation with regard to the developments with the coronavirus – which I presume you will already have some knowledge of.

I am writing mostly to reassure you that the University leadership is monitoring the situation and is in contact with the relevant authorities for information and for advice. We will continue to do that and will keep you advised as to any action which it may be necessary for us to take if and as the situation develops.

At this stage I understand that the first case of the virus has been confirmed on the Faroe Islands (thankfully the person is not very unwell, it seems). I am seeking advice as to whether this case may have any direct implications for us at the University at this stage.

Meantime, we are all advised to follow the instructions from the Chief Medical Officer in the Faroe Islands (Landslæknin), and first and foremost to wash our hands very thoroughly and often, and to cover our mouth and nose when coughing or sneezing, and to cough or sneeze into the elbow rather than into the hand – or into a tissue which is then disposed of safely (and again, wash the hands!).

Please read the Chief Medical Officer´s instructions here (https://landslaeknin.stps.dk/) – or at some other source via an internet search.

The Danish health auhtorities have opened a Corona hotline for everyone to use – as necessary. The number is +45 72 22 74 59 and it is open between 7:30 and 14:30 Faroese time. On their website you can read (in Danish) Q&A´s about the virus.

The English site is under construction. Click here (https://www.sst.dk/en/English) to read more.

Otherwise we all must be guided by reason and common sense, and take sensible precautions to limit the possibility or likelihood of infection spreading.

Students who feel ill, should of course stay at home and follow the instructions to call their own general practitioner, and then advise us of the situation if needed.

 

In that case, please contact Student Services on +298 352520 or +298 292504 (out or working hours).

 

Like everyone else, we very much hope that the situation will not become very serious or problematic, but we will monitor the situation closely and advise you further as and when appropriate.

 

Please take care.

Yours faithfully

Chik

 

Professor Chik Collins, Rector (Vice Chancellor) of the University of the Faroe Islands

Fróðskaparsetur Føroya/University of the Faroe Islands

J.C Svabos gøta 14, P.O. Box 272, FO-110 Tórshavn, Faroe Islands

ChikC@setur.fo |+298 292502

 

Visiting Professor of Applied Social Science, University of the West of Scotland

School of Education and Social Sciences, chik.collins@uws.ac.uk | +44 7584 907240