Dear colleagues,
Dear students,

We would like to take this opportunity to inform you about some changes brought about by the Ordinance on Temporary Containment Measures due to the SARS-CoV-2 Virus and COVID-19 in the State of Brandenburg (SARS-CoV-2 Containment Ordinance - SARS-CoV-2-EindV) of 23 November 2021.

All regulations mentioned here apply with immediate effect.

Wearing masks

Onsite events

It is now compulsory to wear a medical mask (OP or FFP2 mask (without valve)) for all courses. The previous exception, which allowed removing a mask at the seat and when keeping a minimum distance of one metre, is no longer applicable (§25, Para. 1, Sentence 2).

This regulation also applies to teachers, i.e. the so-called "teaching zone", which allowed speaking without a mask, is no longer applicable.

Working meetings / committee work

In addition to the urgent recommendation to hold work meetings or committee work online, there is also the recommendation to wear masks at all times when meetings are necessary.

In general, the Crisis Team recommends wearing an FFP2 mask.

Compulsory testing

§25, 2 of the currently valid SARS-CoV-2 Containment Ordinance also changes the rules for presenting a negative test. According to this "participants must produce a test certificate made out to them daily before the start of the first teaching unit or course in attendance".

As already communicated in the e-mail of 12 November, a so-called Corona self-test without supervision is not sufficient. The presentation of a rapid antigen test ("citizen test") or a PCR test is required.

In this context, the validity of 72 hours previously formulated by the university also changes. Testing by means of a rapid antigen test may now be carried out a maximum of 24 hours prior to entering campus. A PCR test, in deviation from this, may be carried out a maximum of 48 hours in advance.

Here is an overview of possible test stations for the free citizen tests:

• LK Dahme-Spreewald: https://www.dahme-spreewald.info/sixcms/detail.php/70521
• Berlin: https://www.berlin.de/corona/testzentren/

Please note:

• The testing requirement only applies to those who have not been vaccinated or recovered. Vaccinated or recovered persons must nevertheless carry their vaccination/ recovery certificate with them and show it on request. Additional testing is not necessary for these persons and may not be requested as a further "entry requirement" for attendance events.
• Self-tests are still available at the gatehouse, house 13. These can be used as an additional safeguard by all students as well as colleagues on their own responsibility and voluntarily. Also by vaccinated or recovered persons. However, they do not count as proof of testing in the sense of the above-mentioned compulsory testing.

Stay healthy!

Dear colleagues,
Dear students,

The Crisis Team discussed the issue of onsite and online teaching at its last meeting on Thursday, 18 November 2021, in view of the further deteriorating situation, with the following result.

Change from onsite to online teaching

If teachers prefer to change the form of teaching from onsite to online teaching due to the current development of the pandemic, this is possible in principle. However, didactic and organisational aspects must be taken into account and students must be included in the consideration process.

Therefore:

• Such a decision may only be taken and implemented in consultation with the dean.
• After their agreement, the timetable is informed so that the change is documented in the timetable.
• Please refrain from attempting to make unauthorised and uncoordinated changes to the timetable. The timetabling department is instructed to make changes only with the confirmation of the dean.

Mandatory masks

For those of you who are present in our buildings, we ask you once again to consistently observe the mask requirement. This also and especially applies if the checkerboard pattern or the 1 m distance cannot be observed due to the room occupancy.

In addition, only medical masks are permitted, i.e. OP or FFP2 masks. Masks with a valve are not permitted, regardless of whether they are classified as FFP2 or even FFP3 masks. If you should ever forget your mask, you can obtain a surgical mask free of charge from the porter's office in House 13.

Let us together continue to be mindful and careful.

Stay healthy!

Your Crisis Team

Dear colleagues,
dear students,

We would like to take this opportunity to inform you about some changes brought about by the Ordinance on Temporary Containment Measures due to the SARS-CoV-2 Virus and COVID-19 in the State of Brandenburg (SARS-CoV-2 Containment Ordinance - SARS-CoV-2-EindV) of 12 November 2021, and which the Crisis Team - especially in view of the current developments in connection with the Corona pandemic - decided on at its last meeting on Thursday 11 November 2021.

All regulations mentioned here are valid from Monday, 15 November 2021.

Onsite teaching

We are still aiming to run our face-to-face courses and teaching as a whole as planned. This means that there will be no changes to the current timetable at the moment. We will do everything we can to ensure that this remains the case in the coming weeks, because studying and teaching are our core business.

But to make this possible, we all have to be very disciplined.

Wearing masks

With regard to the obligation to wear masks, there is still the regulation that this does not exist as long as people are in a fixed seat and a distance to others of at least one metre is maintained. Nevertheless, in view of the current pandemic development, we ask you to voluntarily wear medical or FFP2 masks at your seat even if the minimum distance is maintained. In the event that this cannot be maintained, masks must also be worn at the seat.

An exception is always the so-called "teaching zone". Here, the speaker can remove the mask during class as before.

Seating arrangements

At this point, we urgently appeal to all students: Please pay attention to the distances to your seat neighbours ("chequerboard pattern" / 1 m minimum distance). This is in your interest and in the interest of all of us.

We appeal to the teachers to please pay attention to the seat distances and to take corrective action if necessary.

Compulsory testing

According to § 25, para. 2 of the SARS-CoV-2 Containment Ordinance of 12 November 2021, our previous testing concept is no longer valid, i.e. no more self-tests including the personally signed negative certificate will be accepted.

Instead, official test certificates from official (rapid) test centres are necessary from now on.

Here is an overview of possible test stations:

• LK Dahme-Spreewald: https://www.dahme-spreewald.info/sixcms/detail.php/70521
• Berlin: https://www.berlin.de/corona/testzentren/

The university regrets this step, as it represents increased efforts for all those who rely on the tests. The only way to avoid this expense is to get vaccinated. Therefore, our appeal in this context is once again: Get vaccinated.

Events with a festive character (especially Christmas parties)

After a long and extensive discussion - and with a heavy heart - we have come to the decision not to allow any events with a "party character", such as Christmas parties, on the premises (indoor) and on the entire campus (outdoor) of the TH Wildau this year (again).

Committees / working meetings

Please conduct committee work or working meetings online whenever possible - regardless of your G status.

University Library

Due to the room planning capacities, the library has a person and workstation limit of 110 persons. In order to inform you in the future - especially during peak times - about the current capacity status of the library, a traffic light system is now being developed that simply displays the capacities. We will inform you shortly as soon as this system is ready and usable.

One final word: Once again, we ask for your understanding for these measures. We know that the majority of our employees, teachers and students have already been vaccinated - and we would like to take this opportunity to thank them! Nevertheless, we are convinced that every avoided infection is more important than every (even) mild illness.

Thank you very much - stay healthy!

Dear students,
Dear colleagues,

After we informed you in our last update of 17 September 2021 that on the basis of the third SARS-CoV-2 Handling Regulation the obligation for contact tracing at our university was no longer applicable, the latest update of the Handling Regulation for universities (Link to press release), which comes into force on 13 October, now again requires contact tracing for teaching and public events (such as events without direct teaching or adminstrative contexts, e.g. the seminar for senior citizens).

For us this means

• As of Wednesday, 13 October 2021, our WebApp for contact tracking will be available (again) and must be used by everyone for attendance events (courses/exams as well as other events according to §10 of the Contact Ordinance).
• For each event, scan the corresponding QR code with your mobile device before entering the respective rooms. Alternatively, you can also use https://icampus.th-wildau.de/kontaktnachverfolgung on any terminal with an internet connection to log in.
• All relevant information on the WebApp can be found at www.en.th-wildau.de/contact-tracing. There you will also find help on how it works, such as FAQ or operating instructions.
• Important: In offices and at events with an official context (meetings, committee meetings), this contact tracing obligation does not apply to employees. However, you are of course free to use the WebApp on a voluntary basis as well.
• Note: When using the WebApp for contact tracing for the first time, you may still see the message screen that the WebApp has been switched off. In this case, the WebApp must be reloaded once. If you have any further problems, please contact Krisenstab(at)th-wildau.de.

Home office arrangements

• Due to the continuing special situation in the context of the Corona pandemic, the flat-rate home office regulations will be extended until 28 February 2022.
• If no further extension is communicated below, the service agreement on alternating teleworking and mobile working (DV ATMA), which came into force on 1 September 2021 and was concluded between the university and the General Staff Council, will apply from 1 March 2022. Applications in accordance with the new DV ATMA can of course be submitted and processed - however, they will now only be mandatory from 1 March 2022.

We hope that the issue of contact tracing in particular will now have a longer-term character and that the current regulation will not be changed again in the course of the semester.

The entire Crisis Team also thanks you for your flexibility and understanding of the measures that continue to be required to deal with the challenging conditions for the benefit of all.

Dear students,
Dear colleagues,

Shortly before the start of the courses, the crisis team would like to take this opportunity to remind you of the regulations in force in connection with the Corona pandemic and, above all, on-campus events.

Since it is the goal of our university to again offer approximately 50 percent of the courses on campus this winter semester, it is essential that these regulations are adhered to by all participants in the interest of safe and pleasant teaching and learning. The crisis team would also like to appeal once again to those who have not yet been vaccinated at the present time: Please consider still getting vaccinated, because vaccinations are a decisive building block for more and safer on-campus classes in the winter semester!

Basically: You can find all information - always as up-to-date as possible - at en.th-wildau.de/corona. The current hygiene concept can also be found there.

The  3rd Ordinance on the Handling of the SARS-CoV-2 Virus and COVID-19 in Brandenburg (Third SARS-CoV-2 Handling Ordinance - 3rd SARS-CoV-2-UmgV) of 15 September 2021 applies up to and including 13 October 2021.

3-G status

Access to face-to-face events (courses/exams) is only allowed if participants (students and teaching staff) are vaccinated, recovered or negatively tested. The university is interested in making the resulting control procedure as practicable as possible and has deliberately chosen to adopt a trust-based approach:

a) The teachers are entitled to check the fulfilment of the 3-G status in their courses by having the participants show them the negative test certificates or proof of complete vaccination or recovery.

b) Teachers are obliged to verbally inquire about the fulfilment of the 3-G status in the course and to have it confirmed by a single "raising of the arm" that one of the three statuses (vaccinated, recovered, tested) has been fulfilled.

In the event that (a or b) participants are identified who do not fulfil any of these three statuses, teachers are both entitled and obliged to ask them to leave the room and carry out a self-test (see section "Obligation to test") in order to be able to continue participating in the course with a "negative test".

If the participant refuses to take a self-test, the lecturers are entitled (transfer of domiciliary rights, see order P05-2021) and obliged to ask him or her to leave the course. If there are any problems in doing so, please contact the President's Office on 03375 508 101. If an exclusion has occurred, the incident must be documented by the teachers and reported immediately to the President. A form for the documentation is available for download. Of course, we hope that such a case will not occur in the first place!

Furthermore, the university management will also carry out regular checks of the 3-G status in courses at the lecturers' premises, organise them or have them carried out by authorised persons. You can therefore assume that spontaneous, unannounced checks will take place.

As a result, a recovery or vaccination certificate or a negative test certificate must be carried at all times during the courses.

Note: Only those persons who have been vaccinated with one of the four vaccines approved in the European Union are considered "vaccinated". These are:

• mRNA vaccines: Biontech/Pfizer; Moderna
• Vector vaccines: Johnson & Johnson; Vaxzevria (AstraZeneca)

Versions of the EU-approved vaccines approved abroad (original or licensed productions) are equivalent to the above-mentioned EU-approved vaccines for the proof of vaccination protection. For further information, please refer to the list at the Paul Ehrlich Institute.

Persons vaccinated with a vaccine not licensed in the EU (or equivalent) are considered unvaccinated and must be tested.

Obligatory testing or "negatively tested" status

If participants of an on-campus event are neither vaccinated nor recovered, they must be tested negative when entering the event. The following rules apply:

• Participants in face-to-face courses must provide evidence of a negative test on their first day of attendance each week.
• Self-tests will continue to be provided by the university if required (issued in the gatehouse, building 13, Mon.-Fri. 7:30 a.m. to 3:00 p.m., please also pay attention to any notices there). The negative test certificate will continue to be used and must be carried on campus at all times.
• However, it is generally recommended to do the tests in advance (at home or at an official testing station).
• The negative certificates are valid for 72 h (3 days), so that a maximum of two tests are necessary if the course is held on different days between Monday and Saturday.

Again, fully vaccinated or recovered persons are exempt from testing under the COVID 19 Protective Measures Exemption Ordinance of 8 May 2021, but must provide proof of full vaccination or recovery upon request.

Minimum distance, mask obligation and spatial planning

• For universities and other educational institutions, the Handling Ordinance recommends a minimum distance of one metre in teaching events (§25). This has been taken into account in the capacity and space planning.
  Please also ensure that students are seated in a "chequerboard" pattern, i.e. do not form groups. In addition, students are allowed to take off their mask after taking their fixed seat (and being one metre apart). Smaller distances or activities while standing without a fixed place are only possible with constant protection by a medical mask.
• The university allows teachers an exception in this respect: they are allowed to take off their masks within the "teaching zone". An information sheet on the lectern in the teaching rooms informs about this.
• The general obligation to wear masks in buildings (corridors, foyers, etc.) remains as before.
• As provided for in the hygiene concept, the rooms must be ventilated regularly. If the room has mechanical ventilation, please make sure that it is switched on.

Web app for contact tracing

With immediate effect, the obligation to collect personal data for the purpose of contact tracing is no longer applicable.

If you find posters or other information on campus advising you to use the contact tracing web app, please ignore them. They are no longer valid and will be adjusted accordingly. The QR codes on the rooms will also be provided with the corresponding information shortly.

Home office arrangements

As communicated in the email on 6 August, due to the ongoing special situation, the blanket home office regulations made in the context of the Corona pandemic have been extended until 31 October. If no further extension is communicated, the service agreement on alternating teleworking and mobile working (DV ATMA), which came into force on 1 September and was concluded between the university and the General Staff Council, will apply from 1 November.

Hygiene rules

Beyond all that has been communicated so far, it remains essential that we all adhere to the known hygiene rules.

• Distance - at least 1.5 m, also outside the buildings
• Hygiene rules - wash hands regularly with soap for at least 20 seconds and follow cough and sneeze etiquette
• Mask - wear a medical mask when on campus. This can be a surgical or FFP2 mask.
• Ventilate - regularly ventilate all types of room as best you can: offices, seminar rooms, lecture theatres etc.
• App - install the federal government's Corona warning app on a voluntary basis. It enables contact tracing and thereby to break contact chains.

Communication

In addition to the central "Corona website" at en.th-wildau.de/corona, please always pay attention to all other channels that the TH Wildau provides for communication. These include emails, notices and displays on campus as well as the screens in the foyers of the buildings and halls, our social media and the campus app UniDOS.

Welcome (back)!

We all want more campus life, learning and working with colleagues and direct encounters. That's why we are gradually returning to more presence and also promoting contact with each other - always within the bounds of what is possible, of course. A specially launched Welcome (back) campaign informs students, lecturers and employees about various events for networking, overcoming low motivation or about support workshops and counselling: en.th-wildau.de/welcomeback.

On 1 September 2021, the service agreement on alternating teleworking and mobile working (DV ATMA: Dienstvereinbarung zur alternierenden Telearbeit und zum mobilen Arbeiten) concluded between the university and the General Staff Council is supposed to come into force at TH Wildau.

However, due to the continuing special situation, for the time being the home office regulations made in the context of the Corona pandemic will also be extended until 31.10.2021. This means in detail:

• The period of validity for existing home office agreements is extended until 31.10.2021. Existing agreements do not require a separate written form.
• New home office agreements can be concluded for the period until 31.10.2021. Please continue to use the template for home office agreements available on the website at www.en.th-wildau.de/corona for this purpose.
• If such a home office agreement exists or is concluded, it is not necessary to conclude an agreement on alternating teleworking in accordance with the DV ATMA for the period until 31.10.21. 

Please use the resulting transitional phase between the Corona-related home office regulations and the new regulations according to the DV ATMA at all levels to familiarise yourself with the details of our new service agreement. The regulations made there will be decisive for working outside the workplace at the university in the future. In addition, the General Staff Council will inform all employees in a targeted and timely manner about the DV ATMA and the associated procedures.

The Corona Test Centre of the Kassenärztliche Vereinigung Brandenburg for the district of Dahme-Spreewald at the TH Wildau (House 17 / Room 17-0025) has new opening hours from 5 July:

• Monday: 3 - 5 pm
• Tuesday: 10 a.m. - 12 p.m.
• Thursday: 10 a.m. - 12 p.m.
• Friday: 10 a.m. - 12 p.m.

The services offered at all times include the following:

• Rapid antigen tests
• PCR tests (with/without symptoms)
• New: antibody tests

Please make an appointment at www.eterminservice.de or 116117-App or by email coronaambulanz@th-wildau.de.

This week, the state of Brandenburg passed the New Ordinance on the Handling of the SARS-CoV-2 Virus and COVID-19 in Brandenburg (valid from 16 June to 13 July 2021).

Above all, §23 (Other educational and training institutions) results in the following changes for our university after consultation in the Crisis Team, which apply with immediate effect:

Mandatory masks

• outdoors
  The mask requirement on outdoors on campus no longer applies.
• indoors
  The obligation to wear masks inside buildings (including corridors, foyers, etc.) remains unchanged.
• in classroom training
  The mask requirement for classroom events in closed rooms (courses and examinations) does not apply as soon as the students have taken their fixed seat. If they leave their fixed seat, the mask must be put back on.

Compulsory testing in face-to-face courses

• As before, attendance at classroom events must be accompanied by a negative Corona test.
• Participants in face-to-face courses must provide evidence of a negative test on their first day of attendance each week.
• Self-tests will continue to be provided by the university if required (issued at the gatehouse, house 13). The negative test certificate will continue to be used and must be carried on campus at all times.
• However, it is generally recommended to do the tests in advance (at home or at an official testing station).
• The negative certificates are valid for 72 h (3 days), so that a maximum of two tests are necessary if the course is held on different days between Monday and Saturday.
• This means that the previous regulation that tests carried out are valid for a maximum of 24 hours no longer applies.
• Fully vaccinated or recovered persons are exempt from testing under the COVID 19 Protective Measures Exemption Ordinance of 8 May 2021, but must provide proof of full vaccination or recovery upon request.
• Teaching staff are entitled to be shown the negative certificates or proof of full vaccination or recovery. The university explicitly chooses the trust-based approach in this point in order to ensure that courses and examinations are as practicable and simple as possible.
  
  As a reminder: The university regularly provides information about free vaccination appointments, which are made possible in cooperation with a local doctor's practice. You can find the registration form for this on the Corona website or directly here: https://www.th-wildau.de/index.php?id=32765.
  Use this option to protect yourself and others particularly effectively and also to be exempted from current or future testing obligations.

Room planning for classroom events

The changed distance rules (1 m to the next seat) for classroom events allow for more flexible room planning for the upcoming examination period. The departments will check whether examination planning can be simplified. Changes will be announced in a timely manner.

Travel and business trips

• Notification for travel to risk areas to the Chancellor
  The previous regulation is no longer applicable. Such trips no longer have to be registered with the Chancellor.

• Business trips
  • Non-urgent business trips shall continue to be refrained from.
  • Urgently necessary business trips are generally permitted with the following restrictions:
    • For travel to risk areas, case-by-case approval must be obtained from the university management. The case-by-case assessment is carried out by the President or the Chancellor. In this examination, the vaccination status, among other things, is taken into account if the applicant voluntarily makes a corresponding statement in the justification for the business trip.
    • Missions to virus variant areas and high incidence areas are not eligible for approval.
• The costs of necessary PCR tests for business trips can be charged as travel expenses.

Our official Corona website is currently being expanded and will include questions and answers that relate specifically to the examination period for the summer semester 2021. Separate information on this will be provided shortly.

The compulsory test applies to all attendance events. This includes courses and examinations.

If - for example for dual degree programmes - an examination falls on a Saturday, the gatekeeper's office in building 13 is staffed and also issues self-tests. In addition, lecturers could also get tests for their students in advance and then hand them out.

Basically, however, the recommendation is to take the tests in advance (at home or at an official testing station). After all, they are valid for 24 hours and the "negative certificate" (further details below in the update of 14.05.2021) can then simply be brought to the exam.

Here is an overview of possible test centres:

• Brandenburg: https://www.dahme-spreewald.info/sixcms/detail.php/70521
• Berlin: https://www.berlin.de/corona/testzentren/

DM and Lidl shops now also have small free test centres:

• DM: https://corona-schnelltest-zentren.dm.de/o/dm/login
• Lidl: https://www.lidl.de/de/corona-testzentren/s7382645#testzentren

In case this is not possible, the university provides self-tests in house 13 at the gatehouse. You will also receive further information on this in the update of 14.5.2021.

Important informationen on the current Containment Ordinance (valid from 12 May – 9 June 2021)

The state of Brandenburg passed the following regulations in the Seventh SARS-CoV-2 Containment Ordinance (7th SARS-CoV-2-EindV, valid from 12 May - 9 June 2021), which will affect teaching at our university from Monday 17 May 2021.

§19 para. 1 and para. 2 of the 7th SARS-CoV-2-EindV states:

1. face-to-face courses [...] in universities, [...] are only permitted with up to 15 participants each. The limit on the number of persons pursuant to Section 19(1), first sentence, shall not apply to

• the conduct and preparation of examinations and the taking of examinations,
• courses at universities which require compulsory attendance (in particular laboratory work) [...].

Events as defined in sentence 3 with more than 50 persons present at the same time are prohibited.

2. participants and teaching staff must [...] have tested negative for infection with the SARS-CoV-2 virus before the start of the first day of teaching and must present a test certificate issued to them in accordance with § 2 number 7 of the COVID-19 protective measures exemption regulation; [...].

In the case of teaching or courses on more than three consecutive days, the obligation to test and provide evidence in accordance with section 19(2), first sentence, number 2 is twice a week.

What does this mean for us?

New:

• Face-to-face events with up to 15 persons (while observing the distance rules and hygiene measures) may take place (previously the upper limit was 5 persons).
• For all types of face-to-face events, testing is now compulsory for all participants, including teachers.

Still valid:

• Due to the distance rules and occupational health and safety regulations that still apply, there is no change to the implementation of ongoing courses (laboratories, etc.).
• Examinations can also continue to be held on site (upper limit 50 persons in one room).

However, exceptions exist for those who have already been fully vaccinated and those who have recovered. More on this below.

How do we implement compulsory testing?

As communicated in previous emails, we ask that you primarily use the Corona testing centre on our campus (House 17, Room 17-0025) or other state-funded services. If this is not possible, the university provides self-tests, which are handed out in house 13 at the gatehouse.

• If the self-tests or quick tests cannot be taken at home or otherwise before attending the course, the courtyard hall in House 13 is available for testing using self-tests. Used material can be disposed of there.
• For confirmation of negative self-tests, please use the certificate [LINK] and keep this certificate with you at all times afterwards. If you have a negative certificate from an official Corona testing centre, please carry it with you.
• Teachers are entitled to have the negative certificates shown to them.

Please note that compulsory testing for our university will take place from next Monday, 17 May 2021.

The following applies in general

It is no longer possible to enter courses without a negative certificate. A self-test or quick test must be carried out each week before the first attendance of an attendance course. The test must not be older than 24 hours. If more than three consecutive days of attendance are attended, a second test must be carried out.

Are there exceptions for fully vaccinated or recovered persons?

Yes, under the COVID 19 Protective Measures Exemption Ordinance of 8 May 2021, fully vaccinated and recovered persons are exempt from the testing requirement, but must provide proof of full vaccination or recovery upon request. Similarly, the restrictions based on a number of persons do not apply, so that they are not counted, for example, in the above-mentioned 15 participants. The current guidelines on the obligation to wear a mask and the distance requirement are also still valid for these groups of people.

Thank you for your understanding for these necessary changes. They always benefit the goal of further reducing the incidence of infection and avoiding unnecessary risks.

Following the decisions of the conference of the Federal Chancellor with the heads of government of the federal states last Wednesday, the federal state of Brandenburg published the Seventh Ordinance on Temporary Containment Measures due to the SARS-CoV-2 Virus and COVID-19 in Brandenburg at the weekend, which comes into force from 08.03.2021, and is valid until 16.5.2021.

Key Guidelines

• Basically, it remains essential that we all adhere to the applicable distance and hygiene rules.
  • Distance and hygiene rules
    Distance - at least 1.5 m, also outside the buildings
    Hygiene rules - wash hands regularly with soap for at least 20 seconds and follow cough and sneeze etiquette
    Mask - wear a medical mask when on campus. This can be a surgical or FFP2 mask.
    Ventilate - regularly ventilate all type of room as best you can: offices, seminar rooms, lecture theatres etc.
    App - install the federal government's Corona warning app on a voluntary basis. It enables contact tracing and thereby to break contact chains.
• Hygiene concept
  You can find the current version here or via www.en.th-wildau.de/corona
• Web app for contact tracing for all events / exams at the TH Wildau: Each time you enter a new room, please scan its QR code and use it to log in to the app. This is mandatory to be able to trace contacts in case of infection. The same applies in administrative areas and your own offices. Further information: https://en.th-wildau.de/contact-tracing

In addition, further currently applicable regulations are summarised once again below.

Courses

According to the current Containment Ordinance, face-to-face courses in higher education institutions are still only permitted with up to five participants at a time.

However, courses with a high practical component (laboratory exercises) and examinations are exempt from this regulation.

That means:

• All "classic" courses (e.g. lectures) are conducted exclusively online.
• Labs and other exercises with a high practical content can take place on site, subject to the applicable safety measures.
• Examinations and, in particular, repeat examinations may also be carried out on site in compliance with the applicable safety measures.

Library

·       The library remains open under the previously valid safety measures.

Home Office

• In addition to the email from the Chancellor dated 9.2.2021 (“General ruling TH Wildau on the new SARS-CoV-2 occupational health and safety regulation”), the period of validity for existing home office agreements is extended beyond 15.3.2021 to 30.4.2021.
• Existing agreements do not require a separate written form.
• For new home office agreements, please continue to use the home office agreement template available on the website at www.en.th-wildau.de/corona

This means that on 15.3.2021 we can at least start with some particularly practice-oriented courses in attendance form, and we very much hope to be able to continue to organise the summer semester in this hybrid form that we are already familiar with. Which course will take place in which form and at which location can be found in the current timetable.

Nevertheless, we are currently in a very critical phase of the pandemic, which continues to make great demands on all of us and forces us to apply all hygiene and distance rules with special attentiveness. Please keep this in mind at all times!

With the start of the lecture-free period approaching, the crisis team of the TH Wildau would like to remind you of the following directions and regulations regarding returnees from risk areas. These have already been published last August (see Information for Winter Semester, chapter 7) and remain valid:

• In principle, the SARS-CoV-2 quarantine regulation of the state of Brandenburg applies to returnees from international risk areas. The regulations there must be observed by employees and students of TH Wildau who have stayed in an international risk area. If you have been in a risk area, please inform the crisis management team at krisenstab(at)th-wildau.de.
• With regard to private travel, it is basically the responsibility of the traveller to find out before the planned journey whether the destination is a corona risk area. The travel warnings issued by the Federal Foreign Office and the information published by the RKI on the designation of international risk areas by the Federal Foreign Office, BMG and BMI are decisive in this context.
• For employees of TH Wildau, a deliberate trip to a risk area and the associated acceptance of the subsequent quarantine order constitutes a breach of the mutual duty of care within the employment relationship and has an impact on the employee's claim to remuneration. Further details can be found in the Chancellor's letter of 04.08.2020.
• In this context, all employees and civil servants who have been in a risk area since
  1 July 2020 are instructed to report this stay to the Chancellor of the TH Wildau. The notification is limited to the time period, the confirmation of the stay in a risk area and the date on which this area was classified as a risk area. Furthermore, it must be reported whether quarantine has been ordered. If so, the period of quarantine must be indicated. Please send the notifications and the supplementary documents to kanzler(at)th-wildau.de.

Furthermore, we would like to point out that the current Containment Ordinance of the State of Brandenburg, which is valid up to an including 7 March, entails no further changes for the current operations at our university. We will keep you informed about any future changes as soon as possible.

The following information on BAföG is from the Studentenwerk Potsdam (Student's Association).

Crisis Team of TH Wildau

Adaptations to the "Hochschulpandemieverordnung" have been made

BAföG-eligible students in Brandenburg can now receive BaföG for another semester longer! The required proof of achievement according to paragraph 48 BAföG can be submitted one more semester later.

What exactly does the new regulation mean?

• Students who started their studies in the summer semester 2020 or before can receive BAföG for 2 semesters longer.
• Students whose studies began in the winter semester 2020/21 are entitled to BAföG for 1 semester longer.
• Students whose maximum funding period expires after the end of this winter semester, but who have not yet finished their studies can contact the BAföG office if they would like to benefit from this regulation.
• Students who have not received BAföG so far, must first apply in order to be able to secure a possible claim.

Those who have any questions, can reach the BAföG Office of the Student's Association during the telephone consultation hours on Monday, Wednesday and Friday between 9.00 and 11.30 a.m. and on Tuesday between 1.00 and 3.00 p.m.

The Crisis Team of the TH Wildau would like to take this opportunity to remind students and employees once again to consistently follow the hygiene rules of the university. Only by applying them without exception it is possible to move around the campus and buildings with the greatest possible safety. And only if everyone consistently follows the hygiene rules it is possible to conduct examinations in attendance. Disregarding the rules by individuals not only endangers the health of students and employees of the TH Wildau, but also the conduct of examinations in principle. 

These include in detail:

• Contact tracing web app for all events / exams
  Each time by entering a new room, its QR code has to be scanned in order to log in to the app. This is mandatory to be able to trace contacts in case of infection. The same applies in administrative areas and offices. Further information: https://en.th-wildau.de/contact-tracing
• Distance and hygiene rules
  Distance - at least 1.5 m, also outside the buildings
  Hygiene rules - wash hands regularly with soap for at least 20 seconds and follow cough and sneeze etiquette
  Mask - wear a medical mask when on campus. This can be a surgical or FFP2 mask.
  Ventilate - regularly ventilate all type of room the best way: offices, seminar rooms, lecture theatres etc.
  App - install the federal government's Corona warning app on a voluntary basis. It enables contact tracing and thereby to break contact chains.
• Hygiene concept
  The current version is available here or via www.en.th-wildau.de/corona

Together against Corona!

This week, the examination period for the winter semester 2020/2021 has started. Many module examinations have been and will be conducted in online format. This change from on-site examinations to online examinations, combined with the near-permanent delivery of courses in online format, is challenging for us all. During the examination period, this situation is exacerbated even further. Many students are burdened by the stress of exams. The uncertainty caused by the different course formats should also not be underestimated.

In the decisions made by the TH Wildau in dealing with the pandemic situation, the protection of the health of all involved has always been and will always be in the foreground.

For the examination period in February 2021, the Presidential Board and the crisis team have decided to make use of the possibilities offered by the current Containment Regulation and to allow final module examinations in attendance on-site. This decision was not easy. A balance had to be struck between the comprehensive protection of health and the implementation of studies and teaching. Taking into account the regulations and questions and answers, the Executive Committee and the crisis team came to the conclusion that conducting n-site examinations is reasonable and should be possible for all students on a voluntary basis.

The Presidential Board and the crisis team hope that the explanations will make our decisions a little clearer to you and that the regulations will help you for the time ahead. For this, we wish you every success. Stay healthy!

-> Questions and answers about the examination period in WS 2020/21

Last week, the state of Brandenburg issued the new Containment Ordinance, (Fivth SARS-CoV-2 Containment Ordinance, in German) which is valid from 23.1. and up to and including 14.2.2021. It does not entail any significant changes for us, so that our previous examination planning can be implemented until 14.2.2021 as before.

We will communicate any regulations and/or changes that apply after 14.2.2021 as soon as we have the relevant information.

In detail this means:

for students and teachers

• In the examination period from 1.2. to 14.2.2021, we will offer the scheduled face-to-face examinations. The on-site examinations will be planned and carried out in compliance with the necessary distance and hygiene regulations as well as room planning (cf. mail dated 15.1.2021).
• In the period up to and including 31.1.2021, our previous regulation will continue to apply that examinations can only be carried out up to a maximum of 5 participants in attendance, while observing the distance and hygiene rules. Furthermore, courses in the form of lectures and exercises will continue to take place exclusively online. Exceptions are special face-to-face courses such as laboratories with a high practical component (cf. mail of 30.12.2020).
• The President has - as was also communicated - issued the decrees P01-2021 and P03-2021, which stated procedure for non-attendance of examinations (P01) and the extension of deadlines for Bachelor's and Master's theses (P03) in connection with the Corona pandemic.

for employees

• The Containment Ordinance focuses particularly on working in home office in order to once again increase infection protection for employees. TH Wildau is already very well positioned in this respect. The current home office regulations will be extended until 14.2.2021 and do not require a separate written form.
• For employees for whom working in home office is only possible to a limited extent or not at all and who therefore still work on site in offices, Plexiglas walls can be placed between the workplaces. If you require this, please contact the Building and Technical Services Department, Ms Mirjam Belger.

Masks

The new Containment Ordinance now prescribes the use of so-called medical face masks, e.g. OP masks or FFP2 masks . The previous everyday or community masks are no longer sufficient.

This requirement also applies to workplaces and business premises as well as offices and administrative buildings. This does not apply at stationary workplaces or desks or if the minimum distance of 1.5 metres can be maintained.

This means that medical face masks must be worn in all TH Wildau buildings from 23.1.2021, not including any stationary workplace, as hitherto the case.

For students: TH Wildau has an adequate stock of surgical masks. If students do not have a mask with the appropriate requirements, we will offer them an appropriate mask free of charge to enable their participation in examinations. The surgical masks are available at the gatehouse.

We are still in a situation that demands a great deal from all of us and that presents us with new challenges every day - and yet I see that we are finding solutions together, despite all the difficulties, especially with regard to the examination period. Stay healthy!

Today the President published Executive Order P03-2021 (in German). In the following, you will find the most important contents once again:

• Within the scope of my legal powers, I, as President of the Wildau University of Applied Sciences, order in view of the ongoing Corona pandemic that the processing time for all Bachelor's and Master's theses started, continuing, or to be completed in the winter semester 2020/21 will generally be extended by two months. A separate application is not required.
• Extensions already approved by examination committees by 25 January 2021 do not count towards the two-month period. The supervisors must inform the students of the extension period ex officio, if applicable. The extension option applies to all students, including those on dual or part-time programmes.

As always, you can find the complete decree at: https://www.th-wildau.de/hochschule/praesidium0/verfuegungen-der-praesidentin (in German)

Notice: Due to some enquiries about order P03-2021, this clarification is made: The extended deadline for submission of final theses does not mean that it is mandatory to use it. Of course, finished theses can also be submitted before the deadline.

In the update of 30.12.2020, we informed you about the central regulations for teaching and examination operations for the remainder of the lecture period until the end of January 2021.

Following on from this, the Crisis Team would like to give you some information today on the current status of planning for the examination period from 01.02. to 20.02.2021.

Please note the following points:

• As things stand, we still hope to be able to offer face-to-face examinations as far as possible during the examination period from 01.02.2021 onwards. The planning and implementation of the on-site examinations will of course be carried out in compliance with the necessary distance and hygiene regulations.
• In the light of the continuing critical situation, Presidential Decree P01-2021 was issued, which states that a failure to appear at an examination up to and including 28.02.2021 will not be counted as a failed attempt. In order to counteract an excessive extension of the duration of studies, every effort will be made to ensure that students who cannot take examinations in February, for example because they belong to a risk group, can make them up as quickly and flexibly as possible during the summer semester.
• We will also organise the supervision of the on-site examinations in consultation with all those involved in a responsible manner and in solidarity, taking into account the needs of teachers who, for example, belong to a risk group.

Since the current containment ordinance of the state of Brandenburg is only valid until 31.01.2021, the above information is - as is so often the case in the current situation - subject to the proviso that no further significant restrictions are imposed by the legislature. The crisis team continues to monitor the infection situation intensively and will, of course, inform you through the established channels if there are any further tightening or other consequences for our university operations.

Despite the still very dynamic situation, we hope to be able to give you a little more planning security and wish you every success for the coming examinations.

Stay healthy!

Update Corona-Virus 30-12-20 - Important Information On Handling the Corona Pandemic from 11 January 2021

As announced, the Crisis Team has meanwhile discussed further procedure at our university regarding the handling of the Corona pandemic via video conference. Provided that the regulations of the containment ordinance valid after 10.01.2021 do not conflict with this, the following regulations will apply at TH Wildau from 11.01.2021:

• Courses in the form of lectures and exercises will take place exclusively online during the entire remaining lecture period of WiSe 2020/21, i.e. until 30.01.2021.
• Special face-to-face courses (e.g. laboratories with a high practical component, oral examinations, etc.) are permitted with up to five participants each. The planning and communication of these formats to students is carried out individually by the respective lecturers in consultation with the programme spokespersons and the dean.
• The current examination planning from 01.02.2021 will remain as it stands.
• The current home office regulations will be extended until 31.01.2021.

Should there be further tightening as a result of the Minister Presidents’ meeting at the beginning of January 2021, the regulations will have to be adjusted accordingly. In this case, you will of course be informed immediately via the known channels. We therefore urge you to take the above-mentioned stipulations into account; nevertheless, we must all be aware that the Minister Presidents' meeting may result in further tightening of the framework conditions at short notice!

Furthermore, it was decided - irrespective of possible changes in the framework conditions:

• The President will issue an order at the beginning of January 2021 stating that not attending an examination up to and including 28.02.2021 will not be counted as a failed attempt.
• The crisis team is aware that the courses with a high practical component (e.g. laboratory courses) could only be carried out to a limited extent or not successfully this semester. Even though Corona will continue to keep us busy in the coming weeks and months, we hope that the situation will ease a little, especially in the coming summer. Therefore, we will use the entire summer semester 2021 (until 31.08.2021) to be able to make up for the events that did not take place in winter semester 2020/21, or only in insufficient parts, in an appropriate form. The aim is to give all students the opportunity to complete the courses planned for them from the winter semester 2020/21 by 31.08.2021. The concrete conditions of this measure have yet to be determined, but in this way we would like to counteract any excessive extension of the duration of studies and communicate this already at this point.

Update Corona-Virus 18-12-20 - Important information on teaching and examinations until 10 January 2021

Following the publication of the new SARS-CoV-2 containment regulation of the state of Brandenburg last Tuesday, the Crisis Team again dealt in detail with the current infection situation and the rising incidence in our district at its meeting yesterday.

In view of the still very critical situation, the Crisis Team has already decided to extend the measures in force since 14 December 2020 until 10 January 2021. This means in detail:

• No classroom teaching will take place at our university until 10 January 2021. This applies to all lectures, seminars, labs and other exercises as well as examinations.
• All employees of the university are requested to check their home office arrangements for the period in question and to work from home as far as possible. Please speak to your manager in this regard. A new written agreement is not necessary in view of the special situation.

The Crisis Team will also meet as planned between Christmas and New Year and is already considering possible action beyond 10 January, particularly in view of the approaching examination period.  

As a reminder, the examination periods for the current winter semester are as follows:

• Examination period: 01.- 20.02.2021 (in accordance with the Senate's decision of 22.06.2020).
• Review (second examination) period: 12.-24.04.2021 (in accordance with Presidential Decree P07-2020).

In this context, please also note that deregistration from an examination this semester must again be done according to the usual rules, and non-attendance without prior deregistration or sick leave will result in a failed attempt.

We still hope to be able to hold examinations on site during the examination period as planned. However, since we cannot yet know which regulations will apply after 10 January 2021, we ask all lecturers to already intensively deal with the question of which alternatives to an on-site examination are possible for their courses. The committees responsible for studies and teaching are working on creating the framework conditions for the most flexible possible adaptation and implementation of the examination process.

In case of concrete questions and problems concerning individual courses, students can contact the respective lecturers as well as the responsible programme spokespersons, the dean's offices or the student council (info(at)stura-wildau.de).

We thank you for your understanding and will inform you about further decisions as soon as possible. Until then, we wish you a happy holiday season - stay healthy and take care of each other!

Update Corona-Virus 10-12-20 - Important Information: No On-site Courses From 14 to 19 December

In its meeting today, the Crisis Team dealt in detail with the current infection situation and the high incidence in our district. All members are convinced that we are currently in a very critical situation and must take further measures at short notice to protect our students and colleagues in the best possible way.

Therefore, the following decision was taken:

• In the week from 14 to 19 December there will be no on-site courses at our university. This applies to all lectures, seminars, laboratories and other exercises as well as examinations.
• The Crisis Team will meet between Christmas and New Year's Day and decide on the implementation of the teaching activities in January, taking into account the further development of the pandemic situation. You will be informed about the corresponding decision immediately afterwards. As a precautionary measure, please make sure that, with a high degree of certainty, at least the lectures will continue to be held in digital form only.
• All university staff are requested to check their home office regulations for the period up to the holidays and to work from home as far as possible. Please speak to your manager about this. A new written regulation is not necessary in view of the special situation.

Thank you for your understanding regarding these measures.

Update Corona-Virus 30-11-20 - Important information on the current Containment Ordinance

In the e-mail of 5th November 2020 the President announced that students and colleagues would be informed about a possible extension of the measures for holding courses and examinations. We apologize that this is now being done at such short notice. Unfortunately, the Presidents of Brandenburg's universities had to wait until the evening of November 30, 2020 for the publication of the containment regulation, which will apply from 1 December until 21 December 2020. In contrast to the Containment Ordinance of 30th October 2020 this ordinance does not contain any changes for the universities - in contrast to the agreements at Minister-President level - and therefore the President asks that the courses be maintained "as before". 

That means in detail: 

• All "classical" lectures are to be held exclusively online.
• Laboratory activities and other exercises that require compulsory presence can continue to take place on site, subject to the health and safety measures in force. However, it is essential to consider whether this is really necessary!
• Examinations can be carried out on site as planned for the time being.

Thank you for your understanding!

Update Corona-Virus 20-11-20 - Student's Association Potsdam: Interim financial aid for students in emergency situations starts again

The Federal Ministry of Education and Research (BMBF) is reactivating the interim financial aid for the the winter semester, i.e. the months of November 2020 until end of March 2021, in order to help again those students who are demonstrably in an acute, pandemic-related (economic or financial) emergency and require immediate support. Students can apply for interim financial aid if they are a German or international student enrolled at a public-funded and government-recognised higher education institution in Germany. The application can be started online at www.ueberbrueckungshilfe-studierende.de

Those already receiving loans, grants or other support during the reference month may nevertheless obtain interim financial aid. Depending on proven need, they can receive between 100 euros and 500 euros as a non-repayable allowance.

Answers to the most important questions about applying for the bridging aid are available from the Student's Association Potsdam.

Update Corona-Virus 10-11-20 - Information from the Student's Association Potsdam

The following information on financial bridging aid, student BAföG grants, canteens, and accommodation for international students is from the Studentenwerk (Students’ Association) Potsdam.

Crisis Team of TH Wildau

Financial Bridging Aid

You have certainly followed it in the media. Consideration is currently being given to reactivating the bridging aid which was temporarily suspended at the end of September. Together with the Deutsches Studentenwerk (DSW), the 57 student and student services organisations have forwarded a catalogue of improvements and adjustments to the Federal Ministry of Education and Research. These include the demand to reactivate the bridging aid for a longer period of time and not only to re-open it for the month of November. This should help students to better plan their finances for this semester. Our umbrella organisation is in intensive talks on this with the responsible Federal Ministry. We hope that we will already know more details next week and that the adapted IT tool will be available quickly.

In addition, students still have the opportunity to apply for a one-off grant of € 300:

https://www.studentenwerk-potsdam.de/wir-ueber-uns/news/news-detailansicht/der-haertefallfonds-des-studentenwerks-potsdam.

So far, this aid is still only seeing limited use.

University Pandemic Regulation and BAföG

With the entry into force of the Higher Education Pandemic Ordinance (HPandV) on 14 October 2020, as in many other federal states, the individual standard period of study was extended by one semester for all students enrolled in the 2020 summer semester. BAföG recipients in our area of responsibility will therefore also receive BAföG one semester longer. In addition, the proof of performance required under § 48 BAföG can be submitted one semester later. If students have already submitted their follow-up application to us in the past weeks and months and it has not yet been approved, they do not have to do anything else for the time being. If, on the other hand, BAföG applicants already received a notice for the winter semester 2020/2021 before the University Pandemic Ordinance came into force and this notice does not contain a reference to the HPandV, then they should contact the BAföG Office to have their case examined. For all those whose maximum funding period expired after the 2020 summer semester and whose studies have not yet been completed, there is now the possibility of receiving BAföG for an even longer period. These students must submit a follow-up application in order to benefit from the new regulation.

If you have any questions, our BAföG Office can be contacted by telephone during office hours on Monday, Wednesday and Friday between 9.00 a.m. and 11.30 a.m. and on Tuesday between 1.00 p.m. and 3.00 p.m.

Canteens Still Open

At the beginning of the 2020/21 winter semester, all the canteens of the Studentenwerk will be back in operation. The fact that our dining facilities can remain open is stipulated in the currently valid containment ordinance of the state of Brandenburg. According to § 10, catering facilities at university locations as well as at company, vocational or comparable further education institutions may continue to serve meals.

With a newly initiated guidance system in our refectories, we would like to make our guests even more aware of the hygiene measures to be observed. Since the beginning of the week, the number of seats has also become even fewer, as the minimum distance of 1.5 metres is now also observed within the table groups. It is mandatory to take a tray with you on admission, so that we can keep track of the number of guests and stop admission accordingly. We very much hope our guests will act responsibly, as if everyone participates and sticks to the rules will there be a chance that we will be able to provide lunch for students and university employees in the coming period.

Accommodation for International Students

The accommodation of international students in the halls of residence is a subject of great concern at present. While the accommodation of students from abroad was still running fairly smoothly at the beginning of the semester in September, the situation has become more complicated in recent weeks. For students who came from an international COVID 19 risk area - and the list of risk areas was getting longer every day - this initially meant 14 days of quarantine. Since our halls of residence are almost fully booked, as in previous years, it was unfortunately not possible for us to define special quarantine areas, especially since the primary concern was to protect the existing tenants in the halls of residence. We conducted several discussions with the city of Potsdam on this difficult issue, unfortunately without any concrete results. In the end, the city was unable to provide suitable quarantine accommodation. We are now examining every single case that is brought to us, always with the aim of finding a good solution for the students seeking accommodation. From 09.11.2020 the quarantine period will be reduced to 10 days.

Update Corona-Virus 05-11-20 - Adjustments to teaching from Monday, 09 November 2020

Last Friday the president and the Crisis team gave notice in an information mail that all teaching currently being conducted on campus should be reviewed to see whether it actually needs to be held in this form in view of the current development of the pandemic.

From the outset, the current "hybrid" winter semester was based on the premise of being able to react to the dynamic development of infections if necessary and to adapt the teaching programme accordingly. Now it is important to reduce contacts wherever possible - not least so that the on-site implementation of courses for which attendance is absolutely necessary can be maintained.

With this in mind, the Crisis Team decided on the following regulations at its meeting today:

• All "classical" lectures are to be held exclusively online from next Monday, 09.11.2020, to 30.11.2020. At the end of the month, information on a possible extension of this measure will follow.
• Laboratories and other exercises that require compulsory presence can continue to take place on site, subject to the health and safety measures in force. However, I urge you to consider whether this is absolutely necessary.

Teachers should clarify any further questions in this context with the dean of their department. In case of a switch from on campus to online teaching the students partaking in the course in question are to be informed immediately.

In order to provide the best possible support for our students, all courses should be accompanied by appropriate digital formats, regardless of the type of implementation. In this context, we would also like to point out once again the possibility of support and advice from the e-learning team of the Centre for Quality Development.

Thank you for your understanding and best regards.

Update Corona-Virus 30-10-2020 - New Regulation on Containment Measures in Brandenburg & Consequences for TH Wildau

Following the decisions taken at the conference of the Federal Chancellor with the heads of the governments of the German Federal States last Wednesday, Brandenburg has now published a new "Regulation on temporary containment measures due to the SARS CoV-2 virus and COVID-19 in Brandenburg", which will enter into force today, Monday, 2 November 2020.

In the following, I would like to inform you about the consequences for our university operations which are foreseeable at this point in time:

• The universities will remain open, at least for the time being. This means that, taking into account our current security measures, we will be able to continue to hold face-to-face courses in the coming weeks, and teaching operations can, in principle, continue as planned. Nevertheless, we in the Crisis Team have agreed that all courses currently being held on site should be reviewed together with the teachers to determine whether they actually need to be held in this form in view of the current situation.
• For the time being, examinations and examination reviews can be carried out as planned.
• The library will remain open for the time being under the current health and safety measures.
• The canteen will also remain open for the time being (refectories and cafés at the universities are considered canteens).
• University sports activities must be suspended from 02.11.2020 until at least the end of November.
• University orchestras and choirs must suspend their rehearsals from 02.11.2020 until at least the end of November.
• In the university organisational departments, the possibilities offered by home office should be used to the greatest extent possible in the coming weeks, insofar as this is possible while maintaining work capacity and service quality.

Please also refer to the press release of the Ministry of Science, Research and Culture, which has been coordinated with the Brandenburg universities, under https://mwfk.brandenburg.de/mwfk/de/service/pressemitteilungen/ansicht/~30-10-2020-hochschulen-umgang-mit-corona (in German).

It remains essential that we all adhere to the applicable distance and hygiene rules. Please also note in this context that face visors are not an acceptable alternative to a final mouth-nose cover!

We sincerely hope and will do our utmost to be able to continue the winter semester in its current hybrid form. Of course, the health of our students and staff is our top priority, and we will continue to take all necessary measures to stem the spread of infections.

Update Corona-Virus 30-10-2020 - Additional rules to reduce the spread of the COVID-19 virus

We would like to draw your attention to a new set of additional rules which became into force in the entire Dahme-Spreewald district to reduce the spread of the COVID-19 virus. These rules include the following:

All persons from the age of six years have to wear a mouth and nose cover on the public ways, streets and squares in the area of the district Dahme-Spreewald listed below :
 

1. On the entire area of markets , including the paths and areas between the individual market stalls (e.g. weekly market, flea market, Christmas markets, etc.)

2. Within a radius of 30 m around educational institutions (including the campus of TH Wildau!)

3. At public transport bus stops

4. In the buildings of railway stations accessible to the public and on station forecourts and on railway platforms

5. In the areas of shopping centres

6. In the staircases of public parking garages and underground car parks.

The full (German) version of these new regulations can be found here: [ https://www.dahme-spreewald.info/sixcms/media.php/116/Amtsblatt_33-2020.pdf | https://www.dahme-spreewald.info/sixcms/media.php/116/Amtsblatt_33-2020.pdf ]

Moreover, in specific parts of cities in the region, masks must be worn at all times . These specific parts include, amongst others, the city centre of Königs Wusterhausen and specific streets in Zeuthen and Eichwalde . A full overview can be found in the attachments to the German regulations (see link above, pages 12-19).

Please do not hesitate to get back to us should you have any further questions!

Centre for International Affairs

Update Corona-Virus 12-10-2020 - Service and occupational safety instructions for employees and students of the TH Wildau on protection against infection by SARS-CoV-2

In accordance with the general principles of occupational health and safety, employers are responsible for the welfare of employees and civil servants. In addition, the university also has a duty of care towards the students of TH Wildau. Therefore, the university must ensure that employees and civil servants can carry out their work and students their studies without any danger. In times of the corona virus, this includes, first and foremost, information on the risks of infection and protective measures. The President's decree P04-2020 of 30 April 2020 and the instructions sent by e-mail of 30 April 2020 and 30 July 2020 are here updated by this instruction:

Point 1:

• As already decreed since 30 April 2020, there is an obligation to wear a mouth and nose protector in the premises of the university. In offices or rooms used by a defined group of people (e.g. a research group), the wearing of a mouth-and-nose protector may be dispensed with, provided that the minimum distance between employees (1.5 m) is maintained and regular ventilation is provided.
• Courses and teaching in any form do not fulfil the criterion of a fixed, recurring group ("strict cohort formation") within the meaning of the SARS-CoV-2 contact regulation (in German). For this reason, all participants in teaching and courses in the buildings of TH Wildau are required to wear a mouth and nose protector. 

Point 2:

• In addition, instructions are given that the digital contact tracing system provided in the premises of TH Wildau must be used for the recording of personal data as a proof of presence for the purpose of contact tracing as required by the SARS-CoV-2 handling regulation. The corresponding QR codes are displayed at the respective entrances to the premises of TH Wildau. If the QR codes are not or cannot be used, you must immediately enter your stay on the following website: https://icampus.thwildau.de/kontaktnachverfolgung (there is currently no English version of the web app available).
• This mandatory requirement to register stays at TH Wildau is appropriate. According to the authoritative findings of the Robert Koch Institute, we are still undergoing a dynamic and serious situation. If a case of infection occurs at our university, the duty of care towards employees, civil servants and students requires that everyone who might have come into contact with the person who has fallen ill be informed. This instruction enables the traceability of contacts with persons infected with the corona virus SARS-CoV-2 to be guaranteed and serves the legitimate purpose of immediately uncovering and interrupting possible chains of infection in the event of proof of infection. Only via this way it is possible to prevent a dynamic spread of the corona virus SARS-CoV-2 and thus contribute to civil protection.
• In addition, in such a case, the public health department, in the sense of the Infection Protection Act (in German), requires a contact list from TH Wildau that is as complete as possible within a short time. However, such information and details can only be provided if these contacts have been registered. An evaluation of data is carried out exclusively on request of the health office and is always carried out in accordance with the dual control principle and with the participation of staff representatives.
• The performance of tasks by the university can only be maintained in the long term if such a measure is taken. A complete closure of the university is to be avoided.

Further details on digital contact tracing can be found at https://en.th-wildau.de/contact-tracing.

These obligations will be maintained until revoked, unless subsequent legal requirements stipulate stricter regulations.

Update Corona-Virus 02-10-2020 - Introduction of the new web app "THWi Contact Tracking" in case of a SARS Cov2 infection

At the start of the attendance courses next Monday, 5 October 2020, we will introduce a new system for contact tracing in the event of a SARS Cov2 infection throughout the entire university.

The system is simply called "THWi contact tracking" and can be reached via icampus.th-wildau.de/kontaktnachverfolgung - also mobile.

This so-called web app for contact registration is an in-house development of the iCampus team and was created in close cooperation and in the shortest possible time with the Vice President for Digitisation and Quality Management and the Corona Crisis Team. The app and all necessary data are hosted or stored on our own servers. The data will only be passed on if requested by the health authority. No further processing or use will take place.

In accordance with the SARS-CoV-2 Code of Practice (§3, paragraph (1), no. 5 and paragraph 2) of the State of Brandenburg, the higher education institution must record personal data in a proof of presence for the purpose of contact tracing.

Further information on how it works, the data protection, contact persons as well as a list of FAQs can now be found at https://en.th-wildau.de/contact-tracking/.

Update Corona-Virus 17-09-2020 - Current information for students and staff for the winter semester 2020/2021

The winter semester 20/21 will, like the past summer semester, be very much under the influence of the corona pandemic. It is still important to keep the risk of infection as low as possible and to be able to react as flexibly as possible to changes in the situation. This is why TH Wildau, like the other universities in Brandenburg and Germany, is required to plan this semester as a so-called "hybrid semester" with a high proportion of digital teaching. At the same time, the TH Wildau is very pleased to be able to offer on-campus courses again within the scope of the available opportunities and to welcome first-year students not only online, but also on our beautiful campus.

With a view to the upcoming start of lectures the Crisis Team has summarised the most important regulations for the TH Wildau and the Winter Semester in general: download the document

If you have any questions, please send them to interne.kommunikation(at)th-wildau.de. Together with the Crisis Team, these will be reviewed and then answered by the President in a suitable format.

Have a good start to the semester and stay healthy!

Update Corona-Virus 30-07-2020 - New arrangements for on-site teaching in WS 20/21

Dear colleagues, dear students,

I am writing to inform you that the following changes and rules will apply to on-site teaching and classes during WS 20/21:

• 1) 90-minute classes will be held in a two-hourly schedule, meaning that the first class of the day will commence at 8am and the following classes then at 10am, 12 noon etc. There will not be a longer slot for a lunch break. The reason for this is that the Corona pandemic makes it necessary to allow teachers and students more time for moving between rooms and also for the classrooms to be comprehensively aired.
• 2) Rooms for on-site teaching will be arranged so that minimum distance between seats is guaranteed and only a predefined maximum number of people may use these designated seats. So that contacts can be better traced if necessary, we recommend that students always use the same seat and adhere to a fixed seating plan.
• 3) If the room is not automatically aired, then within each 90-minute class it must be aired for at least 5 minutes upon 45 minutes. This is necessary to reduce the risk of infection as far as possible. I am sure that you all understand the necessity and will act responsibly. Many thanks!

These arrangements are based on the recommendation of the crisis team of 30.7.2020.

With best wishes
Ulrike Tippe

Update Corona-Virus 30-07-2020 - Important information regarding obligatory face masks in offices and laboratories at TH Wildau

Dear colleagues,

I am writing to inform you on current rules for mouth-and-nose masks in TH Wildau buildings:

In offices and laboratories that are used by a firmly defined group of people, it is admissable not to wear masks from 1.8.2020 provided the minimum distance between staff (1.5 m) is adhered to and rooms are regularly aired.
In all other rooms wearing a mask remains obligatory!

This rule is based on an recommendation of the crisis team of 30.7.2020. The crisis team still urgently recommends using home office in order to reduce the use of rooms on premises to a minimum.

With best wishes
Ulrike Tippe

Update Corona-Virus 17-07-2020 - End of summer semester: Some important informations

Dear students and colleagues,

Summer semester 2020 is slowly coming to an end, and we will surely remember it for a long time. The Corona pandemic meant that all universities had to more or less swiftly (at TH Wildau very rapidly) move to digital teaching formats and then retain them with only few examples through the semester.

Today, we can generally say that we managed this situation very well. In particular when we consider that back in spring there was discussion around Germany on counting summer semester 2020 as a “non-semester,” we can today say that this semester, although certainly unusual, has been a success at TH Wildau. This was of course only possible because all of you faced the challenges with hard work, commitment, and responsibility. I would like to warmly thank you for this in the name of the entire university executive committee!

Structures and organisation for winter semester 2020/21 will also still be heavily influenced by the effects of the pandemic. All universities have been instructed to continue with high levels of digital teaching so as to react as flexibly as possible to the situation. This so-called “hybrid” winter semester is now in planning. How much teaching is done online depends on the subject taught, on teaching methods, and on the necessary hygiene and distance rules. We are presently evaluating teaching quality in the summer semester, and we will use the results of this evaluation in order to improve online teaching in particular in the coming winter semester.

Because we do not know now exactly which rules will apply in autumn and winter, we must be very well prepared for all (!) possible scenarios. Therefore, the winter semester will be challenging for us all.

Here I would like to provide three important items of information, which we will also of course communicate via our other channels, but which I would like to present here:

Preliminary Registration to Study:

Any delays in the summer semester caused by Corona must not lead to significant disadvantages for students planning to enter master degree programmes. For this reason, I have passed an internal decree allowing for preliminary registration in winter semester 2020/21 even if the bachelor’s thesis has not been submitted by 308.2020 or when a maximum of two modules from summer semester 2020 are still to be passed. You can read the exact wording under Verfügung P05-2020 at https://www.th-wildau.de/files/Praesidium/Verfuegungen/Verfuegung_P05_-_2020.pdf. Please note that this decree relates to the current situation and therefore applies only to the coming winter semester!

Termination of Decree P01-2020...

...on absence at examinations in summer semester 2020 (available here https://www.th-wildau.de/files/Praesidium/Verfuegungen/Verfuegung_P01_-_2020.pdf): This regulation applied due to the corona pandemic, under which students who do not attend examinations are automatically excused, is only valid until 31.08.2020. For examinations and repeat examinations from September the usual rules apply.

Graduation ceremony:

We are unable to hold our graduation ceremony as usual this year, due to current hygiene and distance regulations. We are currently considering two alternatives – a “home-coming days” ceremony for graduates in 2021, and a digital ceremony including videos. You will find information on the decision (when made) under www.th-wildau.de/exma. We hope not to disappoint you too much with these options, and we believe we have found suitable alternatives for graduates to celebrate and their achievements to be recognised even in these unusual conditions.

If you have any questions you may contact us via the crisis team e-mail address. The crisis team will meet regularly during the lecture break and will respond to questions.

I hope you can use the coming weeks in the best way possible, to relax and recuperate. This is really very important and I wish you all some really enjoyable time off. Stay healthy!

Update Corona-Virus 30-06-2020 - Semester Times & Lecture Times for Winter Semester 20/21 & Summer Semester 21 

The TH Wildau would like to inform you about the realisation of the winter semester 2020/21 as well as about the changed lecture times in winter semester (WiSe) 20/21 and summer semester (SuSe) 21. This information is based on the Senate's resolution of 22 June 2020.

The semester times remain unchanged, i.e:

• The winter semester 20/21 begins on 1 September 2020 and ends on 28 February 2021.
• The summer semester 21 begins on 1 March 2021 and ends on 31 August 2021.

Please note: The period from 7 September – 2 October 2020 can be used both for re-examinations from summer semester 20 and, if necessary, for courses (in block format) from summer semester 20 which, due to the effects of corona, could not be held.

The lecture times in winter semester 20/21 change as follows compared to previous years:

- Case 1 -

• The following applies to all first-semester students in non-restricted-admission degree programmes as well as in the admission-restricted Master's programme in Business Management and to all students in advanced (not first) semesters:
• Lectures start on winter semester 20/21: Monday, 5 October 2020 or Saturday, 10 October 2020 (part-time study)
• End of lectures WiSe 20/21: 30 January 2021
• Examination period WiSe 20/21: February 1 - 20, 2021, thus covering three weeks and also the winter holidays in Berlin and Brandenburg (February 1 - 6, 2021).

The lecture times in SuSe 21 remain unchanged over the course of time as per Official Notice 30/2019. However, the repeat examination period stipulated in the framework regulations will not apply at the beginning of the SuSe. Arrangements will be made in due time so that examinations from the winter semester 20/21 can be taken during the summer semester 21.

- Case 2 -

• This applies to all new first-semester students in Bachelor's programmes with restricted admission who have applied via the Dialogue-Oriented Service Procedure (DOSV):
  • Lectures start in winter semester 20/21: Monday, 2 November 2020
  • End of lectures WiSe 20/21: 30 January 2021
  • Examination period WiSe 20/21: February 1 - 20, 2021, thus covering three weeks and also the winter holidays in Berlin and Brandenburg (February 1 - 6, 2021).

The lecture times in SuSe 21 remain unchanged over the course of time as per Official Notice 30/2019. However, the review period stipulated in the framework regulations will not apply at the beginning of the SuSe. Arrangements will be made in due time so that examinations from the winter semester 20/21 can be taken during the summer semester 21.

The Background to These Changes

Since the course of the corona pandemic cannot be predicted, the coming WiSe 20/21 is to be a "hybrid" semester with a high online component. The reason for this is the need to be able to act proactively in the event of a renewed flare-up of the pandemic. Nevertheless, we are endeavouring to realise face-to-face attendance formats, especially in those areas where courses have a high practical component. At the same time, we would like to pay special attention to our first-year students, provide them with close supervision and, as far as possible, teach on campus in order to promote the bond with our institution. How this will be done exactly depends, of course, very much on the hygiene and distance rules that will apply in the winter semester.

The planning for the course of events under these circumstances is demanding and is already in full swing.

Welcoming Ceremony for New Students

Due to the unclear situation caused by Corona (distance rules, hygiene regulations) and the postponed start of studies, the central welcome ceremony for first-year students will not be held. Instead, smaller introductory events will take place decentrally before the start of the respective lectures and partly also online. This is the current status. 

Update Corona-Virus 17-06-2020 - Bridging aid for students in financial emergency situations

Online application via www.ueberbrueckungshilfe-studierende.de

Effective immediately, students who are in particularly acute need and are directly dependent on help due to the corona pandemic can apply for bridging aid in the form of a non-repayable grant from their "Studierendenwerk". For this purpose, the Deutsches Studentenwerk (DSW), the umbrella organisation of the German Studentenwerke, has created its own portal: www.ueberbrueckungshilfe-studierende.de.

Eligible to apply are students from Germany and abroad who are enrolled at state and state-recognized universities in Germany. The number of semesters or age are not grounds for exclusion. The decisive factor is the proven, acute pandemic emergency.

Not eligible to apply are students at universities of applied sciences for administration or universities of the armed forces, students in part-time studies or dual studies, guest students and students at universities not recognized by the state.

Via the portal, the students' applications are automatically forwarded to the student or student union responsible for them. From 25 June 2020, applications will be processed and paid out by the 57 student and student unions organised within the DSW.

Depending on proven need, between 100 euros and 500 euros can be paid as a non-repayable grant. The bridging allowance may be applied for in June, July and August 2020. The account balance from the day before the application is submitted is decisive. For example, if you still have 200 euros in your account, you can receive 300 euros as a bridging allowance for the month in which your application is submitted.

The Studentenwerk Potsdam is responsible for processing applications from students.

Online application from Tuesday, 16.6.2020, 12 noon

www.ueberbrueckungshilfe-studierende.de

BMBF hotline for bridging assistance:

Phone: 0800 26 23 003

E-mail: ueberbrueckungshilfe-studierende(at)bmbf.bund.de

Answers to the main questions on how to apply for the grant:

https://www.studentenwerk-potsdam.de/wir-ueber-uns/news/news-detailansicht/ueberbrueckungshilfe-fuer-studierende-in-notlage/

Update Corona-Virus 16-06-2020 - Business Trips

Dear colleagues,

on Friday, June 12 2020, the state government of Potsdam announced various changes to the existing „Regulation on measures to restrict the new Corona virus“, which is now referred to as the „Regulation on handling the new Corona virus“.

Following discussion and coordination in the crisis team, we are now using these changes to the regulation to address the issue of "business trips" as follows:

Business trips within Germany

Business trips within Germany are once again possible in principle and must be applied for through the known procedure.

However, the "urgent business necessity" will still be questioned. We also ask you to always consider in advance if the planned trip could be replaced by a web conference instead.

Business trips abroad

Concerning business trips abroad, we generally orientate ourselves on existing travel restrictions.

If there are no travel restrictions concerning the planned destination, the business trip can be permited. However, the "urgent business necessity" will be questioned in this case as well. Furthermore, applicants for business trips abroad must give reasons on why the planned trip cannot be replaced by a web conference.

Update Corona-Virus 26-05-2020 - Examination period in this summer semester 2020

Dear colleagues, dear students,

We are writing to inform you that the university Senate decided on 18.5.2020 to extend the examination period in this summer semester by one week, i.e. up to and including 18.7.2020. This decision is based on the fact that due to the current situation on-site examinations have to be conducted in much smaller groups than in "normal" times and we therefore require more time.

The draft resolution the president Prof. Ulrike Tippe submitted to the Senate for this purpose was agreed in advance with the deans of the two faculties and with the other crisis management team members, the university Executive Board and the Staff Council. There was agreement that this "time buffer" is necessary in view of the current situation.

We very much hope that this decision will also meet with your understanding.

We would like to take this opportunity to make a further remark. You may have already gathered from the public discussion about the start of the lecture period in the coming winter semester that there will be shifts "back" nationwide. Last week, the Brandenburg universities and the Ministry of Science, Research and Culture largely coordinated their approach, so that the university Executive Board is now working on a draft resolution for the Senate after discussions in the crisis team.

This will specify the organisation and lecture times of WS 20/21 more precisely - always with the proviso that the effects of the pandemic on our everyday university life should be kept as low as possible. The draft resolution will be submitted to the Senate session on 22.6.2020.

Of course, you will be informed about the changes immediately afterwards.

The president Prof. Ulrike Tippe and the Executive Committee  aware that this semester and the coming months are and will continue to be extremely challenging, and I am very grateful for your perseverance and your willingness to adapt flexibly to the new circumstances. Please take good care of each other and stay healthy!

This information is also updated in the FAQ on Corona: click here

Update Corona-Virus 11-05-2020 - Restricted Operations: Reminder and Additional Information

1. Please keep a minimum distance of 1.5 meters at all times. This applies both on the premises of TH Wildau and on the campus outdoors.

2. Please also wear your Mouth and Nose Protection (MNP) on the premises of TH Wildau. In addition to the decree P04-2020 please observe the following:

• The MNP is also required for written examinations. However, if students find their own MNP to be an obstacle to the examination situation (or even do not have one of their own), we recommend handing out our lightweight disposable masks, which all teachers and examiners can obtain from Ms Ostrowski at the gatekeeper's office in packs of 50. You are welcome to keep the unused masks for the next use; or to return them to Mrs Ostrowski or via the deaneries.
• For oral exams, the minimum distance must be observed. If this is observed by the examiners and students, the MNP can be waived. In both cases the following applies: If students do not feel safe for an examination, they can withdraw in advance. Non-appearance is also considered as withdrawal.

This information is also updated in the FAQ on Corona: click here

Update Corona-Virus 29-04-2020 - Organisation of Summer Semester 2020 with Restricted Operations from 4 May 2020

With this update we wish to inform you about the organisation of Summer Semester 2020 from 4 May 2020.

The following regulations are being published as President´s decree P04-2020 on https://www.th-wildau.de/hochschule/praesidium/verfuegungen-der-praesidentin/ (in German) and have been agreed upon with the Crisis Team, the Executive Committee, and the Employee Committee of TH Wildau. They apply until further notice or until and in case any new legal provisions stipulate more narrow restrictions.

On the basis of the regulation on measures to restrict the new Corona virus SARS-CoV-2 and COVID-19 in Brandenburg of 17 April 2020 and within her own legal authority, the President of Technical University of Applied Sciences Wildau issues the following decree concerning the further organisation of summer semester 2020:

From 4 May 2020, the current emergency on-site operations at TH Wildau will be transferred into new restricted operations.

In detail, this means:

1. As a result of the Coronavirus-SARS-CoV-2 pandemic, summer semester 2020 will remain a primarily digital semester. The aim is to reduce personal presence of university members to the necessary minimum, and thus to reduce danger of infection. All teaching that has been carried out so far in suitable digital and e-learning formats will continue in these formats.

2. Classes that of necessity require physical presence (e.g. laboratory work) can be offered if the required hygiene standards (see 10 below) are complied with. This means, inter alia, that a minimum distance between persons must be guaranteed, and that group sizes must be adapted to the sizes of the rooms in question. This may mean that the frequency of these classes will be increased. The responsibility for planning and implementing these classes is with the laboratory heads and the deans.

3. University examinations for which there are no permissible digital alternatives may be held on site, provided that required standards of hygiene are complied with (see 10 below). Decree P01-2020 on student absence at face-to-face / physical examination dates at TH Wildau in summer semester 2020 remains in force.

4. Urgent laboratory work outside of teaching (e.g. for research or maintenance purposes) may be carried out in compliance with required hygiene standards (see 10 below).

5. Meetings, committee work and other consultations will take place from 4 May 2020 by video or telephone conference, and may only be undertaken face-to-face in exceptional circumstances and in compliance with required hygiene standards (see 10 below).

6. From 4 May 2020, all university personnel will continue working primarily in home office. Controlled resumption of necessary on-site operations will lead to gradual increases in simultaneous presence on site of staff in the various departments. Here also work must be undertaken in compliance with required hygiene standards (see 10 below). Responsibility for organising gradual increased on-site presence is with the relevant superiors and heads of department.

•  a) All home-office agreements hitherto concluded in connection with the Coronavirus-SARS-CoV-2 pandemic end on 3 May 2020. New home-office agreements must be concluded between superiors and staff in the same form. Availability and operations of all departments must be guaranteed. The university executive management welcomes all home office agreements, provided there are no operational reasons against. The maximum duration of these new agreements is two weeks. They may then be extended.
• b) The provisions under 6.a also apply to loan agreements for equipment that is borrowed for business use.

7. Business travel within Germany is to be kept to a minimum and the importance and urgency of any trips must be justified upon application. Business trips abroad will not be approved until further notice.

8. In order to continue with current professorial appointment processes as speedily as possible, it is possible to conduct on-site trial lectures or classes in compliance with the required hygiene standards (see 10 below), provided that all participants agree to this. Should all participants not agree, then the appointment process is suspended for the duration of restricted operations at the university.

9. On the basis of the regulations named above, the university library expands its services as of 27 April 2020 in compliance with required hygiene standards (see 10 below). Further details are available on the university library website.

10. The hygiene standards that apply to restricted on-site operations and mentioned in 1–9 above are as follows:

• a) Minimum distance between individuals of 1.5 m. In case minimum distance cannot be guaranteed due to the size of rooms or the kind of work undertaken, then a case-by-case assessment as to the feasibility of higher standards of protection must be undertaken. Any such requirements for higher standards must be reported via the deans to the executive university management. The university management will endeavour to support such applications. Should the requirements reported be impossible to meet, however, due to delivery shortages, then the class or examination in question may not be conducted on site and must be rescheduled to a later date.
• b) The university will make disinfectants available.
• c) It is obligatory to wear mouth and nose protection on all university premises.

Update Corona-Virus 22-04-2020 - Extension of Services in the Library from 27.04.2020

The universities of Brandenburg together with the Ministry of Science, Research and Culture have decided to continue emergency on-site operations until 03.05.2020 and are preparing step-by-step cessation of emergency on-site operations, to begin on 04.05.2020. This decision is based on the Brandenburg state government´s decision from 17.04.2020 to partly relax the constraints related to the Corona pandemic.

Libraries may already extend their services at an earlier date. At TH Wildau, the library´s team is preparing for an extension of services from 27.04.2020.

For further details please see the library´s website:

https://en.th-wildau.de/university/central-facilities/university-library/

Update Corona-Virus 16-04-2020 – Measures for the Coming Weeks

After the German national government and state governments yesterday came to an agreement on further restricting the Corona pandemic, the Brandenburg state government will decide upon legal provisions for restricting the virus on Friday.

With this update we wish to inform you about the first concrete implications for universities in Brandenburg and in particular for TH Wildau:

• Emergency on-site operations at universities are extended to 03.05.2020. In the meantime, universities are preparing step-by-step cessation of emergency on-site operations, to begin on 04.05.2020.
• This means that university buildings will open from 04.05.2020, whereby all contact and hygiene rules and recommendations of the Robert Koch Institute (RKI) and of the Brandenburg State Ministry for Social Affairs, Health, Integration and Consumer Protection (MSGIV) must be adhered to.
• Classes and teaching will continue through summer semester 2020 subject to on-site restrictions, and should remain primarily digital. Classes where on-site presence is essential (laboratory practice, for example) may be conducted on-site from 04.05.2020 if compliance with RKI and Ministry contact and hygiene rules and recommendations is guaranteed. We are presently carrying out initial preparation and planning for this at TH Wildau.
• Home office agreements concluded at TH Wildau in connection with the Corona crisis are automatically extended to 03.05.2020. The same applies to loan agreements for equipment that has been borrowed for business purposes.
• Public and university libraries may already expand their services from 20.04.2020 if they strictly comply with the required hygiene standards, and implement controlled entrance and avoid queues. The specific date for our library is presently being coordinated with the other universities in Berlin and Brandenburg. We will inform you as quickly as possible about the date and further details on the library´s services.
• University canteens remain closed until 03.05.2020. In the meantime, they are preparing for reopening on 04.05.2020 and will then resume operations step-by-step as soon as universities reopen and in compliance with infection protection measures,

A prerequisite for any planned relaxation of restrictions is that the spread of the virus does not again significantly increase. This situation is subject to regular checks, and any measures will be adapted as needed.

We will inform you about further specific measures at our university as soon as possible.

Update Corona-Virus 01-04-2020 - Extension of Contact Restrictions in the State of Brandenburg

As was announced on 31.03.2020, the state of Brandenburg contact restrictions to prevent the spread of the Covid-19 respiratory disease have been extended until 19 April. For TH Wildau this means that there will be no on-site classes in the distance learning programmes on Saturday 18.04.2020, as we had first hoped.

There is no information at present concerning any extension of our emergency on-site operations and the further organisation of teaching. We will inform you as soon as we know more.

Update Corona-Virus 20-03-2020 - Extension of Bachelor´s and Master´s theses

*** The regulation communicated here is still being published as a decree! ***

In an effort to slow down the spread of the corona pandemic and against the background of the regulation to contain the novel coronavirus (SARS-CoV-2 / COVID-19) in Brandenburg and the resulting measures, the Ministry of Science, Research and Culture (MWFK) decided on March 18, 2020 - with regard to bachelor's or master's theses - to extend the deadlines by two months, within which the services are to be provided. The basis for the amended deadlines is the framework regulation, and the degree programme-specific regulations respectively of the respective university.

Within the scope of her legal authority, the President of the Technical University of Applied Sciences Wildau decrees that the processing time for all Bachelor's and Master's theses that have begun, will continue, or will be completed in the summer semester 2020 will generally be extended by two months. A separate application is not required.

Extensions that have already been approved by the Examination Committee up to 25 March 2020 will not be counted towards the two-month period. If necessary, the supervisors have to inform the students about the extension period by official channels.

Coronavirus Update 19.03.2020 - Confirmed Corona case at TH Wildau

At TH Wildau a member of the university tested positive for Covid-19. TH Wildau has taken all necessary steps.

The health department of Königs Wusterhausen has been informed. All members of TH Wildau have also been informed about the case. All members of TH Wildau who had direct contact with the person have been identified and informed. The health department will contact all the named (identified) persons and communicate the necessary measures.

Today, 19.03.20, the TH Wildau crisis team will discuss further steps and consequences.

Since it cannot be ruled out that there may be other persons at TH Wildau who had contact with the person in question during this time, TH Wildau asks that in this case you contact the crisis management team at krisenstab(at)th-wildau.de.

In addition, TH Wildau has created an information page on the corona virus, which is constantly updated with current information. The link www.th-wildau.de/corona will take you to the information page.

Coronavirus Update 18 March 2020, 18:00 - emergency on-site operations from 23 March 2020

As the university now unfortunately has one confirmed Covid19 case and one further suspected case, the unversity executive committee, on the advice of the crisis team and in consultation with the Ministry of Science, Research and Culture, has decided the following:

From Monday 23 March 2020 to and including Sunday 19 April, the university will enter into emergency on-site operations and make maximum use of all digital options for work and study. The aim of this measure is to ensure that all operative areas that cannot work completely digitally are maintained and run by a maximum of one or two staff.

Specifically, these emergency on-site operations entail the following:

• Buildings will be locked shut and technical operations largely reduced. Entrance is only permitted for the above-defined small number of persons in emergency operations. At present the identity of these persons is being decided in our administrative departments and faculties. In case further colleagues require legitimated entrance (e.g. to keep laboratories operating), this must be applied for to Herr Krüger under detlef.krueger@th-wildau.de. Please note that these can only be exceptional permissions, and that entrance must be restricted temporally and may only be granted for one or a maxmimum of two people.
• No events, committee meetings or other kinds of work meetings may take place on site.
• All staff are to perform their tasks as best as possible in home office. We request that you fill out a home office agreement with your superior and send a copy to the personnel department. A standard form is available as a download here.
• If you require hardware from your office for home office work, please fill out a loan agreement and send this to the dean's office. A standard form is available as a download here. All further details are to be agreed with your superior. Staff from the administrative departments will thus be equipped with hardware and software if required, and this will meet all required security and data protection standards.
• Should you require items from your office for the next weeks, then you have the opportunity of collecting these and taking them home tomorrow, Friday 20 March 2020, and also Saturday 21 March 2020. If you need to enter your office after these dates, then please contact Herr Krüger.
• All on-site consulting hours are cancelled. The administrative staff´s availabilities by telephone during this period can be looked up up-to-date in our organisational handbook under https://wiki.hrz.th-wildau.de/doku.php?id=start. Here you will also find useful information on numerous processess and tools that will be helpful in the current situation.
• We are aware that the current situation entails challenges in caring for children and that home office and childcare are not always compatible. We very much hope that the present home office arrangements can relax this situation somewhat. Please note that these emergency on-site operations do not mean that teaching is suspended. All classes are to be conducted as best as possible online.

In consultation with the Ministry of Science, Research and Culture, spoken final examinations for students are for now permissible on-site at TH Wildau under the following conditions. A maximum of three persons (student examined, supervisor and second examiner) may be present in a sufficiently large room, and all hygiene precautions required in this situation must be taken. These examinations may only be undertaken if all (!) present voluntarily agree. The organisation, and in particular provision of access on the examination date, is to be done via the dean's offices and in consultation with Herr Krüger.

As soon as this situation changes you will be immediately informed. Many thanks for your understanding and take care of each other!

Update 17-03-2020, 5.30 p.m. - Current regulations concerning returning travellers 

Please observe the current regulations concerning returning travellers based on the general decree issued by the Brandenburg Ministry of Health:

People who have been to one of the international risk areas or an area within Germany especially affected  by the virus (currently Landkreis Heinsberg in NRW) during the last 14 days are not allowed to enter TH Wildau for a period of 14 days starting with the date of their return.

If you have been to one of the areas in question, please inform the crisis team immediatley via krisenstab(at)th-wildau.de in case you haven´t already done so.

Regarding the risk areas and the areas especially affected within Germany, please refer to the Robert Koch-Institute´s assessment:

https://www.rki.de/DE/Content/InfAZ/N/Neuartiges_Coronavirus/Risikogebiete.html

(regularly updated, in German).

Further information regarding the impact of the coronavirus on the universities of Brandenburg at https://mwfk.brandenburg.de/mwfk/de/ministerium/umgang-mit-corona-pandemie/ (in German).

Update 17-03-2020, 4.00 p.m. - Decree concerning the absence at examinations in Summer Semester 2020 

Please take note of the president´s decree P01-2020 concerning the absence at examinations at TH Wildau in Summer Semester 2020, which was issued today:

"Within the scope of my legal authority as President of Technische Hochschule Wildau I hereby decree that from 16 March 2020 until 31 August 2020 and due to the Corona pandemic students missing examination dates will not be penalised with a “fail” grade as a result of their absence according to § 22 paragraph 1 no. 1 of the TH Wildau Rahmenordnung (Framework Regulations). The student missing an examination is deemed to be excused with no requirement to provide any notification or documentation of reasons of absence."

https://www.th-wildau.de/files/Praesidium/Verfuegungen/Verfuegung_P01_-_2020.pdf  (in German!)

Update 16-03-2020, 5.00 p.m. - Important information for students regarding lectures in summer semster 2020

You will receive e-mail messages on your courses mainly via the course on the Moodle e-learning platform. This means that it is important that you are registered in these courses. Usually this happens automatically, but not always - for example if you are not studying in the regular programme of a certain semester.

This is why I would like to ask you today to check that you are registered for all the courses in your timetable, and that you can access the corresponding e-learning courses in Moodle.

https://elearning.th-wildau.de/login/

If this is not the case, then please write to your teacher and ask to be registered as a user. Otherwise you may miss important information.

Update 16-03-2020, 1.45 p.m. - Canteen closing from 17.03.2020

Due to to the current situation the canteen will be closed from tomorrow, 17.03.2020 till presumably 20.04.2020!

For further info see: https://www.studentenwerk-potsdam.de/en/about-us/news/news-detail/hinweise-zum-corona-virus/ (also in English).

Update  16-03-2020, 9.00 a.m. - University Library closed from Monday, 16.03.2020

due to the Corona virus, our location in hall 10 of the University Library of the Technical University of Applied Sciences will be completely closed from Monday, 16.03.2020 until further notice.

Please note:

Despite the closure you can still search in our library catalogue Wilbert. Via Wilbert and VPN access, members of our University can use our extensive online resources. There will be no late fees for borrowed media during the closing time.

For urgent enquiries, please contact us at bibinfo(at)th-wildau.de or via phone: +49 3375 508 123.

We will keep you up to date on all other organizational issues here of our website.

The university will check at the beginning of the coming week which services can still be offered by the library.

Update 13-03-2020, 6.00 p.m. - Instructions for the implementation of the teaching in the SoSe 2020: goals, measures, organisation

In a letter dated 13.03.2020, the president informs all students and lecturers of the TH Wildau about the teaching at the TH Wildau in the summer semester 2020 following the press release of the MWFK Brandenburg dated 13.03.2020 (see also last update 13-03-2020, 5.15 p.m. )

Download Statement president

Update 13-03-2020, 5.15 p.m. - Update on dealing with Corona: Prime Minister's press release of Friday, March 13, 2020

On his press conference this afternoon, the Minister President announced measures to help the higher education institutions in the State of Brandenburg deal with the coronavirus: https://mwfk.brandenburg.de/mwfk/de/ministerium/umgang-mit-corona-pandemie/ (in German)

All classroom courses will be suspended from Saturday, 14.3.2020, up to and including Friday, 17.4.2020.

Important informationen for upcommon exams: All examinations will take place tommorrow (14.3.2020).

The consequences of this decision and how we at TH Wildau deal with them (f.e. using E-Learning tools during this time)can soon be found on our website www.th-wildau.de/corona.

Update 12-03-2020  - Upcommon press conference of federal state of Brandenburg, Friday, 13 March, 4 p.m.

As of today, there is no new information regarding the start of the semester and the current examinations. However, tomorrow at 16:00 premier Woidke will hold a press conference concerning the Corona pandemic. In case there will be any consequences for the universities of Brandenburg arising from this you will be informed immediately on this website.

Update 11-03-2020 - Dealing with events

In view of the current situation regarding the coronavirus, the crisis team of TH Wildau decided today that from tomorrow, Thursday, 12.3.2020, all events of the university that do not serve to maintain teaching and research operations will be cancelled or postponed. As things stand today, this regulation applies until 13.4.2020.
 

If you have any further questions on this topic, please contact krisenstab(at)th-wildau.de. Further information on the crisis team and on the topic of coronavirus will be regularly updated in the future at www.th-wildau.de/corona.

Update 10-03-2020 -  important information esp. for people returning from risk areas; crisis team has been set up

In view of the further spread of the coronavirus and the upcoming start of lectures, the TH Wildau would like to inform you that a crisis team has been set up at TH Wildau especially for this purpose. The crisis team observes the daily developments with great attention and is in constant exchange about further action.

In order to counteract the spread of the virus at the beginning of the semester as best as possible, we now need your support!

In case you have travelled to Germany in the last few days from one of the risk areas identified by the Robert Koch Institute (currently China, Iran, South Korea, Italy):

• Please inform the crisis team immediately at krisenstab(at)th-wildau.de!
• If you are not aware of any contact with infected persons on your journey, please remain at home and away from TH Wildau for 10 days after re-entry.
• If you have come into contact with infected persons, please remain at home for 14 days. In this case please also contact - first by telephone! - one of the specially established examination centres (currently six in Berlin, see list below).
• If you show symptoms of the disease, please contact - first by telephone! - one of the examination centres!
• Students and lecturers who have to stay away from the university for one of the reasons mentioned above should also inform their respective course coordinators, in addition to the crisis team.
• If students have to be absent from the university for one of the reasons mentioned above, they will not suffer any disadvantages in terms of the examinations.

Further information for all lecturers:

• Please take the current situation into account when planning and conducting your examinations during the semester.
• In order to be able to inform contact persons in the event of infections, we ask you to keep and store participation lists in your courses until further notice.
• In order to be prepared for possible further effects on teaching, please familiarise yourself as far as possible with the existing possibilities of e-learning. Contact persons for this can be found at www.th-wildau.de/hochschule/zentrale-einrichtungen/zentrum-fuer-qualitaetsentwicklung/e-learning/.
• An additional general information website with details of useful tools is currently under construction at https://www.th-wildau.de/elben/webinare/.

Please continue to observe the hygiene instructions given in the previous information notices (collected under www.th-wildau.de/corona). The risk of infection can also be reduced by using dishes and cutlery you have brought with you.

Disinfectant is made available in limited quantities in the Dean’s offices.

If you have any further questions on this topic, please contact krisenstab(at)th-wildau.de. Further information on the crisis team and on the topic of coronavirus will be regularly updated in the future at www.th-wildau.de/corona.

"Dear colleagues and students,

Members of the Executive Board are following the current situation regarding the spread of the coronavirus with great attention. The highly dynamic nature of this development makes it necessary to evaluate the situation on a daily basis and to examine how we as a university must manage it. We have begun to draw up an emergency plan. And we are in close contact with other universities and relevant institutions.

In general, there are currently the following urgent, prophylactic recommendations:

•  We advise TH members not to travel to high-risk areas. (This does not only apply in view of the current world health situation; information on this can be found under the links below)
• If you are currently on a business trip or excursion which, in the course of or after the trip, turns out to lead to a health risk area, we recommend that you consult with your supervisor. In this case, it is recommended to work from home for 14 days, if possible. We do not have any concrete regulations as to how this is to be arranged, so that we ask the supervisors to report this case to the Chancellor of TH Wildau in order to coordinate the arrangement of the regulation
• If an already approved business trip/excursion is imminent and the travel situation changes, we urgently recommend that you do not take the trip for reasons of caring for yourself, your family and colleagues. Please contact the Chancellor, Mr Thomas Lehne, regarding any cancellation fees

We also urge you to observe and comply with the following precautionary measures:

• Your hands are an important transmission channel. Therefore, avoid touching your face (especially your eyes, mouth, nose), especially after public contact (light switches, door handles, etc.) and refrain from shaking hands and hugging to greet or say goodbye
• Avoid close contact with sick people. Keep a distance of 1,5m - 2m from people who cough
• Ventilate the rooms and wash your hands regularly with soap (please also pay attention to the spaces in between and remove any rings) - also use the disinfectant dispensers provided
• Please ensure good respiratory hygiene - cover your mouth and nose with the crook of your arm when coughing or sneezing
• Please use tissues and dispose of them immediately in closed containers
• If you have cold symptoms, please stay away from your workplace and inform your supervisor. In this case you do not need a certificate of sickness from your family doctor
• In case of clear symptoms of illness (dry cough, high fever, headache), especially after a stay in a health risk area, please contact your family doctor immediately!  A blood test can provide a clear diagnosis

The Berlin Senate Administration has set up a hotline on this topic at +49 (0)30 90 28 28 28"

Information about Coronavirus 13-02-2020

Due to a new type of Coronovirus, the World Health Organization declared an international health emergency on January 30, 2020 and the Federal Foreign Office issued a travel warning for travel to China. These actions have prompted to make the following arrangements:

• Business trips by employees to China are not permitted until further notice.
• Already approved business trips and trips to China with students are cancelled or postponed. This should be coordinated with the person concerned, particularly with regard to any costs that have already arisen.
• I ask all university members who have returned from a stay in China since January 1, 2020 to report to university management (at praesidentin(at)th-wildau.de) in order to be able to take measures against the spread of the virus at our university in the event of illness.
• Events with guests who have recently been to China cannot take place at TH Wildau until further notice. Events that have already been planned are cancelled or postponed. Here, too, there should be coordination with the responsible persons.

Please also observe the hygiene recommendations that are common in times of flu.