Nat and Tech prepare for phase 2 of reopening

Dear staff,

At Nat and Tech we work closely together within the area of education which is the reason for this joint message about the phase 2 reopening addressed to both faculties.

We’re about to reopen the Nat and Tech faculties a little more. Although it’s clearly positive that we can open for teaching and physical exams again, remember that this is still in every way a very limited reopening.

We’ve spent the past week since the announcement from the Danish government planning this phase 2 reopening, and we’re now ready to start teaching and exams that require physical attendance. This is good news, as it means that the exam process throughout the university will be better than we expected.

At Nat and Tech, the following activities will be reopened in phase 2. They are listed in order of priority:

• Oral exams
• Master's thesis and Bachelor's project defence
• Courses that cannot be completed without physical attendance
• The rest of the places will be allocated to selected PhD students who depend on physical meetings with their supervisors as well as for activities within the PhD programme.

Therefore, there is an option for all oral exams to move back on campus, and the individual course coordinators will be contacted directly well in advance, so that students can be notified of the relocation of the examination by no later than three weeks before their exam, see the decision by the senior management team. If the option is accepted, students who do not wish to participate physically, for example because they or their families are in a high-risk group, will be able to take their exam online. Likewise, co-examiners will have the option to participate online if they do not want to go onto campus.

With regard to Master's thesis and Bachelor's project defence, and PhD Students, the various departments will plan their own procedures for physical attendance. Later today, all the department heads will receive an email with instructions and guidelines.

In connection with this phase 2 of the reopening, a number of technical staff will also be returning to ensure that the facilities are in order and that all activities can be completed in accordance with the instructions. More details about this will be included in the email to department heads.

We are delighted that some students and employees are now coming back to the campus, but unfortunately, a lot of you will still have to wait. Please be patient and keep up the fantastic work you’re doing from home.

Read more about phase 2 of the AU reopening in the announcement to all staff from the senior management.

Best regards,

Eskild Holm Nielsen, dean (Tech)
Kristian Pedersen, dean (Nat)
Jes Madsen, vice-dean for research (Nat and Tech)
Finn Borchsenius, vice-dean for education (Nat and Tech)