Latest news on coronavirus

Dear members of Rhein-Waal University of Applied Sciences,

dear students, dear staff,

dear friends and supporters of Rhein-Waal University of Applied Sciences,

On 22 March, the federal and state governments agreed on further measures designed to help slow the spread of the coronavirus. As a result, social contact in particular is now being reduced as far as possible. The past few days and weeks have therefore brought changes to our lives that were previously unimaginable. The coronavirus is fundamentally changing the way we live and work in our country, in some cases in a dramatic way.

Drastic changes have also been necessary at our university. The situation is extremely serious and the university has responded accordingly: by postponing the start of lectures, cancelling all events and switching to a regulated emergency operating regime since 19 March 2020. All of this is helping to reduce face-to-face contact and ensure the necessary social distancing to safeguard our health and that of the wider community.

To protect all our lives, we must do without what makes our university special – the direct and fruitful exchange with the many different people, not only on our campus but also with the university’s friends and supporters, as well as citizens, businesses and institutions in the region. But that is not all: teaching, research, discussion – none of this is currently possible, or at least not in the way we are used to.

Social distancing is the top priority. In this new situation, it is particularly important that the economy and society continue to function as far as possible. And this also applies to our university operations. In order to continue working together, we must explore new avenues or make greater use of existing solutions, such as digital ones. We are all working every day to ensure that we can carry on and remain socially connected even without direct social contact, using creative solutions (e.g. in IT, in the faculties, in the AStA, and in the administration). It is now more important than ever to be guided by reason and to preserve our humanity. Cohesion, our social fabric and solidarity take on particular significance.

For you, dear students, the situation is already very difficult. You do not know when you will be able to sit your exams. You are wondering what will happen with the summer term. You are worried about whether you will be able to continue funding your studies. We are working hard to minimise the disruption you are facing and have already faced. If you are worried about your job, your accommodation or your future, please let us know. We will do our utmost to support you in these matters.

I would like to express my special thanks to all those members of the university community who have already put in an enormous amount of work over the past few days and weeks during this exceptional situation, and to all those who will help ensure that the university can continue to operate in the coming weeks. I would also like to express my sincere thanks to those who have shown solidarity with us and offered us their support.

The current crisis presents us all with particular challenges. These difficult times will continually call upon our flexibility, creativity and, above all, our level-headedness. One thing is certainly more important now than ever: we must face these challenges together. This is only possible through shared responsibility and solidarity.

With this in mind: look after yourselves and those around you, stay at home as much as possible, and stay healthy!

Yours sincerely,

Oliver Locker-Grütjen