Throughout the pandemic, Nelson Mandela University has planned its own response, in relation to both operations and learning and teaching, in such a way that it advances the academic programme while ensuring – as far as possible – the utmost safety and wellbeing of its staff and students.
All this has been guided by the overarching principles of agility, adaptability and sensitivity to the varying contexts and needs of all our students. Even in the move to Level 3 announced last month, the same principles applied, as the institution continued with its multimodal learning and teaching, which has seen the bulk of academic activity having moved online, with a smaller degree of mask-to-mask activity on campus.
As pronounced by the President last night, all on-campus mask-to-mask classes and experiential learning activities should end on Wednesday, 30 June 2021, which is effectively two days before they were intended to end at Mandela University.
As indicated by the President, universities will soon receive further guidance from the Minister of Higher Education, Science and Innovation and the Department of Higher Education and Training on the specific implications of this move to Adjusted Alert Level 4 for higher education. In the meantime, the University’s existing plans for the continuation of the academic programme in as safe an environment as possible, and with a predominantly online focus, remain in place.
Once there is direction from the Minister and DHET, the University will issue another update pertaining to learning and teaching during this Adjusted Level 4. Staff, students and all University stakeholders are advised to keep an eye on the internal institutional communication channels, as well as the University’s website and official social media platform for further updates.
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