The following are queries the UIB Executive Council is able to answer to date. In any event, all these measures may be modified depending on instructions issued by the health authorities pertaining to the evolution of the SARS-CoV-2 (COVID-19) outbreak.
The measures below are applicable to the university campus in Palma, the centres in Ibiza and Formentera, and Sa Riera and Ca n'Oleo buildings.
Lecturers
Is access to the university limited for teaching staff?
Yes. Access is only open to the Mateu Orfila i Rotger and Guillem Colom Casasnovas buildings to undertake essential research tasks, although congregating in groups must be avoided. Entry shall only be possible with permission from the Pro-Vice-Chancellor for Research and Internationalisation.
Is all teaching activity suspended?
No, only face-to-face teaching which includes instruction in lecture halls and laboratories, academic tutorials and assessment tests (including the final degree project and Master's theses), seminars and field trips. Lecturers are requested to use the tools on Aula digital to provide, where possible, online teaching.
When does online teaching begin?
Online teaching begins for all degrees, wherever possible, on Monday 16th March.
Has the academic calendar changed?
No. The UIB Executive Council and the Department of Education, University and Research at the Regional Government of the Balearic Islands are studying possible changes based on the recommendations issued by the Ministry of Health, Consumer Affairs and Welfare. If any change is made, it will be notified through official UIB channels.
If the academic calendar is extended, does this mean that online teaching should stop?
We stress that at this time no change has been made to the calendar.
What is the main tool for online teaching activities?
The main tool for online teaching is Aula digital.
Where can I find information about the applications to be able to provide online teaching?
The following link provides information on all available resources: <https://campusdigital.uib.cat/Atencio-al-professorat/info/treballar_en_linia_ad>.
Where can I find manuals for the online teaching applications?
The following webpage contains all available manuals on the different online teaching resources and methodologies: <https://campusdigital.uib.cat/Atencio-al-professorat/>.
How do I do videoconferences?
The following webpage <https://campusdigital.uib.cat/aula_digital_y_video/> sets out all the steps to take to use videoconferencing.
If I have any queries, what can I do?
You can sign in to Aula digital and check the queries forum. It is at the top.
You can also send an e-mail to <suport.professors@uib.es>.
You can call the following numbers from 8 am to 3 pm:
Student information service: 971 17 20 11
Lecturer information service: 971 17 26 38 i 971 17 20 41
What happens if Aula digital goes down?
If it is not possible to access Aula digital due to higher usage, you can use the TEAMS tool in the Microsoft Office 365 suite.
The UIB university community can download it for free from the following website: <https://www.cti.uib.cat/Servei/Cataleg_serveis/Microsoft-Office-365/ >.
How can I notify students about the change of platform if Aula digital goes down?
You need to tell the head of studies for the degree programme, as s/he will be able to send information via the degree programme's Aula digital. You also need to notify <suport.professors@uib.cat>, where a protocol will be activated to notify about any possible solutions or alternatives over the UIB's official communication channels.
Are scheduled seminars, conferences and training programmes still running?
No. All face-to-face seminars, conferences and training courses at UIB facilities are suspended. Where possible, these activities should be shifted online.
Research
What is happening with research activities?
Attended research activities are suspended except those where, due to their very nature, cannot be postponed. In this instance, you must obtain specific permission from the Pro-Vice-Chancellor for Research and Internationalisation to undertake the activities. Groups of people congregating should be avoided at all times.
What about mobility activities for researchers?
UIB research and teaching staff (PDI) who are undertaking mobility activities should follow the instructions of the relevant authorities in the destination country and notify the OSR (osr.seccio-rhfr@uib.cat) about any intention to end their stay early.
Authorised stays for UIB PDI staff that have not started are suspended until the situation returns to normal.
- Visiting research staff who are on mobility stays at the UIB are to undertake their planned tasks by working from home until the situation returns to normal.
What about grants for visiting lecturers on the promotion programme?
Beneficiaries of the visiting lecturer programme in the UIB research promotion programme will maintain their grant status by working from home.
If their stay is interrupted, this shall have no impact on the aid already received. The OSR must be notified (osr.seccio-rhfr@uib.cat) regarding any change in the conditions of the stay of the visiting lecturer.
Stays for those beneficiaries of the visiting lecturer programme in the UIB research promotion programme who planned to join the university during the state of emergency period are currently suspended.
What about research events such as conferences, seminars, congresses or symposia organised at the UIB?
All attended research events organised by the UIB have been cancelled. They may only run if they can be done online.
What about attending conferences?
No travel or sabbaticals will be authorised for attending conferences or similar events whilst the state of emergency is in place.
Sabbaticals that have been authorised but have yet to begin are suspended.
If any expenses have been paid to attend conferences or similar events, refunds must be requested from the service provider.
In any event, where it is necessary to cancel registrations, travel or other expenses linked to attending these events, the cancellation must be properly managed so as to obtain documentary evidence of the expenses.
Researchers should delay as much as possible organising any activities that lead to travel expenses (registration, travel and accommodation) for conferences to be held after the date set for extraordinary measures to end whilst the state of emergency remains in place.
Contact your admin services or the OSR (osr.gestiotecnica@uib.cat) if you are in this situation and you will be given specific instructions.
What about expenses already paid for unmade or suspended journeys covered by grants?
These situations will be dealt with on a case by case basis. Contact your admin services or the OSR (osr.gestiotecnica@uib.cat) if you are in this situation and you will be given specific instructions.
Nevertheless, you should ask your travel agency about cancellations and refunds.
Students and academic affairs
Is all teaching activity suspended?
No. Only face-to-face teaching has been suspended, including instruction in lecture halls, laboratories, academic tutorials and attended assessment tests, seminars and field trips.
When does online teaching start?
Wherever possible, online teaching starts for all degree programmes on Monday 16th March.
Has the academic calendar been changed?
No. The UIB Executive Council and the Department of Education, University and Research at the Regional Government of the Balearic Islands are studying possible changes based on the recommendations issued by the Ministry of Health, Consumer Affairs and Welfare. If any change is made, it will be notified through official UIB channels.
If the academic calendar is extended, does this mean that online teaching should stop?
We stress that at this time no change has been made to the calendar.
What is happening with vivas planned for the final degree project (TFG) and Master's theses during this period?
As a general rule, viva defences for final degree projects and Master's theses are suspended. Where they cannot be postponed, the UIB will provide centres with the means to hold an online viva.
What about vivas for PhD theses planned for this period?
As a general rule, PhD viva voces are postponed. Only in extreme and duly justified circumstances shall online vivas be allowed.
Will teaching for face-to-face degree subjects continue online?
Yes. Lecturers will notify students about the procedure and methodology to be followed during this period for each subject via Aula digital.
What about teaching activities that require face-to-face attendance?
These activities have been temporarily suspended. Please see the UIB protocol containing guidelines for teaching (https://diari.uib.cat/digitalAssets/596/596074_drc_corprotocol-docencia_v3.pdf).
What about degree programmes with mixed or online teaching?
In general, mixed attendance or online degree programmes will not be affected except those activities that require attendance and which shall now be suspended.
May I re-join UIB class course if I am on a national or international mobility programme?
UIBs students who are taking part in mobility programmes and who, due to the SARS-CoV-2 outbreak, request to re-join academic activities at the UIB shall be readmitted. Their absence up to the time they re-join shall be deemed as justified and they will, where possible and depending on their arrival date, receive help so as to undertake any assessment activities. For this reason, it is essential for these students to notify the International Relations Office (erasmus@uib.cat) about their decision to come back to the UIB.
If I come back to the UIB, can mobility be postponed until the 2020-21 academic year?
In principle no, although this will be analysed case by case to see if there is any possibility to do so.
Are UIB collaboration grants and scholarships being suspended?
Collaboration grants and scholarships are a training activity and, therefore, shall be suspended during this period.
Are language level tests still running?
The tests have been suspended and, where possible, will be taken on a later date.
Can health science students do their placements and care for patients?
No. All face-to-face theory classes and practicals on undergraduate and postgraduate programmes have been suspended. Lecturers will let students known about the procedure and methodology to be followed, where applicable, during this period for each subject.
Have external placements been suspended?
All external curricular and extracurricular placements at companies and institutions have been temporarily suspended and may be restarted later, where required, to complete the training syllabus.
Can external placements continue online?
Yes, as long as the collaborating company or institution ensures online training activities can be followed.
As a student, do I need to notify the company about this situation?
No. The university will notify them. This does not impede students from directly contacting their professional tutor to explore the possibility of undertaking online activities.
Can I get careers advice online?
Yes. The DOPI has a system in place offering videoconferencing sessions. Take advantage of this period to ask for a careers advice session at: <https://fueib.org/ca/doip/108/orientacio-professional-mallorca-menorca-i-pitiuses>.
Cultural Promotion, Open University and activities in general
Are cultural promotion and Open University activities running?
All cultural promotion and Open University activities (choir, theatre, orchestra, Open University for Seniors, exhibitions, etc.) have been suspended.
Are the sports facilities open?
No. The sports facilities will remain closed during this period.
Are the libraries and study rooms open?
No. The libraries and study remains will remain closed during this period.
Can I come to pick up or return a book to the library?
No. We stress that the UIB libraries will remain closed during this period. If you have to return a book, the due date no longer applies and you may return it when circumstances return to normal.
Will the DOIP continue to list job offers?
Yes. The DOIP will continue its usual activity with staff working from home and listing current job offers and extracurricular placements that can be started after the current exceptional circumstances due to the Coronavirus have passed.
Entry tests, students at other educational levels, schools
Will the dates or content of the PBAU be changed?
This decision lies with the Regional Government of the Balearic Islands or the Central Government of Spain. As of now, we have not been given any indication that any change has been made. As soon as we know more, we will release the information over the official UIB channels.
What is happening with entry tests for the over-25s and -45s?
The entry tests have been postponed until a later date, which will be released sufficiently in advance.
Will the Olympiad, Cangur Tests, Scratch Day and Science for All be running?
At this time, all face-to-face activities have been suspended for two weeks. Depending on how the health crisis evolves, and always in line with the measures proposed by the health authorities, decisions will be made on all planned encounters for the coming weeks.
What about the activities planned for Demolab, Demotec, Arqueòdrom, family days, etc.?
As with the other attended activities, all those planned by PortUIB have been suspended for two weeks.
Collegiate bodies
In accordance with additional provision three of Royal Decree 463/2020, the terms and deadlines for processing all procedures at the University of the Balearic Islands have been suspended. The deadlines will be recalculated and restart when the Royal Decree, or any of its extensions, is no longer in force.
Are collegiate body meetings still being held?
In general, all collegiate body meetings have been suspended. Where they need to meet for urgent reasons (staff changes, job secondments, etc.), the meeting will be held via videoconference.
Publication date: Mon Mar 16 15:08:00 CET 2020
