{"id":128964,"date":"2021-07-28T08:54:40","date_gmt":"2021-07-28T06:54:40","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.erasmusmagazine.nl\/en\/?p=128964"},"modified":"2025-12-19T11:25:44","modified_gmt":"2025-12-19T10:25:44","slug":"universities-want-just-one-scenario-to-open-without-restrictions","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.erasmusmagazine.nl\/en\/2021\/07\/28\/universities-want-just-one-scenario-to-open-without-restrictions\/","title":{"rendered":"Universities want just one scenario: to open without restrictions"},"content":{"rendered":"

Dutch universities want to open without restrictions after this summer. That was the statement made by Pieter Duisenberg to Nieuwsuur<\/a>. Duisenberg is President of the Association of Universities in the Netherlands (VSNU). Erasmus University is also still counting on opening in September \u2018with as few restrictions as possible\u2019.<\/p>\n

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Will the university still be covered in arrows and lines to maintain social distancing after the summer?<\/span><\/p>

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At the start of the summer, Minister of Education Ingrid van Engelshoven asked universities to develop two timetable scenarios<\/a>: one without any COVID-19 measures and one that complies with social distancing measures.<\/p>\n

With the University of Amsterdam leading the way, many universities responded immediately saying that this was practically unfeasible<\/a>. Timetabling at a university is far too complex to operate with two different variants. The government will not be issuing a definite decision regarding which scenario will be adopted until 13 August.<\/p>\n

No matter what<\/h2>

In the meantime, the situation in the Netherlands has changed considerably. The Delta variant is spreading rapidly and it\u2019s code red again for the Netherlands on the European risk-level maps. That still hasn\u2019t changed the view of the universities, says Duisenberg. \u201cWe want to open without restrictions no matter what,\u201d he says. \u201cAnd that\u2019s what needs to be at the top of the list of priorities. We want to think in terms of how we\u2019re going to make that possible.\u201d<\/p>\n

Duisenberg has left the door slightly ajar for a \u2018testing for entry\u2019 option. But according to the VSNU President, that would be \u2018a massive logistical challenge\u2019. \u201cWe\u2019re not a festival ground with an entry point. There are a lot of buildings on Dutch campuses, and don\u2019t forget places where the faculties are located all over the city. And no, it wouldn\u2019t be just for a week. It would really be for a longer period of time.\u201d<\/p>\n

Keep in mind that mandatory testing isn\u2019t possible anyway. Duisenberg: \u201cThat means we\u2019re obligated to offer a viable alternative.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\t

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