Actions at Novia UAS due to Coronavirus preparedness

Novia UAS takes action to reduce the risk of spreading infection on our campuses. Students and staff are informed about the actions via e-mail.

Distance Learning

Novia UAS continues to take action to limit the spread of COVID-19, for example by, as previously announced,  transfer studies to distance studies.  Students receive information on how their own degree programme transfer to distance studies by e-mail from their Head of Degree Programme, and the staff will find more information regarding distance work on the intranet.

Some student resturants offer take away at discounted price.

Practical training

At this stage, Novia does not call home students from practical trainings. However, situations may arise where the employer chooses to terminate the student's internship. In such cases, students are in contact with their Head of Degree Programme / teacher.

Studies/Training Abroad

Novia discourages all students who have not yet started their studies/training from travelling abroad.

Novia recommends that you who already are abroad should return to Finland as soon as possible.

Please contact Novia’s international coordinators to confirm if you decide to interrupt your stay or will continue your studies/training abroad. Please note that traveling becomes more difficult as airline companies have cancelled flights and countries have closed their borders. Follow the instructions given by local authorities and the Finnish Ministry of Foreign Affairs https://um.fi/preparation-for-a-crisis-abroad or here: https://www.facebook.com/Nettikonsuli/ (in Finnish)

Read the information here regularly published on the intranet: https://intra.novia.fi/news/corona/

Campus and Cancelled Events

Novia's campuses is closed from 18 March until further notice.  Students who have personal belongings on campus, may make arrangements with teachers / janitors about retrieving the items.

The Student Union Novium has inhibited its events and suggested the student associations to do the same.

The events for Novia's alumnis, that were going to be held this spring, have been inhibited.

Travels

When returning from abroad, regardless of country, you will have to work or study at home for 14 days. This applies to both students and staff.

So far, no work-related trips abroad are made (valid from 12.3.2020).

All work and study-related trips also within Finland should be considered to be inhibited or postponed.

The staff work from home

As of Monday 16.3, it is recommended that anyone who can work at distance does that. The staff will agree on this with their nearest foreman.

Take care of yourself

Remember good hand hygiene: cough in the arm fold and sneeze in a handkerchief that you immediately throw afterwards.

We remind you of everyone's own responsibility to stay at home when sick to avoid infections of various kinds.

The study councellors are present virtually to guide you in your studies.

More information can be found by staff and students on the intranet and in their e-mail.

If you suspect infection

If you get symptoms or suspect being infected, check out the guidelines issued by the Finnish Institute for Health and Welfare (THL), the Ministry of Social Affairs and Health and local hospitals:

Seek information from the right places!

• If you seek general information about the coronavirus, read the information on THL.fi. You can also call the general guidance number 0295 535 535 or your local guidance number for guidance.
• If you have symptoms or believe you might be affected by the coronavirus, take the coronavirus symptom assessment on omaolo.fi (it is available in Finnish and Swedish). If you are unable to complete the assessment, contact your local hospital for guidance or call the general guidance number.
• If you have symptoms and are considering going to the hospital, call the general guidance number 116 117, or your local hospital for guidance.
• If it is an emergency, call 112.

It is important that those who need help get it, that is why you should seek information in the appropriate way.

Contact information

• Vaasa: call your local health station on weekdays (daytime mon-thu 8.00-16.00 and fri 8.00-14.15) Other times such as weekends and evenings, call national emergency assistance 116 117
• Turku: call the city's telephone advice on the Coronavirus, (02) 266 2715 or general call, (02) 313 8800
• Raseborg: call the Raseborg health station, (019) 289 3000 at 8.00-15.00 or national emergency assistance 116 117
• Jakobstad: call Malmska telephone counseling, (06) 786 1333 (open 24/7) or Nykarleby telephone counseling (06) 786 2701 (open 24/7)