COVID-19 OUTBREAK: VSE International Office information

Last update on 11. 5. 2020

Info from 6. 2. 2020:

International Office of VSE is closely monitoring novel coronavirus 2019-nCoV outbreak and is in contact with its international partner universities all around world. Despite the fact that the risk of trasmission is low at the moment, we recommend that all students going on exchange for Spring 2020 follow these tips:

  • Follow all instructions received from your receiving institution
  • Follow basic hygiene habits
    • Wash hands with soap and warm water or use an alcohol-based hand sanitizer.
    • Cover your mouth and nose with a tissue or your sleeve when coughing or sneezing.
  • If you are feeling unwell, stay home and avoid contact with people. If you show symptoms of a respiratory illness, use phone to call for medical help.
  • If you have any questions or concerns, contact your International Office coordinator or ozs@vse.cz.

Based on recommendation of Ministry of International Affairs and decision of VSE University Management, all nominations of VSE students to partner universities in China were cancelled and students have been offered a possibility to go to selected partner universities in Europe.

 

Updated on 26. 2. 2020: Based on decision of VSE University Management, all nominations of VSE students to partner universities in South Korea were cancelled. Relevant faculties will enable their registration to VSE courses for Spring 2020 (students are being informed about alternative possibilities to go on a traineeship or exchange during the following academic year).

Updated on 11. 3. 2020: Based on decision of VSE University Management, all nominations of VSE students to partner universities in Germany or USA where the semester has not started yet were cancelled. Relevant faculties will enable their registration to VSE courses for Spring 2020 (students are being informed about alternative possibilities to go on a traineeship or exchange during the following academic year).

VSE International Office is in contact with all students who are currently on exchanges in Italy and their situation is being evaluated individually.

On 11. 3. 2020, VSE sent a list of all its students and employees currently abroad to DZS MŠMT, which has contacted them individually in connection with their recommendation to return to the Czech Republic after the announcement of the state of emergency in the Czech Republic.

Situation in all other countries is closely monitored by the VSE International Office.

Updated on 16. 3. 2020: All students currently on exchange were contacted on 12. 3. 2020 and informed about the state of emergency measures and Czech National Agency recommendation that all students who are currently abroad reconsider their stay abroad and return to the Czech Republic. Some students decided to return, some remain abroad, following instructions from partner universities. VSE International Office remains in contact with all students and partner institutions. In case of any questions, please, contact your VSE International Office coordinator (by email which is being checked regularly).

Updated on 17. 3. 2020: All students currently on exchange were contacted and informed that they will be eligible to keep the amount of grant for the real time spent abroad regardless of whether they will continue with the online courses from the partner institution or from VSE, and that based on the force majeure, they might be able to apply for partial coverage of the costs connected with their mobility. In case of emergency, all students currently on exchange can use the newly established emergency line (+420 224 098 550).

Updated on 22. 3. 2020: All students currently on exchange were contacted and informed that they will be allowed additional registration to VSE courses, if they contact their vice-deans by March 27th, 2020. The students were also informed that the rule of concluding a minimum of 20 ECTS will not be strictly enforced (the received grant will not be reduced as a result of concluding less than 20 ECTS abroad/abroad and at VŠE). In addition, students who participated in the exchange programme during the Spring 2020 (no matter if their exchange terminated in connection with COVID-19 or not) will be allowed to apply for another exchange within the same level of study (Bachelor/Master) if they have enough credits to have this exchange recognized as a part of their VŠE study program.

VSE International Office continues to monitor the situation in all other countries closely and is in regular contact with all its students who are currently on exchanges.

Updated on 1. 4. 2020: On 1. 4. 2020, there are around 150 VSE students still abroad. VSE International Office stays with all these students in contact.

Students whose Exchange semester abroad was prematurely terminated, will be soon contacted regarding the administrative procedure and the account of their grant and costs connected with their mobility.

Nominations of students selected to an exchange mobility in the fall semester 2020 continue as usual. However, all selected students were also informed that if they reconsidered their decision to go on exchange in fall, they should contact their coordinator and discuss the possibility to defer their exchange to the spring semester 2021.

Updated on 8. 4. 2020: Students whose Exchange semester abroad was prematurely terminated / who returned to the Czech Republic due to COVID-19, were asked to quantify the costs connected with their early return from the Spring 2020 exchange. Students were also informed that based on European Commision‘s decision, students whose grant came from Erasmus+ funding will be eligible to keep the funding after returning home if they are taking part in virtual learning at the partner university and will fulfil the learning outcomes stated in their original LA. As for the overseas (non-european) mobilities where the grant comes from the VSE university funds, the rules reflecting the current situation are currently being approved by the VSE management. Students will be informed about further details as soon as they are available.

Updated on 7. 5. 2020: On 5. 5. 2020, students were informed that based on the decision of the VSE management, students whose grant came from the VSE university funds will also be eligible to keep the funding after returning home if they are taking part in virtual learning at the partner university and will fulfil the learning outcomes stated in their original LA.

Students whose Exchange semester abroad was prematurely terminated and are enrolled in courses at VSE during the Spring semester 2020, will be eligible to keep the amount of grant for the real time spent abroad. In addition, based on the force majeure, they might apply for partial coverage of the costs connected with their mobility. The costs are being assessed individually and all students eligible to apply will be contacted soon.

 

From 7. 4. 2020 to 11. 5. 2020, all citizens and foreigners returning to the Czech Republic are required to announce the date and the way of repatriation to the relevant embassy in advance by filling in the following online form. Please see the Ministry of Foreign Affairs website for more details.

If you have visited a high-risk areas within last 14 days, you should stay in a self-isolation at home and contact 1212 for more details. 

It is also possible to use the VSE Academic Psychological Counselling that is being provided online.

 

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