In this section you can read the latest specific updates for all locations of Aeres Hogeschool (Almere, Dronten en Wageningen). Below these updates you will find the latest general updates and general information that apply throughout Aeres.
The measures taken to control the spread of the Coronavirus have been extended until April 28, 2020. However, a clear signal has already been given for the period following. As prime minster Rutte puts it: "Don’t rely on going back to ‘business as usual’ after April 28... It may well be we have to continue this way..." It is therefore that the following decision was taken by the Executive Board of Aeres and management of Aeres University of Applied Sciences on April 1, 2020:
Until the summer holidays there will be no teaching or research activities at the locations of Aeres University of Applied Sciences. Teaching and examination will take place online. If national measures become less stringent before the summer holidays, we will look at a way to start carrying out our teaching and research activities on location again, in a responsible manner. We will take further decisions on this at the end of April and the end of May, if the national guidelines give reason to do so.
The Cabinet has announced that the current measures will be extended until April 28, 2020. This means that no educational activities will take place at our locations until the end of the May break. It has also become clear that even in the most positive scenario, a return to the 'normal mode of operation' after April 28 will take time. Consultations are being held today with the Ministry of Education, Culture and Science on what this means for the UAS in the Netherlands. Subsequently, the Aeres crisis team will decide how we will deal with this. More information will follow at the end of this week.
The Corona crisis can seriously affect people's lives. Concerns arise about their own or their families health, or the consequences of the imposed measures with regards to finances, or perhaps social isolation. Know that the counsellors are ready to talk to all of our employees and students, conversations you have with them are confidential. The Counsellors for the faculties of Almere and Dronten can be found on the intranet (see also link under ‘Online studeren’ there you find their names under ‘Vertrouwenspersonen’). In Wageningen you can find them in Canvas, behind the link "Servicedocumenten" in the ‘Infogids’. Problems in finding them? Send an email to info.hogeschool@aeres.nl and indicate which faculty you work or study at, then we’ll provide you with the counsellors name and email address.
The cabinet has extended the duration of the measures to prevent the spread of the coronavirus. As a result of this extension, there will be no educational activities at Aeres schools and locations until May holidays.
Consultation with the Ministry of Education, Culture and Science should clarify what this means for the education sector and for Aeres. This will be reported as soon as possible.
The cabinet has decided that the ban on meetings and events will be extended until June 1 and that it now also applies to groups of under 100 participants.
The Ministry of Foreign Affairs advises all Dutch people to stop traveling abroad in the coming period, unless strictly necessary. This is in line with Aeres' policy: all foreign trips and excursions of any kind that take place until April 6 are cancelled for pupils, students, trainees and employees. This measure also regards travelling for internships abroad. We are seriously considering an extension of this measure. That is why we advise you not to buy tickets for a trip abroad now. We will of course monitor the situation closely and we will inform you when as soon as possible.
The Ministry of Foreign Affairs advises students who are currently abroad to come back to The Netherlands. We are in contact with all our students abroad and we are discussing possible returns. We will map out the consequences of cancelling the internship or study abroad as soon as possible. This is currently also discussed nationally.
In order to prevent spreading of the coronavirus, the Dutch government decided to discontinue (almost all) educational activities in schools. The health of all pupils, students, course participants and employees is paramount for Aeres. From that starting point, the consequences of the government policy for pupils, students, trainees and employees are set out below.
As of Monday, March 16 through April 6, classes will no longer be offered at Aeres schools and locations. This new measure applies to Aeres Praktijkonderwijs in Emmeloord and all branches of Aeres VMBO, Aeres MBO and Aeres Training Centre.
Individual exceptions are discussed in person with students and trainees.
Since last week, Aeres Hogeschool and Aeres Tech had already suspended educational activities on location. The duration of this measure has now been extended to 6 April.
Aeres buildings remain open to employees and exam candidates.
The boards and education teams of Aeres Praktijkonderwijs, Aeres VMBO, Aeres MBO and Aeres Training Centre will discuss Monday 16 March how education can still be provided. This can include homework assignments and /or online lessons. The starting point is to prevent study delay where possible.
Intake activities for the 2020-2021 school year will also continue as far as possible.
For exam candidates, the aim is to continue the exams and practical exams as much as possible. When a practical exam is planned at a different location (for example, a company) and cannot be carried out due to corona measures, we will discuss how this can be solved.
Pupils of parents in crucial professions can contact the school management to discuss the options for childcare. An overview of these crucial professions can be found here.
Aeres has decided to cancel all events until April 15. Examples of events are: open days, congresses and information sessions.
Employees stay at home when they show flu or cold symptoms. They coordinate this with their manager.
For employees who do not show flu or cold symptoms, the following applies:
a. Teachers: this group is requested to come to work to prepare and implement necessary educational adjustments.
b. Other employees: in principle, the work continues. Managers discuss with their teams whether and how (partial) working from home can be completed, with the aim for continuity of necessary activities and processes. More information for employees will follow on March 16.
For educational support staff living in North Brabant the request is that they work from home, if possible. They coordinate this with their manager.
c. There will be no international travel for work until April 6.
d. Aeres asks all employees to be very reluctant in domestic travel for work and / or inviting visitors to the Aeres locations. Necessary work meetings can take place, with digital meetings strongly recommended.
In addition to the previous instructions, the following applies:
a. Always call the doctor if you have a fever above 38 degrees with respiratory complaints (coughing or shortness of breath).
b. Keep a distance of at least five feet from others as much as possible.
All forms of travelling and excursions abroad that take place in March are cancelled. This also regards travelling for internships abroad. This measure applies to both staff and students.
Aeres follows the guidelines of the RIVM in its coronavirus policy. In response to the tightened RIVM policy, Aeres has listed the consequences for students, trainees and employees. This is shown below:
1. Aeres University of Applied Science: no education at location
In order to prevent further spread of the coronavirus, the cabinet has called on universities of applied sciences and universities to stop offering education at locations of these universities with immediate effect. This means that there will be no educational activities offered at the locations of Aeres UAS in Almere, Dronten and Wageningen as of 13-3-2020 until 31-3-2020. Individual exceptions will be discussed personally with the student. The buildings will be open and we are looking into ways how remote education can be implemented. You will receive further notice. Please keep an eye to the Aeres website for more information.
2. Educational activities that continue
All other educational activities of Aeres (amongst which Aeres VMBO, Aeres MBO, Aeres Training Centre, Aeres Tech) will continue if reasonably possible. This means no Aeres-locations will be closing down.
3. Events
Aeres has decided to reduce the number of events to a minimum. Also, following government policy, Aeres cancels all events with over 100 expected visitors until March 31. This applies to all Aeres-locations. For example: open days, conferences and other large meetings.
4. Employees
All employees are supposed to stay at home when they show flu or cold symptoms. Employees will coordinate this with their manager.
The following applies to employees who do not show flu or cold symptoms:
a. Aeres expects teachers to continue with their teaching duties. Work meetings can take place as planned. With regard to Aeres University of Applied Science (Aeres UAS) it will be discussed how remote education can be implemented. The management teams of Aeres UAS will meet on March 13 and there aim is to prevent study delay for all students as much as possible.
An additional measure for teachers living in the province of Noord-Brabant:
If they do not need to be at the Aeres location for educational tasks, we ask them to work from home as much as possible. The teachers will coordinate this with their manager.
b. Other employees: Work and work meetings can take place as planned. Aeres asks its employees to limit travelling for work and/or inviting visitors to the Aeres-locations.
An additional measure for employees living in the province of Noord-Brabant:
Work at home, if possible. Employees coordinate this with their manager.
5. Students and trainees on locations where educational activities still take place:
6. General instructions for everyone
On top of the directions above:
a. Always call the doctor if you have a fever above 38 degrees with respiratory complaints (cough or shortness of breath)
b. You can go to locations (for example an internship, or a company) for your work or study, provided that this is not in conflict with the policy and guidelines that apply to the location you are going to. If in doubt, consult with your contact person at the relevant location.
Patients infected with the coronavirus have a fever and respiratory symptoms, such as a cough, shortness of breath and pneumonia.
Prevent infection or virus spreading:
Contact your GP (doctor’s office) if:
you have a fever above 38 degrees with respiratory symptoms (coughing or shortness of breath)
DO NOT visit the GP (doctor’s office) but contact them by phone and follow their instructions.
Visit the website of the RIVM for more information.
Check out the sites mentioned above for more information. In case of any Aeres-related questions, please contact inlichtingen@aeres.nl. For study-related questions, you can contact your Aeres institution directly at: