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 lockdown situation has unfortunately been extended until February 9. All staff and students are yearning for the time when we can meet 'live' again. Because concerns about the spread of the virus are as high as ever, the university board has decided to extend the current teaching and work situation until spring break which begins on February 22. If, on Tuesday February 9, it appears that more than is currently possible in terms of activities on location, we will make use of this as much as possible. Of course, this will depend on the specific location situation and the freedoms allowed at that time.
Yesterday Prime Minister Rutte announced a lockdown until 19 January. We realize that for many of us this is may be a difficult situation. We all hope for a spring in which more real contact will be possible. For Aeres University of Applied Sciences the lockdown until the 19th of January has the following consequences:
From Wednesday December 16 until the start of semester 2 on February 1, all classes take place online, with the exception of the practical classes.
In principle, exams and assessments may take place on location. In a number of cases, they have already been planned online, which of course remains the case.
For internships and workplace learning the rules of the industry or location where the student is doing an internship apply. We realize that students may be concerned about the effect this may have on their study progress. We keep an eye on this. For specific questions, students can contact their study career counselor/mentor.
No trips abroad are possible until mid-March. In practice, this means that internships abroad will unfortunately no longer be possible this academic year.
The work at the locations was already limited and takes place in consultation with the organization. For now, until the 19th of January, it is only allowed to work at school if it is strictly necessary. In all other cases employees work from home.
In any case until 19 January, all recruitment activities regarding new students will only take place online. This also applies to student-for-a-day programmes and guided tours of the locations.
If you are on location, the familiar rules continue to apply: only without complaints are you welcome, always keep a distance of 1.5 meters, wash your hands, disinfect regularly and wear a mouth mask when you move around.
For now we wish everyone a Merry Christmas, pay a little attention to each other and above all, stay healthy.
We would like to draw everyone's attention to the fact that the use of a mouth mask in public areas is mandatory throughout the Netherlands from December 1st. So also at the locations of Aeres University of Applied Sciences. Mudguards, bandanas or shawls do not legally fall under the definition of a mouth mask.
The rule remains the same: Wear a mouth mask when walking around at the locations of Aeres Hogeschool. This also applies if you can't keep a 1.5 meter distance somewhere. Once you are in a classroom or at your workplace, you can take off the mask. We assume that you take care of your own mouth mask.
This week the staff of Aeres University of Applied Sciences and all first year students will be informed about the recent information about the Binding Study Advice (BSA). There will be noises about abolishing it. That is not an issue right now.
However, the BSA has been postponed for the first year students who started in this academic year 2020-2021. The information about this has been provided by mail to the students to whom it relates.
The situation regarding Corona is serious in the Netherlands. It is therefore important that we all follow up on the measures announced yesterday by Prime Minister Mark Rutte. We are pleased that we can continue to provide education on location. Nothing will change now in the current agreements on timetables and exams.
To ensure that Aeres University of Applied Sciences can continue to keep its locations open for education, we would like to ask all employees and students the following:
For the sake of clarity, nothing will change for students in terms of education and the same applies to students who use public transportation. We hope we can keep it that way.
Above all, we closely follow national and regional developments, in line with the guidelines of the RIVM. Should this mean that adjustments are necessary in the agreements mentioned above, these will be made and communicated to staff and students via this page.
In the government press conference on 28 September 2020, tighter Covid-19 measures were announced. These measures take effect on 29 September and are valid for three weeks. As a result, the following applies within Aeres and Nordwin College:
The guidelines of the RIVM are leading and in addition, the educational institutions follow the protocols for each sector. We remain vigilant, with the aim of always creating a healthy learning and working environment for our pupils, students, trainees and employees.
In addition to the above mentioned tightened measures within Aeres and Nordwin College, the following applies to all locations of Aeres University of Applied Sciences:
Above all, we closely follow national and regional developments, in line with the guidelines of the RIVM. Should this mean that adjustments are needed to the agreements mentioned above, these will be made and communicated to staff and students via www.aeresuas.com/coronavirus.
It is important that the guidelines of the RIVM are followed and that in case of complaints an employee is tested at the GGD. A priority procedure for secondary education has already been made available so that tests can be taken more quickly. Aeres now enables all employees, in case of complaints as indicated according to the RIVM protocol, to test themselves faster.
In short: when there is no possibility to have a test taken via the GGD within 1.5 days, or when the test location is at an unrealistic travel distance, an employee can, in consultation with the manager, decide to use a private test center HetHuisartsLab with branches all over the Netherlands. Here an employee can register online, where the available test locations are immediately visible to schedule a test appointment as soon as possible. The employee requests the test and pays for it in advance. The test can be declared later. Through your manager you will receive information about the procedure.
Some of the students who are in the final phase of their studies may be delayed due to the corona measures. As a result, they experience negative financial consequences. For example, they will have to pay tuition fees for a longer period , while the (when applicable) right to the basic grant and/or supplementary grant expires. The Ministry of Education, Culture and Science makes money available to help these students financially. Dutch Students who qualify for this receive a personal payment notification from DUO. For international students who feel this situation applies to them, please contact the international office to look into the situation and receive personal advice.
Just before the summer holidays, we were hoping for a further weakening of the coronavirus, but over the past few months, covid-19 has just picked up again. What does that mean for the coming period?
The agreements we made before the summer about education, introduction and working from home as much as possible can remain as planned because they are already based on the guidelines that still apply. The small-scale introductory activities that we are organising because we would still like to offer first-year students an introduction within the current possibilities have been submitted to the security regions and will, of course, only take place if they have been approved. All students and staff have been informed about this.
It should be clear, we stick to the rules: one and a half meters away from each other, stay at home and get tested if you have (slight) complaints and regularly wash your hands and sneeze or cough in your elbow.
Of course we hope at some point to get more room for learning and working, as we were used to before the corona crisis. But for the time being, unfortunately, this is not an option.
In the media there is a lot to do about the possible spread of covid-19 via ventilation systems. The corona situation has made it clear that good air quality is important in spaces where people learn and work. In order to be able to teach safely at the educational locations, Aeres University of Applied Sciences is extra focused on this. We follow the guidelines of the RIVM.
A group of scientists at the World Health Organization (WHO) and at national institutes such as RIVM has emphasized that the role of aerosols (small drops) in the spread of the coronavirus must be taken seriously. However, following epidemiological, virological and modelling studies, the RIVM concludes that the risk of infection via aerosols is much lower than via large droplets (e.g. from coughing and sneezing) or touch.
RIVM specifically discusses the role of ventilation systems and maintains its earlier position that there is no reason to tighten up the standard for ventilation. There are no indications that ventilation systems contribute to the spread of the virus. However, RIVM does emphasise the role of ventilation; good ventilation is necessary for air renewal and contributes to a pleasant and healthy indoor climate. RIVM does advise to prevent recirculation of air.
Each building has its own ventilation options. Where air treatment takes place, outside air is sucked in and filtered, after which it is extracted again and discharged to the outside. So there is no recirculation of 'used' air. The mechanical ventilation is set in such a way that it runs 24/7 at full power. Locations without air treatment have the option of opening windows. The advice is to regularly open a window in order to ventilate sufficiently. These measures ensure a continuous supply of fresh outside air and rapid removal of used air, which is important to prevent any possible spread of viruses.
The way in which we are going to provide education is responsible, provided that people keep to the basic agreements. Everyone is responsible for that. All staff, students and any visitors. This means that we have to be able to call each other to account if someone - consciously or unconsciously - fails to abide by the rules. In a pleasant and mature way, of course. We do this to help each other. To create a safe learning and working environment for everyone.
So stay at home if you have a cold or other (mild) complaints and get tested for the coronavirus. You can make an appointment via the national number 0800-1202. You can also make an appointment online with your DigiD.
Have you been on holiday abroad? Check on the website of the Dutch government whether you need to spend ten days in quarantine. This applies to countries with code orange, but also to some countries with code yellow. Please take the advice seriously. Do you have to go into quarantine? If so, report this to the international office and make agreements about how you can do your work.
It is not allowed to make work or study trips to countries with the codes orange or red. If you are travelling to a country with a yellow travel advice, you will need permission from the International Office.
Following the press conference of Prime Minister Mark Rutte and Minister Hugo de Jonge on August 6th, we can report that these statements have no consequences for the introductions at our faculties in Almere, Dronten and Wageningen. Possibly with the exception of the piglet market in Dronten, which will be reported later.
The introduction period has been carefully prepared and coordinated with municipalities and safety regions. The advice of the safety regions is leading in our decision-making: for the time being we intend to proceed as planned, unless the safety regions decide otherwise. Because we find it very important that our prospective students are given the opportunity to get to know the university, the teachers and their fellow students before the start of their studies, small-scale physical activities have been organised. In doing so, we take into account the 1.5-metre measure and the hygiene measures. Of course we feel responsible for the safe course of the introduction period in view of the Corona virus.
In addition, the Prime Minister once again made it clear that the responsibility for containing the spread of the Corona virus lies with everyone. We will therefore also ask all participants during the introduction period to observe the hygiene rules and the 1.5-metre measure and to stay at home and have themselves tested in the event of complaints.
From 17 August our locations will be available by mail or telephone for any questions you may have.
We look forward to a pleasant and responsible meeting with our new students!
Aeres UAS maintains the travelling advice with regards to international travelling, as described earlier on this website of June 12. As of September 1 2020, travelling abroad in some cases is allowed for internships, excursions and work visits. Travel advice provided by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs is leading in decisions with regards to travelling of both employees and students.
This means that travelling when a code red or orange is indicated, no permission will be given to travel. When a code yellow is indicated, travelling is only permitted after discussion and with the approval of the involved team manager and lecturer.
In case of a newly imposed lockdown, Aeres UAS is not responsible nor liable for costs involving repatriation and other costs involved or incurred as a result of this lockdown.
Travel advice provided by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs is leading in decisions with regards to travelling of both employees and students. As Aeres UAS we would like to reiterate we stand firm on our former decision, as described earlier on this website, that no travelling abroad is allowed for internships, excursions, studying abroad as part of your study programme and work visits until September 1, 2020. This means that both students and staff members are not allowed to travel abroad for internships, work visits, studying abroad as part of your study programme or excursions abroad. The phasing out of the COVID19measures of several countries does not mean we are without any danger of new infections. The re-opening of borders for summer holidays by some countries will not change this decision. With this decision, Aeres UAS tries to prevent that in these uncertain times students or staff members need to be evacuated i.e. repatriated, or be possibly stuck abroad due to a second wave. Travelling abroad as part of internships applies to this policy.
In due course this decision will be reassessed and evaluated with regards to the period after September 1, relying heavily on official policy and travel advice from our ministry of foreign affairs and other independent organisations.
On May 19, 2020 our government has announced phasing out the imposed measures for higher education, opening and (re)starting educational activities with a limited capacity as of June 15. These imposed measures are in place until September 1st. We will use this coming period to plan and organize the examination periods of June/July and August as well as the planning of educational activities in period 1 or semester 1 of the next academic year. Expecting and assuming that these imposed measures will still be in place at that time.
Aeres UAS reiterates the decision made earlier that all educational activities will be done online until the summer. However, we will organize (practical) exams within certain time limits albeit in a very limited capacity. You have been informed about what this will mean for you with regards to location, online or in an alternative manner. The T4 examination schedules, with a very limited amount of exams on location, will be arranged accordingly. The T5 exams will be organized on location, however due to new protocols and safety measures the timetable needs to be expended. Consequently, some exams might take place in the evening. The new imposed measures contain time slots depending on the usage of public transport as well as the amount of people in a building keeping social distance. Educational activities are allowed to take place between 11am and 3pm and after 8pm. Resulting in students not using public transport during rush hours. Consequently, we can organize education activities as of 11am until the evening, provided students do not use public transport before 7pm. Looking at the end of the semester and your T4 exams, we would like to wish you the best of luck in preparing your exams, assignments and assessments!
Currently we are preparing for a combination of education on location as well as online. Practical education (labs and so on) and trainings will take place on location. What can be done online will remain in an online mode of operation. This has to do with the fact that there is a new maximum capacity of people in our buildings due to the imposed social distance, as well as the limited capacity of public transport. This may mean that we might have or will use different timetables per location. Currently there are ongoing discussions with the Regional Safety committee and the spokesperson of public transport organizations. We hope to achieve that scheduling can be done all day for Dronten as relatively few students use public transport. The size of groups for classes on location have a limited capacity due to the social distance rules of 1.5 meters. The size may, depending on the size of the classrooms, vary. This will be mapped out per location. No rights can be derived from the aforementioned agreements. Our government monitors the situation closely and should the situation change negatively, new and stricter measures will be put in to place.
Our motto remains, together we can do this, together we can control COVID-19.
The current measures for higher education have not changed since the update of 22 April. This means that we refer you to the update of April 22th below. Education and examination remain online and we will continue to work from home as much as possible. This applies at least until 1 September.
However, there is a new announcement regarding the intake of students in a higher professional education bachelor's or master's programme who were unable to complete their previous programme as a result of the corona crisis.
Final-year students from associate degrees, senior secondary vocational education (mbo) or higher professional education (hbo) programmes who have been delayed due to the Corona measures have until 1 January 2021 to obtain their diploma. In the meantime, they may already start in the bachelor's or master's programme of the hbo. To this end, the student must request a graduation advice from his or her current study programme which must indicate whether it is plausible that the student will be able to complete the study programme before 1 January 2021. Together with the outcome of the study choice interview at the new programme of study, this will determine whether the student is eligible for a Bachelor's or Master's degree. If a student has not obtained the diploma on January 1, 2021, the student must still leave the bachelor or master.
If this raises any specific questions, please contact your personal coach/mentor.
Wednesday, May 20, Prime Minister Rutte will give another press conference. After the ascension weekend we will indicate here the possible consequences for Aeres University of Applied Sciences.
Last Tuesday, Prime Minister Rutte announced that the imposed measures, as they now apply for us, will be extended until May 20. The ban on events will be extended until September 1. There are not many changes compared to the current situation. However, we still would like to list a few things in response to the latest news and activities.
As previously decided, no education and research activities will be organized at Aeres UAS locations until the summer. Education and examination will take place online/in alternative forms. If this raises any specific questions, please contact your personal coach/mentor.
The ban on events will be extended until September 1. This means that summer courses and our annual introduction for new students will be adjusted accordingly. Plans and scenarios are now being mapped out.
We take into account that measures will be needed in the long run. Therefore we investigate how to conduct our education and research in the so-called ‘one and a half meter society’. Various scenarios are being developed, on the basis of which we will be able to make well-considered choices. Choices that will be determined by the health of our staff and students on the one hand and, on the other, maintaining the quality of our education and research and preventing study delays.
While we all long for recapturing our normal life, we are not there yet. Therefore we repeat the call from our cabinet: HOLD ON, STAY AT HOME. Only if we succeed in doing so, we will soon be able to meet again.
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 imposed measures on no social gatherings/events until June 1, 2020 creates a lot of questions amongst many of you, especially the uncertainty and unclarity on the consequences for educational activities in higher education. More certainty and clarity is essential and necessary. Aeres UAS has decided, preceding the to be taken decisions from the government, to provide a leading decision with regards to the T3 examination period. The decision is as follows: all written exams which require physical attendance will be cancelled until June 1st, 2020. For those exams, alternative mode of examinations will be sought where possible until June 1st.
The decision take , as described above, has direct impact on the upcoming examination period of T3 for students of Almere and Dronten, which runs from 14 April to the May break. Because preparation time is short and quality and reliability need to be safeguarded, it is not possible to provide alternatives for all exams. A portion of the planned exams will postponed to a period later this academic year. All students will receive more detailed information on which exams will take place in T3 in alternative form and which ones will be postponed, what the planning will look like for the coming periods and what the foreseen consequences are.
Currently there are many intense discussion about prolonging the imposed measures on no physical classes in higher education.
To be specific prolonging online education until June 1, 2020. The council of university of applied sciences and the ministry of education will, most likely, provide clarity in the beginning of next week. Aeres Uas will await their decision but is preparing contingency plans in the meantime.
The cabinet has decided that the ban on meetings and events will be extended until 1 June and that it now also applies to groups of under 100 participants. In the next two weeks it will be determined whether the measures in education will also be extended.
In recent weeks, various media reported on fake emails from fraudsters posing as the World Health Organization (WHO), the US Center for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) and the RIVM. There are also e-mails on behalf of the "Aeres IT department" asking you to verify your details. The purpose of these emails is to find out your data or to start a ransomware attack.
Be extra alert to emails and websites that try to help you work from home and / or that are related to the corona virus and to recognize its symptoms.
The ministry of foreign affairs and the society for University of applied sciences have been preoccupied with the consequences of the imposed measures for both students and all university of applied sciences (hereafter UAS). The following has been decided:
To provide prospect students more time and space to register for study programmes the application deadline has been postponed by 1 month; from May 1 to June 1, 2020.
Although many UAS’s try to continue educational activities and examination, albeit in alternative forms, problems arise for students and programmes in various forms. Consequently study delays and a negative binding study advice could occur. It was therefore decided to postpone the binding study advice for the current first year students, to their second year. That does not mean exams and assignments can be discarded. The details of this decision cannot be given at this stage but are being mapped out, more information will be provided at a later moment.
Some students might get into financial difficulty as a result of the imposed measures from the government, by losing their part-time jobs for example. DUO would like all students to become aware they can extent their monthly loans temporarily. This option is available retroactively until the start of the academic year. Moreover students can also request a tuition fee credit, which can be arranged by themselves in their DUO portal. If this proves insufficient they can contact DUO for other possibilities.
All activities are directed towards continuing of education, and is the main priority for all UAS’s. Therefore it has been decided to not hold the national student survey.
All university of applied sciences have to hand in a plan in which they map out how the quality of education is safeguarded and improved in the coming years. Based on these quality agreements in which the student council is involved, extra grants are made available. The assessment of these plans will most likely result in delays, it was therefore decided that the ministry of education will allocate all grants for 2021 to be used for the quality of education.
The ministry of foreign affairs has advised to ban all travel abroad for the coming period, unless strictly necessary. This is in line with our former formulated policy. All travel abroad in any form for both students and staff members planned until the 6th of April are cancelled. This also applies to all travel related for internships abroad. We are bearing in mind that this imposed measure will be prolonged. We therefore advise not to buy tickets for travelling abroad until further notice. We continuously monitor the situation and will inform you when the situation changes.
The ministry of foreign affairs advises students who are currently abroad to come back to The Netherlands. We have contacted all our students abroad and discuss their return home. The consequences of terminating your current study activities abroad will be mapped out as soon as possible and is also discussed in national crisis management teams as all Universities and Universities of applied sciences have to deal with this situation.
The consequences of the current situation for the binding study advice regulation , for all our first year students, is a topic of discussion on national level between all Universities and Universities of applied sciences and the ministry of Education. As soon as more information is available you will be informed.
During a national press conference on March 15 additional measures were put into place to stem the spread of the COVID-19 virus.
The government urges all it’s inhabitants to reduce travelling/commuting and social contacts where possible. The current measures put into place are prolonged to April 6th.
Our crisis team has been preoccupied with the consequences of these measures, the urgent call from our government to reduce travelling and social contacts and what this means to all of us.
What does this mean for our students in Dronten and Almere?
Finally all group activities/excursions/company visits have been cancelled until April 6th.
The Dutch government has announced that nationally all schools will close for the period from March 16 to April 6. For Aeres University of Applied Sciences, it was stated on March 13 that until March 31 no educational activities take place at the Aeres locations. Due to the measures taken by The Dutch government, this has been extended until 6 April.
We herewith sum up the most important decisions and principles:
1. Aeres University of Applied Science: no education at location
In order to prevent further spread of the coronavirus, there will be no educational activities offered at the locations of Aeres UAS in Almere, Dronten and Wageningen 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. Please keep an eye to the Aeres website for more information.
2. Open days cancelled
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 means all open days of Aeres UAS in Almere, Dronten and Wageningen will be cancelled until March 31.
3. Travels and excursions abroad are cancelled
All forms of travelling and excursions abroad that take place in March are cancelled. This measure applies to both staff and students.
On January 12th the cabinet announced that the national lockdown has been extended by three weeks. Moreover, the 1.5 meter measures within educational institutes have been further tightened. Below is an overview of the consequences for pupils, students, course participants and employees:
The period in which a large part of physical education has been cancelled, has been extended at all educational locations until February 7, 2021. The current exceptions to these measures remain:
Where possible, pupils in pre-vocational secondary education (vmbo) should now also keep a distance of 1.5 meters from each other. This rule already applied between mbo and hbo students and between pupils, students, course participants and their teachers.
Where applicable, the existing RIVM guidelines continue to apply with regard to keeping a distance of 1.5 meters and wearing mouth masks.
There will be no travelling abroad for work or study purposes until March.
The educational locations of Aeres and Nordwin College remain open to employees who must be present for the continuity of education and / or necessary processes. When it is not necessary for work to be on location, the following applies to all employees: work from home if possible. This also applies to employees at office locations.
To prevent the spread of the corona virus, the cabinet had to take the decision to largely stop physical educational activities nationwide. The measure will run from December 16, 2020 to January 17, 2021.
Below is an overview of the consequences of the measure for pupils, students, course participants and employees within Aeres and Nordwin College.
Aeres and Nordwin College do everything they can to prevent study delay where possible. When a practical exam is planned at another location (for example a company) and cannot take place due to corona measures, we will consult together to see how this can be resolved.
The exact content of the education may differ per school and / or institution, depending on the possibilities for organizing this in a Corona proof way. The educational locations themselves will inform the parents, pupils, students and course participants about this.
As expected, as of December 1, 2020, the national government will make the wearing of a face mask mandatory in public spaces as well as within educational locations. The measure will initially apply for a period of three months, with the option of extension.
As a result, the following applies within Aeres and Nordwin College:
The policy on working from home or on location has not changed. Aeres' educational activities will continue as we do to date. Where this takes place at location, the teaching staff and the necessary support staff are present. For other employees, who do not necessarily need to be present for the primary process, they work from home unless there is no other option.
In a press conference on October 13, 2020, the government announced new measures and recommendations, with the aim of reducing the number of corona infections. We follow national guidelines and where necessary the policy with regard to corona has been tightened. Aeres urges everyone within the organization to take the measures to heart, so that the corona virus has as little chance as possible to spread further. A number of important measures at a glance:
The policy on working from home or on location has not changed. Aeres' educational activities will continue as we do to date. Where this takes place on location, the teaching staff and the necessary support staff are present. Other employees, who do not necessarily need to be present for the primary process, work from home unless there is no other option.
The Aeres organisation remains reluctant to organise meetings outside of education, such as open days. The advice is to organize the meeting online, if possible, in order to prevent people from different households from coming into contact with each other.
If people do come together physically for the meeting, a maximum group size of 30 people applies, with due observance of the applicable corona guidelines.
The maximum of 30 people does not apply to meetings directly related to education, such as teacher meetings, lessons and trainings.
Tightened corona measures were announced in the cabinet press conference on September 28, 2020. These measures take effect on September 29 and are valid for three weeks. In response to this, the following applies within the Aeres organization:
The guidelines of the RIVM are leading and in addition, the educational institutions follow the protocols for each sector. We remain vigilant, with the aim of always creating a healthy learning and working environment for our pupils, students, course participants and employees.
The situation around corona has made it clear that good air quality is important in spaces where people learn and work. Aeres focuses on this topic in order to provide a safe working climate at the educational locations.
Each building has its own ventilation options. Where air treatment takes place, incoming air is filtered, after which it is also extracted and discharged outside. So there is no recirculation of "used" air. The mechanical ventilation is set in such a way that it runs at full power 24/7.
Locations without air treatment have the option of opening windows. Here the advice is followed to open windows regularly to provide adequate ventilation.
With these measures, Aeres ensures a continuous supply of fresh outside air and a rapid removal of used air, which is important to prevent possible virus spread.
Until 1 September 2020, there will be no internships, excursions or study trips for students within Aeres, even to countries for which the travel advice has been relaxed. As of September 1 it is only in certain cases possible to travel for work or study purposes. We always follow the recommendations of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs in our travelling policy. This means that it is not allowed to travel internationally to countries that are marked as a red or orange zone for travel. If you would like to travel to a country that is designated as a yellow zone for travel, you will have to discuss this with your teacher.
In case of a lockdown of a country Aeres will not be responsible for costs of return or other costs that are related to the lockdown.
The relaxations announced by the government on July 24 with regard to the corona measures offer extra space for Aeres' educational activities.
Aeres VMBO
For Aeres VMBO, education will return to normal as of the start of the 2020/21 school year. The one and a half meter rule between students is canceled. However, they must keep a distance of one and a half meters from the (teaching) staff. The one and a half meter rule also remains in force for employees themselves.
Aeres University of Applied Science (Aeres UAS) and Aeres MBO
For Aeres UAS and Aeres MBO, more education is possible on location as of the start of the 2020/21 study year. However, the one and a half meter rule remains in full force for students and staff. The institutions are therefore preparing for a combination of on-site and online education. The best way to fill this in is determined per grade and per location.
Aeres Tech and Aeres Training Centers
The commercial trainings that take place within Aeres Tech and the Aeres Training Centers, will again take place in the normal way from July 1, with due observance of the one and a half meter rule.
Trips abroad
Until 1 September 2020, there will be no internships, excursions or study trips for students within Aeres, even to countries for which the travel advice has been relaxed. At the beginning of July, Aeres will decide on the possible space that will arise again after 1 September 2020. The travel advice from the Ministry of Foreign Affairs will be leading in this.
Open days and events
From 1 July 2020, open days and other events can be prepared and / or organized within Aeres. The RIVM guidelines must be adhered to at all times. This means, among other things, that the one and a half meter rule is applied and, if applicable, the maximums set for the number of visitors inside or outside.
In its policy, Aeres follows the guidelines of the cabinet and is therefore preparing to resume a number of activities on location. For vmbo and practical education this applies from June 2 and for mbo and hbo from June 15.
Measures
Measures have been taken at all locations to ensure a distance of one and a half meters between people. The number of people who may be present in buildings at the same time is adjusted accordingly. The educational locations will take into account that education will not take place during and shortly before and after rush hours. This measure is taken because of government guidelines to limit the occupation of public transport. Additional measures have been and are being taken with regard to, for example, walking routes, hygiene and limitation of the number of people who may be in one area. The safety of our employees, pupils and students is paramount.
Where education on location is not yet possible, we will continue remote education.
Long-term
Aeres institutions are working on longer-term protocols, so that we are prepared for the situation in which the one-and-a-half meter society requires more structural changes.
At the press conference on April 22, Prime Minister Rutte announced that many of the current measures to limit the spread of the coronavirus will be maintained until May 20. This decision will be reconsidered on 13 May.
For Aeres, this means that there are virtually no changes to the measures that have already been taken. However within Aeres VMBO preparations are being made to (partially) resume education at the locations on 2 June. The way in which this is implemented may differ per school location. The locations will inform the students and parents about this when the details are clear.
In addition, the measures mean that Aeres has canceled all events until 1 September 2020. Various Aeres institutions organize digital open days, which means that informing interested new students and trainees can still take place partly.
Education within Aeres is provided at distance where possible and employees work from home as much as possible. In addition, scenarios are developed that take into account a longer period in which restrictive measures are involved. On the one hand, these scenarios take into account a ‘one and a half meter society’ and are on the other hand aimed at preventing study delays as much as possible.
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.
Aeres follows the guidelines of the RIVM in its coronavirus policy. In response to the tightened RIVM policy with regard to the province of Noord-Brabant, Aeres has listed the consequences for students, trainees and employees. This is shown below:
1. The educational activities of Aeres will continue if this is reasonably possible.
2. Employees living in the province of Noord-Brabant:
All employees living in the province of Noord-Brabant 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 from the province of Noord-Brabant who do not show flu or cold symptoms:
a. Aeres expects teachers to continue with their teaching duties. However, 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: Aeres asks other employees to work at home, if possible. The employees coordinate this with their manager.
3. Students and trainees living in Noord-Brabant:
All students and trainees from the province of North Brabant are supposed to stay at home when they show flu or cold symptoms. They are not allowed to be at the Aeres location.
Other pupils, students and trainees from the province of North Brabant are supposed to attend the educational activities. However, if they do not need to be at the Aeres location for educational activities, we ask them to stay at home.
4. Students, course trainees and employees who do not live in Noord-Brabant:
For this group, all Aeres activities continue wherever possible, while following the general instructions:
a. Call the doctor if you:
b. You can go to locations (for example an internship, or a company) in the province of Noord-Brabant 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.
RIVM National Institute for Public Health and the Environment calls on everyone: do not to shake hands when greeting someone. Aeres requests all students, trainees and employees to act according to this call.
On top of this Aeres follows the tightened RIVM guidelines for the province of Noord-Brabant. In the course of Tuesday 10 March there will be further communication about the consequences this has for students and employees.
RIVM National Institute for Public Health and the Environment advises residents of the province of Noord-Brabant to limit their social contacts if they have a cold, cough or a fever. This means: stay at home. Aeres passes this advice on to all students, trainees and employees.
RIVM asks people living in Noord-Brabant with a cold, who have a cough or a fever, to avoid their social contacts as much as possible. For example, work at home, do not visit others or go to places where many people gather. If you have complaints and still want to leave the house, try to keep as much distance from others as possible. This reduces the chance of you spreading the virus unnoticed. Only call your GP if your symptoms get worse.
Students and employees who show symptoms and have recently been to one of the areas where the coronavirus is prevalent (China, South Korea, Iran, Singapore and Northern Italy), are adviced to stay at home.