No intro camps for new University of Copenhagen students

There will be no traditional Danish rustur intro camps for new students at the University of Copenhagen at the start of the next semester. The camps – often cabin trips for new students – are to be moved if possible to the spring of 2021.

This can be seen in a memo from the Education and Students section at the University of Copenhagen.

New students can look forward to a ‘blended learning’ start to their study programmes with a mix of physical and online activities.

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It is the management bodies LT, KUUR og SAK that have made the decision on the guidelines for the start of studies. In the memo they state:

»In our discussions we took as granted that the start of studies is extremely important for new students. It is the first meeting with the university and has a major impact on student well-being in the study programme and on its implementation. The many volunteer students and staff of the university who participate in the planning and execution of the study intro weeks should also be able to carry out their work in a safe setting. So that new students can experience a safe, inclusive and rewarding start to their studies.«

On the Student Council’s Facebook page, the council writes that they »are pleased that the overall guidelines are much better than we at first feared.«

The Student Council has previously expressed dissatisfaction with the fact that students have not been involved in creating the guidelines.

The Student Council states also:

»The next step in the process is for the guidelines to be implemented locally so that the best solution can be found for each study programme. Here it is really important that the tutors for the intro camps are involved throughout and play a big part in the decision. As they are the ones who know best what the new students need.«

»We still don’t understand why the tutors were not involved in the development of the overall guidelines. So we are paying extra attention to making sure they are involved in the further process.«

The process going forward is for local solutions to be found for individual study programmes within the overall framework set out by management.

The popular planning getaways for tutors have also been cancelled. Tutors and instructors for the intro camps are instead to be upskilled through training so that they can move parts of the intro to the study programme online.

»In addition, they are to receive training in rules of hygiene so that they are aware of the health authorities’ regulations and recommendations in this area,« the memo states.

Translated by Mike Young