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Prof Dan Kgwadi
Dear alumni
Recently I outlined our plans to ensure that we are able to complete the 2020 academic year. I am happy to report that our plans are on track. As indicated previously, we continued with our online teaching programme from 4 May 2020 after an initial orientation period.
After the step-down to Alert Level 3 of the Covid-19 lockdown, we implemented our staff and student reintegration plan.
We commenced with the reintegration of staff on 15 June 2020 and began with the reintegration of students on 17 June 2020. This entailed inviting identified groups of students to return, based on the guidance provided by the Ministry of Higher Education, Science and Innovation. (You can read more about these groups in the text box on the left.)
Students can continue their studies online if this is feasible and they do not need access to laboratories and are not required to do clinical training.
A number of students in the categories outlined in the text box on the left have returned. They and everyone else on the NWU’s premises are expected to be scrupulous in observing all our protocols. These are based on the relevant government regulations and the guidelines provided by the Department of Health and the World Health Organisation, and are necessary to ensure the health and safety of staff, students and other stakeholders.
Ready to assist
The majority of staff continue to work from home, but staff performing essential services and those needed to support the return of students have returned to our campuses.
We are very proud of our staff members who did not hesitate to implement their expertise to join the fight against Covid-19. Their innovative contributions range from producing hand sanitisers to developing an award-winning screening app called TjopTjop.
Finally, I wish to pay special tribute to you, our alumni, for supporting our COVID-19 Response Fund, among others. The NWU has so far spent R19,6 million on purchasing 3 534 laptops, and an additional R2,3 million on monthly data packages for qualifying students.
Your assistance during this difficult time is greatly appreciated. We all look forward to a time when we will be able to interact in person.
Best wishes,
Prof Dan Kgwadi
Vice-Chancellor
Message from
the vice-chancellor
editorial
Students return to campus
These groups of students have been invited to return to all three NWU campuses:
- Final-year students who require access to laboratories, technical equipment, data, connectivity and access to residence and private accommodation
- Students in all years of study who require clinical training in their programmes (provided that the clinical training platforms have sufficient space and can accommodate them while adhering to the safety protocols)
- Postgraduate students who require laboratory equipment and other technical items to undertake their studies; and
- Students who have chosen the paper-based distance modality. This group consists of students who reside in areas where there is no connectivity and would not be able to access our online teaching programme even with a device and data.
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