Back on campus: Start with classroom teaching and event series

After cautious steps towards on-site teaching in the previous winter semester, the summer semester will now be taught almost entirely in presence. All teaching rooms will again be used 100 percent. This means that academic exchange and university life on campus are once again possible to the usual extent. Digital formats will continue to be used where they have proven added value in previous semesters. If a student is unable to attend on-campus classes for health reasons, the university will find individual solutions. However, because of the ongoing Corona pandemic, the university is safeguarding that return with basic protective measures such as a basic indoor mask requirement. 

"We believe if we wear masks indoors and are responsible with each other, the university can be a safe place. Also because very many people are now vaccinated," said University President Prof. Dr. Ute Clement in a video message (to be seen Monday morning at uni-kassel.de). Referring to the war in Ukraine, she added, "I think that especially in such a time, togetherness, dialogue and exchange are very valuable."

To celebrate the return, events with sports and music are planned at the university's campuses under the motto "Back to Campus." The first of these so-called "Inventions" will take place on the Wednesday after Easter (12 p.m.) in front of the Central Dining Hall on Holländischer Platz. The name "Invention" is meant to convey that these are new, surprising formats.

In a second series of events, so-called workshop discussions, randomly drawn participants will discuss the future of the university and the consequences of the pandemic semesters. These will focus in particular on the digitization of teaching and on collaboration in working groups and at the university as a whole. The last of these workshop discussions will take place on June 30, the day of the Campus Festival, which also marks the end of the university's anniversary year.

The Studierendenwerk Kassel is flanking the start of the summer semester under the motto "Campus Summer" with international cultural evenings and street food offerings. In a series of workshops, students can also talk to coaches and each other about their life planning and the return to a "new normal". 

The return to face-to-face teaching is meant to be permanent. "If there are no dramatic developments, we will maintain face-to-face teaching in the winter semester that follows," Ute Clement affirms. "Everyone who starts or continues their studies with us should find the best possible conditions."

The University of Kassel is also dealing unbureaucratically with requests in the wake of the war against Ukraine. At the beginning of April, there were more than 100 requests from students from Ukraine who would like to continue their studies in Kassel. The university has created short-term opportunities to accept refugees as exchange students under certain conditions and is planning additional language courses.