Covid-19 Communications

Level 1 Flyer

COVID-19 Communication 24 – Return of Students Under Lockdown Level 1 Following the move to level 1 of the national lockdown and yesterday’s briefing by the Minister of Higher Education, Belgium Campus iTversity would like to invite all students to return to campus from 5 October 2020, to make use of the facilities for online classes. As per our previous communication, face-to-face classes will only resume next year, and this invitation serves to assist students who need to make use of campus facilities to continue with online classes. Please indicate whether you would like to return to campus by selecting the applicable option below: I will be returning to campus to make use of the facilities for online classes I will NOT be returning to campus, and will continue my studies from home Consultation Sessions We would like to take this opportunity to remind you of the consultation sessions commencing on 2 October 2020. These sessions are in response to the recent survey we conducted to determine the preferred mode of delivery for completing the academic year. Although the survey revealed that 90.4% of students would like to continue with online learning, we acknowledge and understand the request of some students to resume face-to-face classes. It is for this reason that we decided to offer students the choice to attend these sessions online or face-to-face on campus. The sessions will allow students to meet with their lecturers on a one-to-one basis or in small groups, to actively engage with the course material and get answers to any questions they may have. They will take place on Fridays between assessments (10h00 – 12h00 or 15h00 – 17h00), strictly on an appointment basis. Students who wish to make an appointment can do so by sending an email to their lecturer.   Rules and Regulations All students who choose to return to campus will do so in accordance with government regulations and under strict health and safety protocols. These include: Wearing an appropriate mask (covering the mouth and nose) at all times; Adhering to physical and social distancing rules. This means keeping a distance of at least 1.5 meters, preferably 2 meters, between yourself and those around you; Follow basic hygiene practices. This includes properly washing or sanitising your hands regularly; Adhering to the 50% venue capacity rule; Carrying your student card at all times. Student cards will be used for contact tracing purposes and no student will be allowed on campus without one; Completing pre-screening (via the Belgium Campus COVID-19 pre-screening app or at screening.belgiumcampus.ac.za) before arriving on campus and on-campus screening on all the days that you return to campus.   COVID-19 Health and Safety Training In addition to the above, all students who wish to return to campus must first complete COVID-19 health and safety training and pass a test on the material covered. A COVID-19 training video has been made available on the Belgium Campus Teams under the ‘COVID19 – Training Material’ tab. You can complete your training by watching this video and completing the test online. Alternatively, you can choose to attend the training via Zoom at the following link: https://zoom.us/j/8289277052, meeting ID: 828 927 7052. If you choose this option, please ensure that you attend one of the sessions on either 2 October 2020 or 9 October 2020 at the following times: 1st Session: 11:00 – 12:00 2nd Session: 16:00 – 17:00 You will also be given access to additional resources including video content, demos, policies and procedures, and rules and regulations via a COVID-19 student SharePoint site. Please familiarise yourself with this content prior to your return. You are also encouraged to make use of the COVID-19 Resource Portal on our website, as well as the official South African government’s Covid-19 WhatsApp number: 060 012 3456, to stay up-to-date with the latest COVID-19 information. The wellbeing of our students and staff remains our highest priority. We would like to thank you for your continued support and understanding. Without the support of our students and the Belgium Campus iTversity community as a whole, we would not have been able to save the academic year while ensuring that our campuses remain safe and operational.   Yours faithfully, Belgium Campus iTversity Management

COVID-19 Communication 24 – Return of Students Under Lockdown Level 1 Following the move to level 1 of the national lockdown and Wednesday afternoon’s briefing by the Minister of Higher Education, Belgium Campus iTversity would like to invite all students to return to campus from 5 October 2020, to make use of the facilities for online classes. This invitation extends to all residence students who can now return to campus and occupy their rooms. As per our previous communication, face-to-face classes will only resume next year, and this invitation serves to assist students who need to make use of campus facilities to continue with online classes. Please indicate whether you would like to return to campus as a residence student by selecting the applicable option below: NB: Please note that should you choose not to return to residence, you (or your sponsor) will still be held liable for the account as per our residence cancellation policy. I will be returning to campus to make use of the facilities as a residence student I will NOT be returning to campus, and will continue my studies from home Consultation Sessions We would like to take this opportunity to remind you of the consultation sessions commencing on 2 October 2020. These sessions are in response to the recent survey we conducted to determine the preferred mode of delivery for completing the academic year. Although the survey revealed that 90.4% of students would like to continue with online learning, we acknowledge and understand the request of some students to resume face-to-face classes. It is for this reason that we decided to offer students the choice to attend these sessions online or face-to-face on campus. The sessions will allow students to meet with their lecturers on a one-to-one basis or in small groups, to actively engage with the course material and get answers to any questions they may have. They will take place on Fridays between assessments (10h00 – 12h00 or 15h00 – 17h00), strictly on an appointment basis. Students who wish to make an appointment can do so by sending an email to their lecturer. Rules and Regulations All students who choose to return to campus will do so in accordance with government regulations and under strict health and safety protocols. These include: Wearing an appropriate mask (covering the mouth and nose) at all times; Adhering to physical and social distancing rules. This means keeping a distance of at least 1.5 meters, preferably 2 meters, between yourself and those around you; Follow basic hygiene practices. This includes properly washing or sanitising your hands regularly; Adhering to the 50% venue capacity rule; Carrying your student card at all times. Student cards will be used for contact tracing purposes and no student will be allowed on campus without one; Completing pre-screening (via the Belgium Campus COVID-19 pre-screening app or at screening.belgiumcampus.ac.za) before leaving residence and on-campus screening between 6am and 7am at the cafeteria. Residence students must also adhere to the following additional rules: General Be in your room by 19:00 every evening; Sign in and out at the security guard house using your student card, each time you enter or exit campus. Visitors No visitors will be allowed on campus, with the exception of people who are assisting a student to move into their room on the day of their return. In these instances, both the returning student and the assisting individuals will be required to: Wear a mask at all times; Undergo on-campus screening at the screening station, and self-screening through the Belgium Campus COVID-19 pre-screening app. What to Bring All students returning to residence are encouraged to bring the basic necessities outlined at the beginning of the year. You are also encouraged to bring the following additional items: Additional face masks (to add to the cloth masks supplied by Belgium Campus); Additional blankets; Additional bathroom towels; Alcohol based hand sanitiser; Hand soap; Diluted bleach solution for wiping down surfaces in your room; Extra cloths that can be used to wipe down surfaces in your room. COVID-19 Health and Safety Training In addition to the above, all students who wish to return to campus must first complete COVID-19 health and safety training and pass a test on the material covered. A COVID-19 training video has been made available on the Belgium Campus Teams under the ‘COVID19 – Training Material’ tab. You can complete your training by watching this video and completing the test online. Alternatively, you can choose to attend the training via Zoom at the following link: https://zoom.us/j/8289277052, meeting ID: 828 927 7052. If you choose this option, please ensure that you attend one of the sessions on either 2 October 2020 or 9 October 2020 at the following times: 1st Session: 11:00 – 12:00 2nd Session: 16:00 – 17:00 You will also be given access to additional resources including video content, demos, policies and procedures, and rules and regulations via a COVID-19 student SharePoint site. Please familiarise yourself with this content prior to your return. You are also encouraged to make use of the COVID-19 Resource Portal on our website, as well as the official South African government’s Covid-19 WhatsApp number: 060 012 3456, to stay up-to-date with the latest COVID-19 information. The wellbeing of our students and staff remains our highest priority. We would like to thank you for your continued support and understanding. Without the support of our students and the Belgium Campus iTversity community as a whole, we would not have been able to save the academic year while ensuring that our campuses remain safe and operational. Yours faithfully, Belgium Campus iTversity Management

Belgium Campus COVID-19 Communication 22 – Release of examination Dear Students and Parents, The examination results The COVID-19 pandemic is still amongst us and is still affecting our way of living, teaching, and learning. However, it is not necessary for everything to come to a standstill. In spite of the lockdown, quarantine, and all the other measures that we have to take into account, we must keep moving forward. BC iTversity successfully concluded the examination period and the results have been released. Given the difficulties of the current situation, we realise that some students were unable to write the exams, and we understand and appreciate the difficulties which these students have been facing. With this in mind, this letter will explain the provisions we have made to give those who could not participate the opportunity to do so after all. Foremost, we are very happy to say that the students who did write the exam achieved a splendid result; 92% of the participating students successfully passed their examinations. This is a very high success rate, and it demonstrates that our students are working really hard and effectively. Congratulations to each one of you, especially in view of the circumstances! This is truly remarkable, and we are all very proud of you! “We are in this together, nobody will be left behind” This was one of our slogans when the corona virus began, and we will continue to honour it. Indeed, a number of students could not participate and write their exams in these troubled times, and we wish to create extra opportunities for these students. We are addressing the issues of students who were not able to participate, and those who were not allowed to write the exam because they had not qualified for them. For students who were unable to participate: Courses will be offered again to give students a new opportunity to participate. The students who do not have internet access or need other facilities for their studies are to do the following: Contact your faculty to make sure that you are enrolled in the course. Contact reception for a permit so you will be allowed on the campus premises. Ensure that you go through the compulsory COVID-19 health and safety training.   The students who did not participate in examinations because they did not qualify: The courses and their related videos are available online. We invite the students to watch these videos to freshen up on their knowledge. You will be given new assignments, which is an opportunity for you to show and prove that you have mastered the content of the course, and that you do qualify for the exams. If you have questions or require help, contact your lecturers – they are standing by to help you. Please remember that there are other avenues through which you can receive assistance; student tutors and counsellors are available to assist. For students who wrote the exams but did not pass: You can sit the exams again. We advise that you watch the videos and review the online course material to freshen up on your knowledge. If you have questions or require help, contact your lecturers, they are standing by to help you. Please remember that there are other avenues through which you can receive assistance; student tutors and counsellors are available to assist. Odds and ends There was an unfortunate technical glitch with the AIMS system during day one of the examination. All the exams of that day were annulled because of that issue. The end result for the students who wrote an exam that day was based on the results of their daily work. Any student who does not agree with the mark they were given is allowed to enrol to resit that examination, but bear in mind that the last obtained mark will be the final one (not the best of the two). Students residing on campus: we requested the Department of Higher Education to increase our numbers from 33% to 50%. We are happy to announce that we have indeed obtained the permission to do so. Together with the faculty, we will now further investigate which of the students need it the most to return to campus residence. We unambiguously ask that residence students do not return to campus on their own initiative. Students who have not been invited to return to campus can apply for permission to do so by emailing [email protected]. It has been observed that many students appear to participate in classes on Mondays and Fridays. However, on the other weekdays, they are not taking part in the course work as actively. We urge everybody to participate in their classes every day. Stay in touch It is important that we stay in touch so both you and the BC iTversity remain informed. In the near future you will be sent a questionnaire regarding the organisation and the offering of the online classes. Please fill in the questionnaire to help us evaluate the online courses and the accompanying videos, the support, and your overall experience of the online classroom practice. As this is a learning experience and a development process, this will help us to optimise our services continuously, and to increase and ensure service excellence to all our stakeholders. We wish you all the best. Stay safe and healthy. Stay in touch.   Yours faithfully, Belgium Campus iTversity Management

Belgium Campus COVID-19 Communication 21

Belgium Campus COVID-19 Communication 20 – C Dear Staff, On 18 June, Belgium Campus iTversity reopened all three of its campuses under the Level 3 lockdown regulations, allowing 33% of students onto the premises. To help ensure the safety of all students and staff members, specific rules and regulations have been put in place. The following rules and regulations must be adhered to at all three campuses: A face mask, covering both the nose and the mouth, must be worn when entering campus and at all times when on the premises. Anyone not wearing a face mask will not be granted entry. A daily screening process has been implemented and is obligatory for all employees and students (day students and residence students). The daily self-screening process can be completed through the Belgium Campus Screening app (available on Google Play Store) or by visiting screening.belgiumcampus.ac.za. Screening is vital to everyone’s safety, so it is important to be completely truthful when filling in the screening questionnaire. Regular hand washing and sanitising. Multiple facilities have been made available for this purpose across campus. As part of the lockdown regulations, the selling of cigarettes is prohibited. Furthermore, in keeping with general campus rules and regulations, no smoking is permitted inside any of the student hostel rooms. Failure to follow these rules will result in strict disciplinary action as stipulated in the Code of Conduct. As has been the norm over the last months, physical distancing must be adhered to at all times and gatherings are not permitted. Following the abovementioned rules and regulations is vital for the safety of all students, staff members and visitors at Belgium Campus. For other helpful information, please visit the Belgium Campus iTversity COVID-19 Resource Portal. We thank you for your continued support and assistance in keeping our campuses safe.   Yours faithfully, Belgium Campus iTversity Management

COVID-19 Youth Survery Mailer COVID-19 Youth Survey Dear Student The Human Sciences Research Council and the Department of Higher Education andTraining are conducting a survey to assess the social impact of the COVID-19 pandemicamong South African youth. Kindly spare a few minutes of your time to provide your views on the COVID-19 pandemicand its impact on learning by completing the following short survey:https://hsrc.datafree.co/r/CovidYouth Your assistance is highly appreciated. Kind regards,The Belgium Campus iTversity team

Belgium Campus COVID-19 Communication 19 – Academic Schedule and Mode of Deliver Dear Student, We have received some concern from students and parents regarding the availability of the academic schedule and our plan for delivering classes going forward. We hope that this email will address these concerns and provide some clarity. The COVID-19 pandemic has brought a lot of uncertainty and unwelcome change. Despite our best efforts to reduce its impact on the lives of our students, there are some areas where this impact is unavoidable. Academic Schedule Availability In the past we have received enquiries regarding our academic schedule and why we cannot make the full year’s schedule available at the beginning of each year. Our academic schedule is carefully drawn up taking a number of factors into account. Some of these factors, including the number of students that enrol for each course and the availability of our lecturers, cannot be predetermined. The modular system which provides our students with the advantage of being able to study one or at most two modules at a time, unfortunately also comes with the disadvantage of preventing us from releasing the schedule for each quarter as early as we would like. The COVID-19 pandemic has made the process of drawing up the academic schedule even more challenging. The volatile nature of the pandemic and the changing lockdown levels means that our academic schedule is likely to change even more than before. We have been forced to keep our schedule as adaptable as possible so that we can deal with the changing circumstances as they present themselves. As a result, we unfortunately won’t be able to finalise and release any schedules more than 3 weeks in advance. There are a multitude of important factors to consider, including accommodating students who did not have access to infrastructure during lockdown. We understand that this may cause frustration amongst students and parents alike but we ask that you remain patient and understanding. This is also a challenging time for our lecturers who now have less time to prepare for the upcoming courses and the subjects which will run. We assure you that all decisions taken by Belgium Campus Management are in the best interests of all our students and keeping our schedule highly adaptable will allow us to keep our promise to leave no student behind. Mode of Delivery Belgium Campus’ mode of delivery is dependent on directive from the Department of Higher Education and the regulations of the current lockdown level. Under the present lockdown level, we are able to resume face-to-face classes for 33% of the student body. However, this is not feasible at this time. As such, online classes are set to continue (with campus facilities being used by students who require this) until lockdown level 1 or 2 at which point Belgium Campus will consider adopting a hybrid learning system. This system will give students the option to return to campus for face-to-face classes or continue to attend classes online via a live stream. The adoption of this system will be dependent on the number of students returning at each specific lockdown level. Catch-Up Classes We are aware that some students were unable to attend online classes due to a lack of connectivity/infrastructure. These students were invited to return to campus to make use of the facilities to attend online classes. This was done in line with the 33% directive from the Department of Higher Education and in accordance with strict COVID-19 health and safety government regulations. We intend to do everything fair and feasible to help these students complete the academic year on time. Catch-up classes are being made available to give these students the opportunity to catch up with their peers. The first set of catch-up classes have commenced with specific students being invited to attend the subjects currently on offer. Further information, including catch-up class schedules for the upcoming recess periods, will be communicated as soon as it is possible to do so. All class updates, including any changes to the academic schedule, will be posted on Microsoft Teams. It is the responsibility of each student to continuously read announcements and keep an eye on their accounts to avoid missing any important updates. We thank you for continuing to work with us as we collectively navigate these uncertain times. Yours faithfully, Belgium Campus iTversity Management

Belgium Campus COVID-19 Communication 18 – Return to Campus Vote Dear Students Belgium Campus iTversity remains committed to ensuring that no student is left behind in the 2020 academic year. We would like to give as many students as possible, who need to make use of campus facilities to continue with classes, the opportunity to do so. This email serves to invite you to return to campus as a day student after the recess period. This means you will be permitted to return to campus on [[date]] for the sole purpose of making use of the facilities to continue with classes. If you would like to do so, please indicate this by voting accordingly below: Choose to Return Choose Not to Return Choose Not to Return Due to Comorbidity Please note that should you choose not to return to campus, you will be responsible for ensuring that you can continue with your studies from home. Belgium Campus will not be held liable for any subjects you are unable to complete in time, or any costs that the rollover of these subjects may incur. All students who choose to return to any of our 3 campuses will be required to adhere to the below regulations. These regulations are in line with the regulations & protocols from the Department of Labour and the Department of Higher Education, and are intended to keep our staff and students safe. Belgium Campus iTversity – Campus regulations Training and Screening The 33% of students returning to our campuses will be required to take a COVID-19 induction course. This course will include specific training on how to curb the spread of the COVID-19 virus (information on the virus, protocols, etc.). All of this material is available online via the COVID-19 Resource Portal on our website. All students will be screened daily using the Belgium Campus Screening App. This app can be downloaded from Google Play Store or accessed online at the following link: https://screening.belgiumcampus.ac.za ​ Training times Tshwane Campus Session 1 – 8:00 am to 8:45 am Session 2 – 13:00 pm to 13:45 pm Ekurhuleni Campus Session 1 – 8:00 am to 8:45 am Session 2 – 13:00 pm to 13:45 pm Nelson Mandela Bay Campus Session 1 – 8:00 am to 8:45 am Session 2 – 13:00 pm to 13:45 pm All students will be required to undergo follow-up training whenever it is deemed necessary. ​ Training Venues You will receive your COVID-19 induction training in the same venue designated for your particular course. ​ Students Belgium Campus iTversity will allow selected students to return to their campus under strict protocol. The following regulations must be adhered to by all students who wish to return to campus: Wear a mask at all times; You will be thoroughly screened on campus before you will be granted access to any campus facilities; Adhere to all rules and regulations presented on the premises (hand washing; physical distancing etc.); You will be required to complete pre-screening every day via the Belgium Campus Screening App or alternatively by visiting https://screening.belgiumcampus.ac.za; You will only be allowed to enter and work at your designated work station; You are required to bring your own headset to attend online classes; If you have been in contact with someone who has COVID-19 or if you have the COVID-19 virus, you are required to notify us immediately; If you have been in contact with someone with COVID-19 or have been diagnosed yourself, you are required to provide proof that you do not have the virus before returning to campus. To get a head start and understand what we as Belgium Campus are doing to ensure your safety on campus please visit https://www.belgiumcampus.ac.za/Students-Return-to-Campus.html The wellbeing of our students and staff remains our highest priority. Every measure has been put in place to ensure our campuses are a safe environment for all students who choose to return. We are dedicated to making this difficult year as easy as possible for all our students and we thank you for your unwavering support and understanding. Yours faithfully, Belgium Campus iTversity Management

Belgium Campus COVID-19 Communication 17 Dear Students Belgium Campus iTversity is committed to ensuring that no student is left behind in the 2020 academic year. In order to achieve this, and in line with the directive from Higher Education, Science and Technology Minister, Blade Nzimande, we will be reopening our campuses to 33% of our students on 18 June 2020. The students returning have been carefully selected based on a survey assessing all students’ ability to access online resources. Students’ proximity to campus has also been taken into account to decide which students will be invited back to residence and which students may only return as day students. We are pleased to inform you that you have been identified as one of the students who may return to campus from 18 June 2020 as a day student. This will enable you to make use of the facilities on campus to sit the June examinations and attend online classes. COVID-19 Health and Safety Training COVID-19 health and safety training will be provided for all returning students. You will not be permitted to return to campus unless you have successfully completed this training and passed a test on the material covered. You can choose to attend this training online or on campus. On-campus training will take place on 18 June 2020 and again on 19 June 2020 at the following times: 1st Group: 10:00 – 11:00 2nd Group: 11:00 – 12:00 3rd Group: 16:00 – 17:00 You will also be given access to additional resources including video content, demos, policies and procedures, and rules and regulations via a COVID-19 student SharePoint site. Please familiarise yourself with this content prior to your return. You are also encouraged to make use of the COVID-19 Resource Portal on our website, as well as the official South African government’s Covid-19 WhatsApp number: 060 012 3456, to stay up-to-date with the latest COVID-19 information. Rules and Regulations We are currently implementing the necessary measures to ensure that you return to a safe and regulated environment. Please familiarise yourself with the following rules and regulations which apply to all returning students and must be strictly adhered to at all times whilst on campus. Please also find attached the Belgium Campus Code of Conduct for you to refamiliarise yourself with. Wear an appropriate mask; Adhere to physical and social distancing rules. This means keeping a distance of at least 1.5 meters, preferably 2 meters, between yourself and those around you; Follow basic hygiene practices. This includes properly washing or sanitising your hands regularly; You are only permitted to make use of the campus facilities necessary for learning. These include: the library, classrooms and bathrooms. Any student found loitering in areas which do not serve this purpose will face disciplinary action. COVID-19 Screening In addition to the above, returning students will also be required to complete daily COVID-19 pre-screening and on-campus screening. Pre-screening can be done through the Belgium Campus COVID-19 pre-screening app or by making use of the physical pre-screening form (this can be accessed via the student portal). Daily on-campus screening will be done between 7am and 8am at the counsellors’ office. Please remember to have your student card with you at all times. Student cards will be used for contact tracing purposes and no student will be allowed on campus without one. The wellbeing of our students and staff is our highest priority and every measure is being put in place to ensure our campuses are a safe environment for all. We would like to thank each and every one of you for your continued support and understanding during this difficult time. If we continue to embody the spirit of Ubuntu, we have no doubt that we will overcome this and keep our promise to leave no student behind   Yours faithfully, Belgium Campus iTversity Management