Covid-19 Communications

Belgium Campus COVID-19 Communication (6) Dear: Parents and Students   Belgium Campus iTversity has received new communication from the Department of Higher Education and Training surrounding COVID-19 and the reopening of higher education institutions. In compliance with this communication, classes at Belgium Campus will resume on 15 April 2020. Residence students will therefore be able to take up residence from 14 April 2020. Under no circumstances will residence students be able to return earlier than this date. Please note: future directive from the Minister of Higher Education may affect these dates. We are in the process of implementing 14 virtual studios to ensure that in the event we are unable to resume contact classes, online classes will start 15 April 2020. Further information regarding these classes will be communicated to you shortly. Our entire faculty and technical staff are preparing online classes, if needed, to ensure that we are able to resume classes on time. We intend to make use of Microsoft Teams over Canvas. This tool will provide our students with the same dedicated attention and interactive experience as our contact classes do, by allowing them to communicate with their lecturers and their peers virtually. Further logistical details will be communicated in due time. In the meantime, we ask that everyone continues to stay safe and follows the precautionary measures outlined by the World Health Organization and the National Institute for Communicable Diseases to mitigate the spread of the virus. This includes the following: Limit social interaction; Maintain social distancing, maintain at least 1 metre distance between yourself and anyone else at all times; Not shake hands or hug; Take extra care of personal hygiene, particularly the practice of hand-hygiene; Practise respiratory hygiene, this means covering your mouth and nose with your bent elbow or tissue when you cough or sneeze; Self-quarantine if you show any flu-like-, cold- or similar respiratory symptoms such as cough. You are required to practice self-quarantine and inform the authorities’ helpline immediately on 0800029999 and inform Belgium Campus iTversity.   Yours sincerely, Belgium Campus iTversity Management

Belgium Campus COVID-19 Communication (5) Dear: Parents and Students   Since the announcement of the first positive case of the COVID-19 virus in South Africa, we have been following the situation closely. Looking into the future, we are in the process of evaluating the impact the virus will have on the academic year and our institution as a whole, while keeping the health of our students and staff our highest priority. We received a letter from the Minister of Higher Education and Training on Tuesday 17 March 2020, demanding all public and private post-school institutions to close for early recess and that all students are sent home with effect from 18 March 2020. In compliance, we took the proactive decision to already suspend all classes and assessments on Monday 16 March. We will also be closing our residences on Friday 20 March and have requested that all residence students vacate their rooms by this time. As it stands, we are hoping to reopen and resume classes on 14 April 2020. However, the global developments show no indication that the pandemic will be over soon, nor that life will resume as normal. The COVID-19 virus is most likely going to be around for a while, requiring the Government to keep implementing certain measures to limit the spread. Our entire faculty and technical staff are preparing online classes, if needed, to ensure that we are able to resume classes on time. We intend to make use of Microsoft Teams over Canvas. This tool will provide our students with the same dedicated attention and interactive experience as our contact classes do, by allowing them to communicate with their lecturers and their peers virtually. Further logistical details will be communicated in due time. We would like to assure students and parents that the decisions we are taking are in compliance with Government’s measures and in the interest of all involved. We encourage everyone to stay safe and follow the necessary precautions as outlined by the World Health Organization to mitigate the spread of the virus. This includes the following: Limit social interaction; Maintain social distancing, maintain at least 1 metre distance between yourself and anyone else at all times; Not shake hands or hug; Take extra care of personal hygiene, particularly the practice of hand-hygiene; Practise respiratory hygiene, this means covering your mouth and nose with your bent elbow or tissue when you cough or sneeze; Self-quarantine if you show any flu-like-, cold- or similar respiratory symptoms such as cough. You are required to practice self-quarantine and inform the authorities’ helpline immediately on 0800029999 and inform Belgium Campus iTversity.   Yours sincerely, Belgium Campus iTversity Management

Belgium Campus COVID-19 Communication (4) Dear: Resident Student   Yesterday late afternoon, we received a letter from the minister of Higher Education and Training, regarding the measures that all Post-school institutions must implement. The decisions taken by the Minister and his team are applicable to all institutions, public and private. All institutions are to close down with effect 18 March 2020, and send the students home in order to mitigate the spread of the COVID-19 virus. In compliance, residences will be closed from Friday 20 March 2020 and students have to vacate their rooms and go back home. Although you will not be on campus, we strongly advise you to abide by the World Health Organization recommendations in order to mitigate the spread of the COVID-19 virus. This includes: Limit social interaction; Maintain social distancing, maintain at least 1 metre distance between yourself and anyone else at all times; Not shake hands or hug; Take extra care of personal hygiene, particularly the practice of hand-hygiene; Practise respiratory hygiene, this means covering your mouth and nose with your bent elbow or tissue when you cough or sneeze; Self-quarantine if you show any flu-like-, cold- or similar respiratory symptoms such as cough. You are required to practice self-quarantine and inform the authorities helpline immediately on 0800029999. You also have the obligation to inform Belgium Campus Management of your situation so that further risk management and evaluations can be taken.   At this stage we are preparing to re-open on 14 April 2020. However, the global developments show no indication that the pandemic will be over soon, nor that life will resume as normal. The COVID-19 virus is most likely going to be around for a while, requiring the Government to keep on implementing certain measures to limit the spread. We will keep you informed on further developments in compliance with Government’s measures.   Sincerely, Belgium Campus iTversity

Belgium Campus COVID-19 Communication (3) Dear: Staff and Students   Following our previous communication and in accordance to the address by the President about COVID-19, numerous measures have been decided on by Belgium Campus iTversity Management. It is imperative that everyone works together. Any measures taken will only be valuable when we change our behaviour collectively. The following measures are implemented with immediate effect and which are in line with the World Health Organisation (WHO). 1. WHO principles to prevent the spread of COVID-19: Basic hygiene – please refer to the following link (https://www.who.int/) of the WHO and Belgium Campus’ first communication on COVID-19 of 10 March 2020. Change of social behavior – social distance is considered as one of the most important measures to reduce risk of contamination. Please refer to the following website https://www.washingtonpost.com/graphics/2020/world/corona-simulator/ and to the WHO website for more information. More specifically this means that Belgium Campus has decided to implement the one-meter social distancing rule in all human interactions. Self-quarantine – If you show any flu-like-, cold- or similar respiratory symptoms, you are required to practice self-quarantine and inform the authorities helpline immediately on 0800029999. You also have the ethical obligation to inform Belgium Campus Management of your situation so that further risk management and evaluations can be taken. Please be aware that flu-like symptoms are caused by many different respiratory viruses. Therefore, people showing flu-like symptoms are not automatically infected (but can be infected) with the COVID-19 virus. In respect of your own health and that of your community, please adhere to these measures in all circumstances wherever you are, on campus or outside. 2. Operational impact: A. Education o All fulltime classes are suspended as of today, 16 March 2020 at 15h00 until 14 April 2020. This includes: – Assessments including sick tests, class tests and examinations; – Study leave; and – Examinations scheduled for the week of 30 March 2020. o Scheduled examinations will be rescheduled to take place during the second examination block. o Students who are scheduled to present their dissertations, will be contacted to arrange an online presentation. o Saturday classes will continue as scheduled but will be presented online. Students will be notified of arrangements via CANVAS. Arrangements will be included with reference to assessments. o BusIT Week on smart aviation is rescheduled to the week of 21 September 2020. o The visit by Pennsylvania State University and the University of Sydney to South Africa scheduled for the month of May has been cancelled. B. Residences o We advise all resident students, who would have attended classes, to go home. o Resident students who are performing their internships will continue. Discussions between the sponsors and Belgium Campus will decide on additional measures if required. o The residence will stay open as per normal academic calendar but the cafeteria will provide take away food in compliance with the implemented social distancing rule. o Those students who cannot go home will be provided with access to certain classrooms and must adhere to social distancing and basic hygiene rules. C. Residences o All extra mural activities (sports, social events, socials, parties, etc.) are suspended until 14 April 2020. o In line with the WHO, extra measures on environmental hygiene are taken in order to ensure safe operations. 3. Minimal disruption to the academic year: Measures have been decided on and are being implemented to guarantee continuation of your studies in the event that the government decides to take additional measures beyond 14 April 2020. In response to the different inquiries received, we wish to inform you that preventive measures had already been taken by Belgium Campus Management in that hand sanitisers were ordered more than a week ago. However, due to the unavailability at different suppliers, the hand sanitisers will only be delivered today.   The safety of our students and staff is our highest priority and we intend to ensure this safety while causing as little disruption as possible to the academic year. Please monitor your email and CANVAS for further communications regarding logistical arrangement.   We have confidence that all of you, members of the Belgium Campus community, commit to the message of the President to ensure that the country will succeed in containing the spread of COVID-19.   Be safe! Belgium Campus iTversity Management

Belgium Campus COVID-19 Communication (2) Dear: Staff and Students   Following the address by President Cyril Ramaphosa and as a precautionary measure, Belgium Campus iTversity has taken the decision to suspend all classes and assessments from 3pm today (16th March) until April 14th. Several preventative measures have been decided on by management and will be implemented starting today. A detailed explanation of these measures will follow shortly as part of our communication plan. The safety of our students and staff is our highest priority and we intend to ensure this safety while causing as little disruption as possible to the academic year. Kind regards, Belgium Campus iTversity Management

Belgium Campus COVID-19 Communication (1) Dear: Staff and Students   The seventh case of coronavirus (COVID 19) has been confirmed in South Africa and we can understand that you may be feeling uneasy. Although this is a serious illness there is no cause for panic. The threat to our campuses remains low and we ask that you assist us so that we can keep it this way. We have compiled some important information from the WHO and local NICD surrounding the virus and best practises to keep our iTversity a healthy learning space. We encourage all staff and students to practice good hygiene; wash hands regularly, cover one’s mouth when coughing or sneezing, and keep surfaces as clean as possible. We will also be providing hand sanitizer in all the public bathrooms on campus to be made use of. Coronavirus resources: What is coronavirus Q&A on coronaviruses Basic protective measures Coronavirus myths Comparing coronavirus and the flu Notifiable medical conditions list   Please be assured that the safety of our staff and students is our highest priority.   Yours faithfully, Belgium Campus iTversity Management