COVID-19 BC Communications

AssessmentQ and 2021 Mode of Delivery As the end-of-year examinations approach, we would like to provide you with some information regarding the online assessment tool, assessmentQ, which we will be making use of for the December examinations and the January re-examinations. Understanding assessmentQ In order to allow students to familiarise themselves with the new system before the aforementioned examination blocks, the remainder of our Friday class tests will be written using this tool. Students can also access example questions and an assessmentQ orientation video on Belgium Campus Teams, at the following link: Francois F. Venter: AssessmentQ. Please make sure that you familiarise yourself with this information as you will be required to write a test to make sure you have a good understanding of the system. assessmentQ Requirements Students who wish to complete their examinations online using assessmentQ are required to have the following: A web camera; A microphone; and The latest version of Google Chrome. In addition, students will also need to download Safe Exam Browser (version 2.4.1 for Windows or version 2.2.2 for MacOS). This can be done at the following link: https://safeexambrowser.org/download_en.html NB: Students who do not meet the above requirements will need to complete their examinations at the campus they are enrolled at. 2021 Mode of Delivery We have received a number of enquiries from students who wish to continue with online learning in their 2nd and 3rd year. In order to assess the feasibility of this, we need a better indication of the number of students who would like to continue their studies this way. Please help us ascertain this by selecting one of the options below: I would like to resume face-to-face classes on campus I would like to continue my studies online We would like to take this opportunity to wish you all the best for the upcoming exams and to wish you a wonderful and safe festive season. Continue to adhere to the COVID-19 health and safety regulations, and remember to make use of the COVID Alert SA app to keep yourself and those around you safe. For more information regarding the app, please visit: https://www.explain.co.za/2020/09/15/explainer-should-i-download-the-new-contact-tracing-app/ Kind regards, Belgium Campus iTversity management

Belgium Campus COVID-19 Communication 23 – Consultation Sessions Dear Students, This email serves to remind you of the additional opportunities for assistance Belgium Campus iTversity has made available for all students. Consultation Sessions Since the beginning of October, Belgium Campus iTversity has been offering consultation sessions to all students. The sessions give students an opportunity to meet with their lecturers on a one-to-one basis or in small groups, to actively engage with the course material and get assistance with any subjects they may be struggling with. The sessions also provide an opportunity for students to thoroughly prepare for their upcoming exams. How to Book a Session Consultation sessions can be attended online or face-to-face on campus. They take place on Fridays from 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. Please note that all students who wish to attend sessions on campus will be required to undergo the necessary screening procedures and adhere to all COVID-19 health and safety rules and regulations. NB: Once a session has been scheduled, it is compulsory for the student to attend. Should something come up preventing this, the student is required to email their lecturer, at least one day before the date of their session, to cancel or reschedule. Student Tutors In addition to the above, Belgium Campus iTversity’s online student tutors can also be contacted for assistance. For help getting in touch with a student tutor, you can contact any member of the SRC or one of our student counsellors at the following email addresses: Alisha Narine: [email protected] Zwonaka Netshikwati: [email protected] Belgium Campus iTversity remains committed to ensuring that no student is left behind. We will continue to do everything in our power to make sure that each student is given a fair opportunity to successfully complete the academic year. We strongly encourage all students to take advantage of the above opportunities.   Kind regards, The Belgium Campus iTversity team

Covid-19 COMMUNICATION -09.09.2020 Subject: [COVID-19 Communication – Invitation to Return to Campus for Exams] Dear: [Student Name Surname],   Belgium Campus iTversity is committed to ensuring that no student is left behind in the 2020 academic year. In order to achieve this, we have been inviting students who don’t have the appropriate infrastructure in place to attend online classes/online exams from home, to return to our campuses.   September 2020 Examinations It is also for this reason that Belgium Campus iTversity have decided that the September examinations will take place on a platform the students are familiar with and we will be making use of Microsoft Teams to conduct the upcoming examinations.   To write the online examinations from home you must meet the following minimum requirements: Webcam – Any working webcam, integrated or external USB webcam Microphone – Any working microphone, integrated, USB or audio jack connection. Internet Bandwidth greater than 1Mb/s. Greater than 2 Mb/s is recommended. The following online examination regulations will apply for any online examination written off-site (not on campus): Students taking the online assessment and invigilation system must prove their identity prior to the examination through using their webcam (the face must be fully visible) by presenting their student card. The student is obliged to show the test environment by making a 360° film of the test environment with the webcam; this film must be suitable to enable our online assessment and monitoring system to check whether the environment is in line with the requirements as laid down in this procedure. The test environment in which the student takes the examination must meet the following requirements: The student’s test environment must be quiet and tranquil. There may not be any other people in the room. On the desk or other workplace, there may not be anything except a computer and, in case the computer does not have an internal webcam, an external web camera. All other materials must be removed, unless explicitly permitted (Photo ID, books allowed during open-book examination). There may not be sounds from music, television, or any other sounds. There may not be other computers or similar devices running in the room. Lighting must be “daylight” quality and overhead is preferred if possible. If overhead is not possible, the source of lights should not be behind the student During the examination, the student’s conduct must meet the following criteria: The student cannot communicate with anyone or talk out loud (not to him-/herself either). Communication is allowed only in case of emergency, or for contacting the invigilator in case of technical disturbances. The student may not leave the room after starting the examination. The student must face the computer screen during the examination, unless there is a problem that the student needs to report on to faculty. The student is not allowed to take screen shots during the examination. During the examination, the student is not allowed to use any other applications than Microsoft Teams and the software required to develop electronic artefacts that have to be submitted for the examination. The student is not allowed to surf on the internet and/or to consult digital data or web pages or to have these opened unless this is explicitly permitted. Wearing ear plugs or headphones is not allowed. The student must always be dressed and behave in a decent and professional manner. Computer/Webcam setup during the examination: Concerning the requirements for the setup of the computer and webcam that are used during the examination: It is not allowed to have desktop sharing software installed and activated on the computer. The webcam and microphone required for the examination must be enabled and running. The webcam must always be focused on the student taking the examination. The student’s face must be positioned in the centre of the webcam view and must be visible throughout the duration of the examination. Nothing may cover the lens of the webcam at any time during the examination. If these requirements and online examination regulations cannot be met, you should select the option to write the examinations on campus.   In case you do not want to return to campus to write the online examinations you may also postpone any examination, using the student portal, without being penalized for this and can still sit for your first examination during the next examination block, if the qualification for examination requirements are met. Students will only receive one additional chance to postpone their examination if they are not able to meet the examination requirements.   You may not return to campus for any other reason than to write an exam and you are required to leave campus as soon as your exam is over.   COVID-19 Health and Safety Training Before you are permitted to return to campus to sit an exam, you are required to complete COVID-19 health and safety training and pass a test on the material covered. The training will be provided online via Zoom at the following link: https://zoom.us/j/8289277052, meeting ID: 828 927 7052. Please ensure that you attend one of the sessions on 11 September 2020 at the following times: 1st Session: 10:00 – 11:00 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.   COVID-19 Rules and Regulations We have implemented a number of necessary measures to ensure that you return to a safe and regulated environment. Please familiarize 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. Wear an appropriate mask; Adhere to physical and social distancing rules. This means keeping

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