Diarium Corona

Study and teaching

The majority of the approximately 2,000 courses were transformed into distance learning formats. Teaching formats that cannot be held online, e.g. laboratory exercises, could be completed on site. No face-to-face examinations could be held. The examinations already planned for February had to be held in an online variant. Teachers who needed support in planning and implementing their online examinations received support from the Distance Learning Team. In the event that it was not feasible to hold examinations online, there was still the possibility of submitting applications for face-to-face examinations, which were assessed and, if necessary, approved by the Vice Rectorate for Studies and Teaching.

Research

The previous procedure for research was maintained:

Lists of names were drawn up to allow those researchers and technical staff access to the laboratories. This access was initially only allowed in a highly controlled manner and in limited numbers. The scientists were supported by GUT in implementing the necessary security measures. Disinfectants, gloves and mouth-nose protection masks were provided.

Home office

All employees who are able to do their work from home will continue to work from their home office in agreement with their immediate supervisor. For work that requires the presence at the workplace at the TU Wien, employees are still authorised to enter the TU Wien buildings in agreement with their supervisor.

On campus

The mandatory QR code registration when entering TUW buildings remains in place. The most important protective measure against COVID-19 infections is the safety distance of at least 2 metres. This safety distance must be maintained within all TU Wien properties, including outdoor areas. An FFP2 mask must be used in all public areas of the TUW.

The TU Wien provides five FFP2 masks per month per employee on site through the GUT Department of Occupational Safety and Occupational Medicine. Filtering FFP2 masks are reusable. Two methods are recommended for their reprocessing: Regular changing and reuse only after a storage period of at least 3 days or sterilisation with steam under pressure. The general hygiene guidelines must still be observed. Materials useful for COVID-19 prevention (disinfectants, Plexiglas partitions, etc.) are provided by the GUT department.

Studies and teaching

Courses and examinations can still not be held in normal operation in February and in the summer semester 2021. Due to the latest developments regarding COVID-19, the scheduled face-to-face examination dates must be rescheduled very quickly to an alternative online format. If it is not possible to change to an online examination format, a request for attendance must be submitted at least two weeks before the date, which will only be approved by the Vice Rectorate for Studies and Teaching. Due to the TUWEL update and the lecture-free period in February, no examinations (online and attendance) should be scheduled between 13.02. and 17.02.

On 16 and 17.02.2021 TUWEL will be updated to Moodle version 3.10 with all the already proven functions.

PCR test kits “Alles gurgelt” for TUW employees

The Rector negotiated the participation of the TU Wien in the Viennese programme “Alles gurgelt”. This meant that the TUW offered all employees and students voluntary PCR self-testing using the gargle method at home, in addition to the distribution of rapid antigen tests by the TU GUT and the municipal offer of test lanes and sniffle check boxes. From then on, test kits were available for all employees to pick up at BIPA shops in Vienna. From 22 March 2021, the offer also applied to all students.

Home office

On 25 March 2021, the National Council passed legal regulations on home office. These regulations will come into force on 01.04.2021. The TU Wien had already adopted a comprehensive guideline on working from home on 22.09.2020, which included many of these legal regulations. The home office regulations also created tax relief: From the assessment year 2021, flat-rate income-related expenses can be deducted per working day in the home office.

Home Office, On Campus, Free Time

Good Friday, 2 April 2021, is a non-working day at TUW according to the company agreement. Employees may continue to work from home in agreement with their supervisors in order to keep the number of on-campus work contacts to a minimum. If attendance on campus is required, the TUW safety regulations apply.

Research

Staff members who have to be present in order to maintain research operations may continue to do so in compliance with all necessary protection and safety measures.

Studying and teaching “on campus light” and online

Courses (up to a maximum of 15 people) were available on-site from 12 May, examinations from 19 May 2021, in order to give students and lecturers sufficient time for a planned changeover. On-site appointments are to be seen as complementary to the online offer. Examinations in particular must be offered online, and on-site appointments can be held to complement this. Furthermore, an application had to be submitted and approved by the Vice Rectorate for Studies and Teaching in order for examinations to be held in person. Exceptions are LU and PR with a confirmed security concept. Details on the procedure are set out in the guideline “Studying and Teaching: Guidelines for Attendance at the TU Wien”.

Vaccination coordinator, vaccination line in the ACV

Bettina Neunteufl was appointed as TUW vaccination coordinator in the Rector’s office. There was no separate vaccination street at the TUW campus for these operational vaccinations, as the Austria Center Vienna (ACV) and other municipal vaccination centres were publicly and barrier-free accessible in addition to the professional set-up through staff and infrastructure. Proof of employment with the TUW was provided at the company vaccination appointments with the TUcard employee ID card.

Around 2,200 TUW employees who were willing to be vaccinated registered for the company Corona vaccination by the end of May and were continuously provided by the vaccination coordinator with pairs of appointments for the first vaccination in June plus second vaccinations until mid-August.

TUW Vaccination Days at the ACV (1st cycle)

On the TUW Vaccination Days from 13-20 June 2021, several hundred colleagues came to the Austria Center Wien and received the first partial vaccination with the Comirnaty vaccine from BioNTech/Pfizer.

Vaccination appeal to students

The level of protection at the TU Wien is high and should be maintained through forward planning, good organisation on campus and a prudent approach. For the prospect of attendance in the winter semester 21/22, a high vaccination coverage rate among university members is of great importance. The Rector appeals in an info-mail (incl. collection of links) to almost 30,000 TUW students to inform themselves in good time about the current vaccination options in the federal states and to make use of the registration option for the Corona vaccination in their age group/their federal state.

Relaxations COVID-19 measures

The COVID-19 ordinance of the Ministry of Health, which will come into force on 1 July 2021, includes relaxations of Corona protective measures in private and professional everyday life. The Rectorate recalls or specifies the following measures and rules of conduct for attendance at work and study at TU Wien:

• 3-G rule: Providing personal proof of status, as is also routine outside the TUW, e.g. in service, cultural or catering establishments.
• Mandatory reporting of COVID-19 suspicion/infection cases by employees or students.
• QR code scan: Mandatory QR code registration when entering TUW buildings.
• Recommendation to keep a safety distance of at least 1 metre
• Masks: Recommendation to wear masks in all public areas of the TUW (in particular when visiting parties).
• Hygiene: Regular hand and surface disinfection
• Courses, examinations: The provisions of the 5th regulation COVID-19 Special regulations of the rectorate apply.
• Events: The provisions of the current COVID-19 opening regulations apply.
• Opening hours: The house rules of the TU Wien apply

3-G proof:

• From now on, students, staff and guests have to show proof of a low epidemiological risk to the security service when entering a TUW building. Persons who do not provide 3-G proof will not be admitted.
• Vaccinated Proof of vaccination (complete immunisation) with an EU-approved vaccine against COVID-19 is required. This is the Rectorate’s urgent appeal to be vaccinated. Cf. offer of the TUW vaccination centre at the Karlsplatz campus.
• Tested The TU Wien provides its members with PCR gargle tests if required (max. 3 test kits per week), which can be collected from the security lodges at the TUW locations by presenting the TUW ID card. (Note: In Vienna, the shortened validity period of the test result of 48 hours must be taken into account!) For spontaneous tests (antigen tests) on site, the test offer of the pharmacies in the vicinity of the TUW, e.g. Paulanerapotheke, Wiedner Hauptstraße 18: Mon-Fri 08:00-14:00, Apotheke zum Hl. Geist, Operngasse 16.
• Recovered A medical confirmation of a SARS-CoV-2 infection survived in the last 180 days (confirmed by molecular biology), proof of neutralising antibodies (not older than 90 days) or a segregation certificate are considered as proof. Access controls | Fast Lane with proof via TISS upload: TUW members have the option of uploading their vaccination, test or recovery certificate to TISS in advance and in accordance with data protection regulations. This ensures simple and time-saving access control at the entrances (“fast lane”). The security service checks the validity of the 3-G certificate on the smartphone on site with the help of a specially developed TISS feature. Access controls and proofs are also possible on a separate lane electronically (e.g. “Grüner Pass” app from BRZ GmbH on the smartphone) or on paper together with proof of identity.

On campus: still applies for all university members:

• Mask: In public areas at the TU Wien (corridors, courtyards, etc.) as well as in the teaching room up to the seat, the wearing of a mask (mouth-nose-protection (MNS) or FFP2) is strongly recommended.
• QR code scan & contact person management: Mandatory QR code registration when on campus or in the lecture hall or teaching room at the seat.
• Notification of suspected/infected cases: Obligation to inform the university via online form.
• Safety distance: Keep your distance from other people
• Hygiene: wash and disinfect hands regularly

BMBWF | Vaccination rate students

In a press conference, Federal Minister Faßmann announced that 79 % of students have already been vaccinated, i.e. four out of five of the approximately 395,000 students in the winter semester 2021/22 have an upright vaccination protection. At TU Wien, the vaccination rate among students as of 31 August 2021 was 83 %.

Mailbox for feedback

The Centre for Strategic Teaching Development continues to operate a virtual mailbox on the topic of studyability and distance learning for students, who can deposit (anonymous) feedback on studyability at TU Wien in it using a form.

TU Vaccination Centre Corona Vaccination

At the Karlsplatz campus (Resselpark main building | Prechtlsaal ground floor, barrier-free access), the TUW, in cooperation with the City of Vienna, operates a publicly accessible vaccination centre for students and staff, as well as all people who would like to have a corona vaccination. The 1st and 2nd partial vaccinations are administered at the TU vaccination centre using Johnson & Johnson vaccines (for people aged 18 and over) or BioNTech/Pfizer vaccines (for people aged 12 and over).

Preventive medical check-up and flu vaccination

Appointments for the preventive medical check-up and the flu vaccination are also offered in the newsletter to all employees by the Occupational Health Service/IBG (Innovatives Betriebliches Gesundheitsmanagement GmbH) via the health portal.

Clarification of the specifications

• In view of the federal government’s COVID step-by-step plan, the above-mentioned Measures Ordinance of the Ministry of Health and the Vienna Measures Accompanying Ordinance, the TUW specifies its specifications. From 11 November 2021 applies:
• Changeover to 2.5 G access controls: The TU Wien generally switches to 2.5-G (i.e. vaccinated and/or recovered or negative PCR-tested) when checking evidence of a low epidemiological risk. The Rectorate Ordinance on the Use of Buildings of the TU Wien was adapted accordingly. Persons who do not provide proof of G are not allowed to enter.
• TISS G proof: Persons who have not yet been fully vaccinated (2nd partial vaccinations) require a valid, negative PCR test for access. This PCR test certificate can be deposited in TISS as before.
• FFP2 mask strongly recommended: The Rectorate strongly recommends wearing an FFP2 mask in public areas at TU Wien (corridors, courtyards, etc.). This is to be observed especially in areas where no distance can be kept (e.g. lifts, waiting areas, communication zones, etc.).
• Events and celebrations:
  • 2.5-G rule = vaccinated, recovered OR PCR tested applies to
  • Events in the sovereign area of the TU Wien such as sponsorships and graduations
  • teaching events and training courses
  • professional meetings

2-G rule = vaccinated or recovered

Applies to events held by external organisations at the TU Wien. For these, the regulations according to the 3rd COVID-19 Measures Ordinance of the Federal Government as well as the ordinance issued by the Governor of the Province of Vienna, as amended from time to time, apply. Compliance with the 2-G-rule is to be checked by the respective organiser and coordinated with the Event Services Department.

2-G-plus rule = vaccinated or recovered AND PCR tested.

Applies to internal events of a celebratory nature such as Christmas parties, student parties and the like. Compliance with the 2-G-plus rule must be checked by the respective organiser and coordinated with the Department of Event Services.

For events at TU Wien with more than 25 participants, contact lists must be kept by the responsible organiser.

Hybrid teaching until 17.12.21

In order to be able to maintain teaching and studying as well as possible, all courses (with the exception of practicals and laboratory exercises) in Bachelor’s degree programmes will be converted to online mode by the beginning of the Christmas holidays (applications for presence that have already been confirmed will be revoked by then). Courses in Bachelor’s programmes in particular are to be converted to distance learning (due to the high number of participants). Master’s courses can take place as before. Courses with a group size of up to 25 people can continue to be held in presence in both Bachelor’s and Master’s programmes.

With regard to studyability, it is important to ensure that students have sufficient time to switch between face-to-face and online courses. It is recommended to change over in blocks according to the timetable.

In general, the already agreed mode continues to apply for all examinations in Bachelor’s and Master’s programmes. Laboratory exercises and practical courses (LU and PR) with an approved security concept can continue to take place as before. In attendance, the following generally applies: every second seat (yellow sticker) may be occupied and the FFP2 mask-wearing obligation must be observed.

Events are cancelled

Cancellation of internal events up to and including 12.12.2021: The Rectorate also advises cancellation of planned events in the period from 13 to 17 December (e.g. Christmas parties).

Christmas holidays

From Saturday, 18 December 2021 to Friday, 07 January 2022, only the respective main entrances (Mon-Sat 06.00-23.00, Sundays and public holidays closed) will be open at the five TUW locations, where people can pass through the 2.5 G access controls.