Another Christmas with Covid restrictions – who would have thought? Not a very encouraging situation, but our only option is to keep going. And now it is time for Christmas holiday!
By Klaus Mohn, Rector of the University of Stavanger
This past year has been like a roller coaster. We went from closed doors this spring to a great semester start in August, and opening party in October. In the course of the autumn you were once again able to engage academically on campus with fellow students, lecturers and supervisors, offering new motivation, energy and appetite – for teaching and learning.
I am glad that our new students got the opportunity to form networks and friendships on campus this autumn. Knowing that you have more people around you than last year, makes the times ahead a little easier.
Because all of a sudden we have been hurled back into a digital reality.
UiS has remained open so that you can study in the reading rooms, engage with fellow students in the library and have coffee in the café. But teaching happens online, and exams take place from home.
This will be the case until January 16th. What happens after that is anyone’s guess. My sincere hope now is that everyone makes their way to the vaccination centre and that the infection rate drops as fast as it rose, so that we can return to normality.
I'm proud of you, because I understand how difficult it must be to motivate yourself in times like these. I know what it is like to long for normal life, face-to-face contact, social gatherings and a bustling campus.
Christmas is right around the corner. And before we know it, it's July. Don’t forget that we are still allowed to celebrate life and exam results, even during a pandemic.
Take care of yourself and those around you. When you help others, you also help yourself. If you need someone to talk to, Studentsamskipnaden in Stavanger has several offers for students that can be useful.
I don’t know what 2022 will bring. But the corona virus situation will probably be around next year as well. So will UiS and myself.