IQS, a founding member of Ramon Llull University, has evaluated various scenarios for us to be able to offer on-site education during the upcoming 2020-21 academic year. Based on the evaluation of student capacity in its classrooms and laboratories, the university has developed a flexible plan that will facilitate fluid adaptation to diverse health situations.
- IQS is offering a flexible plan that will enable it to handle diverse health situations, keep its academic schedule on pace and ensure maximum classroom and laboratory attendance for the upcoming academic year.
- The university will adapt its scholarship and aid policies for students with families affected by the economic consequences of COVID-19.
- The admission, pre-registration, seat reservation and enrolment processes for new students have been adapted to be done digitally.
- The academic year will begin on 14 September 2020 for undergraduate programmes. This ensures that all teaching, internship, and hands-on activities defined in the teaching curricula for each programme can be fully developed.
IQS, a founding member of Ramon Llull University, has evaluated various scenarios for us to be able to offer on-site education during the upcoming 2020-21 academic year. Based on the evaluation of student capacity in its classrooms and laboratories, the university has developed a flexible plan that will facilitate fluid adaptation to diverse health situations.
The most likely scenario expected involves, during the first semester of the upcoming academic year, reducing the number of students present per classroom and adopting personal protection measures, such as maintaining social distancing between students, faculty, and staff.
Above all, IQS will prioritize full on-campus attendance for all 1st year students, as well as for students enrolled in Master's Degrees. IQS also guarantees full on-campus attendance for hands-on laboratories and workshops for students enrolled other Degree programme courses. Students will be assigned their own spaces (classrooms and laboratories), thus ensuring proper social distancing.
IQS believes that new students entering the university system must be able to attend all classes to ensure they can successfully adapt to and overcome the challenges that are typical of the first year of university.
Laboratory work for IQS School of Engineering programmes and hands-on work with the IQS School of Management form part of the methodology that has set the institution apart for decades andhelped to distinguish its graduates through fully developing their competencies and practical skills in decision making, leadership and teamwork. Within the context of the upcoming academic year, and considering the most likely scenario, IQS does not intend to let this educational asset be neglected.
IQS also ensures full on-site attendance for Master's Degrees students for the reasons detailed as follows. First, to provide real-life experience to international students and students from other Spanish regions. Second, considering that our programmes are highly specialized, we believe that laboratory work, hands-on work and group discussions are essential in achieving the competency objectives for each programme.
Regarding the other undergraduate academic years (2nd, 3rd and 4th), the plan for them remains focused on the primarily hands-on, face-to-face and personalized education for which IQS is known. In order to do this, student classroom attendance will be made more flexible by organizing smaller groups and holding remote classes, mostly simultaneously, with students present in the classroom sharing explanations from professors with the students outside the classroom. The face-to-face activities in these courses will focus on laboratories, seminars, workshopsand other innovative learning activities that require teamwork most. University initiatives that branch out beyond classroom education will also continue to be offered, including activities such as coursework internships, volunteer engagement, sports and company visits, all of which contribute to student educational experiences continuing to be fulfilling and enriching.
IQS has also made efforts to soften the burden for families whose incomes have been affected due to the consequences of COVID-19. With this in mind, the scholarship and aid policy will place special emphasis on students affected by this situation.
Likewise, the admission, pre-registration, seat reservation and enrolment processes have been fully adapted to today's online reality to make it possible for potential students to complete these actions from home.New undergraduate and graduate students can finalize their enrolment as of 1 June. Holding University Access Exams a month later than usual has led many universities to delay their enrolment processes for undergraduate programmes. However, with the aim of offering better planning, comfort and security to families, IQS already has conditional enrolment available on its digital platform.
Regarding the academic calendar for the upcoming year, IQS has set 14 September as the start date for undergraduate programmes and the first days of October as the start date for Master's Degrees, maintaining the usual calendar that ensures the completion of thesame number of laboratory hours and face-to-face time in the classroom as in previous years.
Should the situation make on-campus attendance impossible, or if international students cannot travel due to the situation in their countries, the academic year will begin for them with online learning methodology and with personalized follow-up until they can come to campus.This methodology was successfully implemented during the last semester of the current academic year and was given highly-satisfied reviews by everyone involved, from students to teachers and support staff.
As always, the IQS standard is to maintain quality, to fully adhere to programme planning, solid academic and practical rigour and, above all, close and direct contact between students and teachers, both in the classroom and in the laboratories. By doing so, student learning experiences are not affected by the measures imposed by COVID-19, and the health of students and the entire educational community is protected first and foremost.*
* 1. As of the time this notice was written, the government entities responsible for the university system in Spain and in Catalonia have not issued any order, decree, directive or recommendation regarding limitations or measures to be adopted by universities during the upcoming 2020-21 academic year. / 2. The scenario for in-person presence in classrooms and spaces considered by IQS takes into account the minimum social distancing recommendations of 1.5 metres as well as various protection, hygiene and capacity limitation measures depending on the space. / 3. A total lockdown situation due a new outbreak of COVID-19, as experienced starting 13 March 2020, is not compatible with the expected scenario and would make the physical presence of students and teachers impossible, as indicated in this notice.A total lockdown situation is one of the scenarios envisaged by IQS, in which case the institution guarantees the continuity of its offering through distance learning. / 4. IQS is not liable for possible limitations imposed by governments regarding visa processing, the establishment of quarantines upon arrival in Spain or restrictions on the ability to travel to Spain. / 5. The statements made in this document are based on IQS's best knowledge and practices within the current legal framework and solely for the potential scenario in question.