Taking into account the instructions of the Government of the Republic of Lithuania and the State Emergency Operations Centre regarding prevention of the new coronavirus (COVID-19), from March 13th-March 27th inclusive, the contact study process at Mykolas Romeris University has been suspended. However, the University is already continuing the studies process - lectures, seminars remotely.
According to MRU Rector Prof. Dr. Inga Žalėnienė, the leadership of the University is taking the situation regarding the coronavirus in the country very seriously and is implementing the Government's and the State Emergency Operations Centre instructions regarding prevention of the coronavirus.
"From March 13th, the contact studies process was suspended at the University. In addition, we have cancelled or postponed to later dates all planned events at the University as well as lecturers' and staff trips abroad. However, the University is now able to assure the studies process remotely, so we do not foresee student vacation."
According to the Rector, organizing the whole study process remotely is a big challenge for all universities, but MRU has been using the virtual learning environment and various tools in the study process for years.
MRU is consistently conducting distance studies and classes, so it can adapt quickly and smoothly to the changing situation.
“Other universities are stopping studies activities, and thus having students take a vacation for several weeks in order to prepare and secure distance learning. MRU technological capabilities already enable us, as some of the first, to do so now. So, even in such a non-standard situation, we can ensure a smooth, high-quality, uninterrupted and most importantly - a safe, healthy studies process for our students," said MRU Rector Žalėnienė.
Exams, testing for students and all planned activities will continue at the University using an interactive learning environment.
Although the University Library will not admit any users, consultations are available remotely and students can continue to use foreign and Lithuanian data bases. The studies process, conducted remotely at the University, has not stopped even when a quarantine has been announced in the entire country.
During the first week of the quarantine, an average of over 100 classes are scheduled to be conducted remotely each day and some days this number could reach nearly 200. The University is continuing to further improve existing technological tools and plans to use all new and effective possibilities for distance learning.