Update: June 4, 2020
Online mode vs. on-site operation
All examinations and courses will continue to be held online. The bachelor and master examinations will also take place in virtual space. The first final exams have already been successfully completed.
The situation is different for laboratory and practical exercises. These course formats require on-site instruction. Since June 2, these formats may now also be held on campus. Prerequisites for these courses are the observance of the distance regulations and the hygienic requirements. Therefore, the group sizes were reduced and larger rooms were prepared for teaching.
Laboratory and practical exercises will also take place during the summer months this year to ensure that students at IMC Krems do not loose a semester.
"The efforts of the IMC team over the last few months have paid off - we enabled all students to complete their semester and degree", explains Ulrike Prommer.
Return to work
The approximately 300 employees are slowly returning to normal operations. In these difficult times, IMC Krems has paid particular attention to the compatibility of work and family. In the meantime also parents who have been obliged to look after their children are slowly returning to the offices.
Restart of research operations
The research operation continued in emergency mode during the last months. However, due to the relaxation of government measures, it is possible to slowly ramp up again in this area.
Update: April 3, 2020
For three weeks now, mobile working has been on the agenda for our IMC team. We are working at full speed in the background to ensure that our students' studies are as undisturbed as possible.
Our big goal: We do everything in our power to enable our students to complete their semester or their studies without or with the least possible delay.
We have, therefore, summarised the latest information for our students in this update.
At the moment, it is difficult to predict when we will be able to resume our studies in the usual way on campus and, therefore, changes to the measures presented here may occur. In the meantime, we are trying to communicate the current situation as transparently as possible to our students, our lecturers and the IMC team.
Our tip: If questions remain unanswered, there will be a livestream for our students again on Friday, 3.4.2020, at 3 p.m. with our chair of the academic board Prof.(FH) Dr. Martin Waiguny. He will be happy to answer any questions from our students.
Planning for the summer semester 2020
All courses with the exception of practical exercises in some degree programmes will be taught in the form of distance learning. Practical courses ‑ laboratory exercises, subject practical exercises, etc. ‑ will be conducted as soon as classroom teaching is possible again. Study Services will inform our students as soon as the courses are booked.
The Academic Board has decided to open the lecture period as well as all examination times (for all first, repeat and final examinations) until October 1st.
This does not mean that examinations or courses are now held permanently during this time. The majority of the courses will be completed and graded as usual by June or July.
The measures provide the flexibility to quickly complete the contents of the practical exercises or to offer examinations as soon as it is possible again.
We are planning to start with the majority of the courses of the winter semester 2020/21 no sooner than 1 October 2020.
Assessments and Exams
First-attempt-assessments are changed to digital formats in the course of the rescheduling. Many lecturers have already scheduled digital submissions, case studies, digital examinations, or even digital oral examinations.
For all remaining resit examinations fronting a committee from the winter semester 2019/20, the Academic Board grants an additional attempt. The majority of these examinations will be oral in digital form.
Bachelor's final exams
We currently expect that we can conduct the bachelor's final exams from mid-June to mid-July. Since we are optimistic about offering the bachelor's final examinations as planned, the deadlines and dates for submissions will not be postponed.
Master's final examinations
The master's final examinations for the final cohorts will take place as planned in September. Subsequently, the deadlines for submission of the master's theses remain unchanged.
Internships in Business and Life Sciences
The internship supervisors have already contacted all students currently away on their internship semester and assessed the respective situation. In many cases the internships can be completed in such a way that they meet the requirements of the curricula.
If there are still gaps, an alternative (e.g. voluntary work, consulting project) will be worked out with the respective students if legally possible.
Important: With regard to internships in the winter semester 2020, we ask our students to apply as planned.
Internships in Health Sciences
Due to the professional qualifications awarded on completion of studies, stricter requirements apply to internships in this field, particularly regarding time and exercises in various fields.
Nevertheless, most degree programmes also have marginal possibilities for crediting other activities in the health sector.
The aim is to compensate as much as possible over the summer months. Internships must be completed by the time the bachelor's examination is taken, i.e. these can also be completed a little later (= time difference to the curriculum).
We will credit activities within the framework of the crisis, provided that the respective regulations permit this.
Civil service or military deployment
Should students volunteer for community service or be called up for it or for military service, we ask them to report to the respective programme director and Study Services as soon as possible. We will try to work out a plan so that our students will have as little delay in their studies as possible.
Update: March 25, 2020
2 weeks of distance learning at IMC Krems
Since exactly 14 days our studies have been changed to distance learning. Virtual classrooms and e-learning are currently part of our students' everyday life. We are still receiving very positive feedback. The students are still glad that the studies can be continued.
The current situation shows us that we switched to distance learning at exactly the right time. This also enabled us to reduce our social contacts to a minimum in time and prevent further infections.
Update: March 20, 2020
Virtual Bachelor Info Day successfully launched
In a very short time, the virtual offer for our prospective students was expanded: Yesterday, we invited them to our first Virtual Bachelor Info Day.
Due to the current situation, the info event could not be held on site. Instead, all important information was made available virtually. Just in time before the change to Mobile Working, we were able to produce the videos with the programme directors of our bachelor degree programmes. In addition, a virtual campus tour was organised so that prospective students are able to gain some insights into the infrastructure of IMC Krems from the comfort of their homes.
In addition, information on application and admission was summarised in a video. Questions can be directed to our experts in the comments section or via e-mail.
The figures speak for themselves. The offer was very well received by our prospective students.
Did you miss our Virtual Bachelor Info Day? No problem, the videos are still available online.
Update: March 18, 2020
The change to Distance Learning has been very successful so far. By Easter, more than 600 virtual courses are planned.
Not only the studies are continued virtually, also the employees of IMC Krems have been working from home since Monday. Thanks to the professional preparation and support of the switch to mobile working by the IT and HR department, all activities, for which the IMC team does not have to be on site, can be continued without any problems in their own four walls.
All interested parties should also continue to be provided with information on our study programmes. For this reason, the Bachelor Info Day was quickly converted into a virtual info day. Starting tomorrow (Thursday, 19 March 2020) at 2 pm, we will provide videos of our programme directors on our bachelor degree programmes. A virtual campus tour will also provide insights into the infrastructure of the IMC Krems.
MORE INFORMATION ABOUT THE VIRTUAL BACHELOR INFO DAY
Update: March 16, 2020
At IMC Krems the first case of an infection with the SARS-CoV2 virus of one of our students was reported. She was infected during a private party and was on site in the buildings of the university at the beginning of last week. The crisis team has initiated all necessary steps and contacted the authorities.
Of course, all persons who had contact with the student in any way were informed immediately. One of our cohorts as well as its programme director and a part-time lecturer, therefore, had to be quarantined.
All people affected are doing well so far. The IMC FH Krems is of course still in contact with the students and lecturers. At the same time, the lectures are continued virtually.
Preventing further infections
Since last Wednesday, our studies have been changed to distance learning, and as of today the IMC team is also working from home. These measures are aimed at preventing further infections.
Update: March 13, 2020
Due to the new information from the Federal Government, the management team has decided to switch the operation of IMC FH Krems to online operation starting from Monday 16 March 2020. This affects all areas of the FH - teaching, research and administration.
We have already prepared ourselves very well for this scenario in advance and can seamlessly switch operations to mobile working. These measures are being implemented to protect our employees and the society.
"We are fulfilling our obligation and are limiting our social contacts as much as possible", emphasises Ulrike Prommer, Managing Director of IMC FH Krems.
Due to these developments, all exams will also be postponed to a later date. Study Services will contact the affected students directly.
The “gesundheitswissenschaftliche Studieneignungstest“ will also be postponed. As we are currently unable to estimate how long the restrictions will continue, we cannot yet announce a new date. However, we will inform all applicants who are affected in good time by e-mail about the new test dates.
Update: March 12, 2020
The switch to distance learning is working very well. Some courses have already been successfully held virtually.
IMC FH Krems is taking care of appropriate measures for the employees of IMC FH Krems after yesterday's instruction of the Federal Ministry to close the schools.
"We are well prepared, there is no need for employees to worry. We also pay attention to the compatibility of job and family in these times. This is very important to me", says Ulrike Prommer, managing director of IMC FH Krems.
In order to ensure that the IMC team fulfils its care responsibilities and that the operation of the university can be maintained, an extended flexible mobile working agreement is offered. This makes it possible to work from home for longer periods of time. This agreement should apply not only to all full-time but also to all part-time employees and project staff. If the job does not allow mobile working, a solution will be found together with the respective employees. A variety of measures will be taken to limit the necessary travel of employees and students: Business trips (also within Austria) and excursions have been cancelled until further notice.
Update: March 11, 2020
No on-site courses at IMC Krems
IMC Krems has already cancelled all courses at the IMC locations in Krems as of today, 11 March, in order to protect the students and the IMC team against the new Coronavirus. We are currently in close consultation with our lecturers and are changing the courses to distance learning as far as possible.
Lecturers can use tools such as Microsoft Teams, Microsoft Forms and Padlet, which are available through IMC FH Krems. In addition, training courses on the various options are offered. This ensures that the courses can also be designed virtually as interactive as possible.
Our chair of the academic board Martin Waiguny will address our students and the interested public tomorrow, 12 March 2020, starting at 2 pm in a livestream. In addition, a FAQ page will be set up on the eDesktop during the course of the day with all important information for both our students and our teachers.
Virtual Bachelor Info Day
Since the Bachelor Info Day planned for Thursday, March 19 had to be cancelled due to the precautions taken, we are alternatively making all information on application, admission and the individual bachelor degree programmes available to our interested parties in the form of online videos.
Ask your questions in the comments - they will be answered by our experts.
Update: March 10, 2020
Based on the recommendations of the authorities, the management of the IMC FH has decided to change to distance learning starting as soon as possible, until further notice.
This is purely a precautionary measure to limit the spread of the novel SARS-CoV2 virus. At our University of Applied Sciences and also in Krems, no case of the corona virus has been reported or announced so far.
This means that at all IMC locations no courses, practical exercises or laboratory training can take place. Students and part-time lecturers are not at the IMC FH Krems locations during this time. We assure you that we will do everything in our power to ensure that this special situation will not have any negative impact on the further course of studies and graduation.
Distance learning
In order to maintain the teaching activities for the most part, the teachers will - as far as possible and reasonable - conduct the courses online via Microsoft Teams, Microsoft Forms or Padlet starting as soon as poosible. The timetable will be adjusted accordingly. Please check your timetable regularly on the eDesktop as frequent changes will happen. All lectures which require attendance will be adapted as soon as possible.
We ask for your understanding that the rescheduling may take a few days. Students and teachers will be informed continuously at our eDesktop. More detailed information will follow as soon as possible.
We will keep you informed about any updates on our website and our social channels in the coming days and weeks.
Exams at IMC Krems
Resits and final examinations will take place at the IMC Krems under increased hygienic measures. Information is provided directly by Study Services to the respective students.
All large first-attempt exams are suspended until Tuesday 14th April 2020 and a new schedule will be set by Study Services. Please check the eDesktop regularly.
Online application still possible
Interested parties can, of course, continue to apply for our degree programmes using our online application tool. The application deadlines will not be postponed due to the current situation.
Important: Due to the current situation, admission interviews and tests cannot take place on site in Krems in the next days and weeks. Therefore, if you have an appointment for an interview or an entrance test at IMC FH Krems in the near future, there will be changes. You will be informed about the changes personally by e-mail or telephone.
Cancellation Bachelor Info Day and Career Links Fair
The Bachelor Info Day planned for Thursday, 19 March 2020, is cancelled. An additional info event is planned for a later date. The Career Links Fair is postponed from 31 March 2020 to a date in autumn. Further information will follow.
If you have any questions, please contact info(at)fh-krems.ac.at or +432732/802-400.
Update: 2 March 2020
What is the SARS-CoV2 virus?
Coronaviruses can cause a variety of illnesses ranging from mild colds to severe pneumonia. Common signs of infection with the novel corona virus include fever, cough, shortness of breath and difficulty in breathing.
Approximately four out of five infections are mild and asymptomatic, and there are also forms of infection without symptoms. So there is generally no reason to panic. The elderly and immunocompromised persons are more severely affected.
Should you experience any of the symptoms described above, please contact the telephone health advice service on 1450 (7 days a week, 0 to 24 hours, without area code from all networks) and follow their instructions.
How does the virus spread?
Infection with coronavirus is primarily spread by droplet infection, the incubation period is normally between 2-14 days.
Human-to-human infection is therefore the main route of infection. Besides respiratory tract secretions and saliva, urine, stool and blood can also be infectious.
The Austrian Government has already introduced a procedure to detect and limit COVID-19 infection. At present, however, no special measures are recommended or prescribed.
How can you protect yourself?
Preventive hygiene measures - which for example also protect against conventional influenza - help you to avoid infection:
- Wash your hands several times a day with soap and water or a disinfectant containing alcohol
- If you have to cough or sneeze, cover your mouth and nose with a tissue and then dispose of it or sneeze into the sleeve/crook of the arm
- Avoid direct contact with sick people
- Fold down the toilet lid before you flush the toilet
Additional measures at IMC Krems:
- IMC Krems is strengthening the hygiene measures in all public areas of the university and in the toilets
- Use the mobile disinfection stands (available at any location)
