Dear students,

Last Friday, 24 September, the Basque Government’s Department of Education held a virtual meeting with the rector of the University of the Basque Country and the rectors of Deusto University and Mondragon University. At the meeting, the Basque Government informed us of its decision to return to full face-to-face academic activity in universities. In addition, we agreed to implement the return in the first half of October. This decision was reached based on the positive development of the pandemic and the high vaccination numbers among the members of the university.

After the meeting, the directors of the faculties and departments and all members of the University Governing Council were informed of the decision. We have begun the necessary meetings to modify the preventive health care measures at the university. These measures are established in these two documents: Education and Education Planning Advice for the 2021-2022 School Year and Measures to be Taken by UPV/EHU Centres for the 2021/2022 School Year. Now, the goal is to maintain the best safety measures in this new situation.

UPV/EHU, based on its organization and planning, shall regain the full presence of students in a coordinated manner and conform to the specifications of the centres and services, while maintaining the safety and hygiene measures still necessary. For that reason, and because of the different circumstances in each school, your centre will tell you what it will be like to return to the face-to-face teaching/learning modality that directly affects you.

I wanted to tell you about these issues because they directly affect your studies and the new scenario that faces us. At the same time, I would like to thank all of you, students of UPV/EHU, for your behaviour during these long 18 months. It has been exemplary in most cases.

I hope that we will soon regain normality, not only in teaching/learning, but also in the social and cultural life of our campus.

I thank you again and send you a warm greeting.

Eva Ferreira García
Rector of the UPV/EHU