HIGHLY IMPORTANT INFORMATION REGARDING ORGANIZATION OF CLASSES IN ACADEMIC YEAR 2021/22
1st October 2021RULES AND ORGANIZATION OF COURSES AND CLASSES IN THE ACADEMIC YEAR 2021/2021 DURING THE ONGOING EPIDEMIOLOGICAL SITUATION
I Organization of courses and classes:
1. Theoretical classes for all compulsory courses at the level of Integrated Academic Studies should be delivered online and the classes should, in addition to presentations, also include a recorded lecture. The students would attend classes in an asynchronous manner and via the Faculty of Medicine platform: studiesinenglish.med.bg.ac.rs/moodle. For each lecture, the lecturer will be required to provide online office hours in the same week via Microsoft Teams. The time of the online office hours for each subject will be determined by the coordinators for the respective year of studies in coordination with the heads of the respective departments, in order to prevent any overlap with the time of the office hours of other courses or other forms of classes.
2. Seminar classes for all the compulsory courses at the level of the Integrated Academic Studies should be organized in accordance with the logical assumptions related to the completion of the specific units. Therefore, these classes can be delivered online, in an interactive manner, and by using Microsoft Teams, or they can be taught in-class, if the Department finds that it is a more efficient way of conveying knowledge, skills, and attitudes. If the seminars are taught in-class, the number of students present must be adjusted to the size of the classroom, in accordance with the regulations, which may alter during the pandemic.
3. Practical classes – preclinical courses should be organized in classrooms intended for that purpose. The introductory lesson (if included) can be delivered via Microsoft Teams. The number of students must be adjusted to the size of the classroom.
4. Practical classes – clinical courses should be held in a way that maximally decreases the risks of: a) transmission of SARS-CoV-2 onto the patients; b) transmission of SARS-CoV-2 from the health institution to the students and onto the general population. We are aware of all the difficulties clinical courses and classes are faced with due to: 1) the transformation of some of the teaching hospitals into COVID hospitals; 2) engagement of some of our teaching staff in the COVID hospital in Batajnica; and 3) the reconstruction of the Polyclinic of the University Clinical Center of Serbia and other buildings that has resulted in the relocation of the teaching staff and patients.
5. The recommendation is for elective courses to be taught predominantly online. If that is not possible, they can be taught in-class, however, this must be in compliance with the prescribed epidemiological measures and regulations.
6. Spatial, technical and other requirements for all the classes taught in-class, tests, practical and final exams will be defined in a separate document.
II Rules of organization of the preclinical and clinical courses and functioning of Professional Services
In keeping with the provisions of the Law on Protection of the Population from Contagious Diseases and with the aim of preventing the spread of COVID-19 to students, patients hospitalized at the teaching hospitals of the Faculty, and to the employees of the Faculty – teaching and non-teaching staff, the following criteria for attending classes and work need to be met:
1. Absence of any signs or symptoms of acute respiratory infection and fever.
2. One of the following criteria (a-d):
a) Complete immunization against SARS-CoV-2 (14 days post second dose, i.e., booster) or
b) Proof of recovery from COVID-19 (hospital discharge summary or a suitable document from a COVID clinic) or
c) Serological proof of anti SARS-CoV-2 IgG antibodies, not older than 6 months, acquired through a diagnostic enzyme immunoassay test approved by the Medicines and Medical Devices Agency of Serbia and performed in a diagnostic laboratory registered with the Ministry of Health, Republic of Serbia, or
d) Negative test results from a nasopharyngeal swab test (PCR or antigen test) acquired through the use of diagnostic reagent strips approved by the Medicines and Medical Devices Agency of Serbia and performed in a diagnostic laboratory registered with the Ministry of Health, Republic of Serbia. In the case of clinical courses, these results must not be older than 72 hours. In the case of preclinical courses, the results must not be older than 7 days.
Students, teaching and non-teaching staff that do not meet at least one of the criteria listed under item 2, shall not be allowed to attend classes or perform any other activities at the Faculty, during the current epidemiological situation. Noncompliance with the abovementioned measures is in breach of the obligations defined by laws, bylaws and the individual acts of the Faculty.
COUNCIL OF EDUCATION AND SCIENCE
DEAN
Professor Nebojša Lalić, sgd.
DEAN IN THE ACADEMIC YEARS (2021/22, 2021/23, 2023/24)
Professor Lazar Davidović, sgd.