3.1. Persons with an interoperable vaccination certificate or recovery certificate participate in the on-site educational process and its provision.

3.1.1. If a person has an objective health-related reason to postpone vaccination against Covid-19 for a certain period, they can participate in the on-site class with a medical opinion and a negative Covid-19 test result performed within the last 72 hours.

3.2. Students are required to present an identity document (passport or ID card) and an interoperable vaccination certificate or certificate of recovery, or the opinion of the doctors’ council and test certificate for a negative COVID-19 test. The person responsible for the existence of the relevant certificate shall verify the existence of the identity document, as well as the presented certificate, using the website https://covid19sertifikats.lv/verify.

3.3. Students who do not have the supporting documents referred to in paragraph 3.1. study remotely, following the established additional requirements of the director of the study program and study course lecturers.

3.4. The study process is duplicated in remote mode by providing an access link in the lecture schedule for the autumn semester. 

3.5. The organization and implementation of the study process occur according to the approved study plan of the academic year for the semester.

3.6. The organization and implementation of the study process in person for all study programs occur according to a class schedule for the autumn semester of the academic year 2021/2022.

3.7. The dean of faculty coordinates the course of the study process.

3.8. In implementing the study process, remote study forms and elements may be used in the on-site study process, not exceeding 40% of the total amount of the study program within one study program.

3.9. The remote implementation of the study process shall be coordinated by sequence – coordination with the director of the study program, the dean of faculty, the head of the study department. 

3.10. The use of remote forms and elements in the implementation of the study process is ensured by using VUAS auditoriums, VUAS e-learning environment MOODLE, digital applications, and platforms.

3.11. The lecturer shall put description and content of the study course in the e-learning environment MOODLE, additionally noting the content and volume of the implemented distance learning. 

3.12. The lecturer shall register students’ attendance in each lesson in person and remotely to enable identification and warning of contact persons in case of COVID-19 infection.

3.13. An order issued by the rector determines the suspension of all on-site study processes at VUAS and the complete transition of all structural units to the remote study process implementation. Remote organization and implementation of the study process shall be ensured if a state of an emergency is declared in the country and if relevant regulations by the Cabinet of Ministers on the organization of the study process remotely are issued throughout the country.

3.14. Students and lecturers shall be additionally informed about the organization of the remote study process by the information published on the Ventspils University of Applied Sciences homepage www.venta.lv, by receiving information in Ventspils University e-mails and by using other VUAS online resources.

3.15. The study process shall be planned, organized, and implemented according to the planned distribution of the course in study groups by appointing a study room for each group (“home study room”), thus minimizing contact and movement between the groups within the university.

3.16. As necessary, different learning times shall be introduced for student flows of different levels of education, including first-level higher education study programmes, bachelor study programmes, master study programmes, doctoral study programmes.

3.17. Organization and implementation of self-education and independent work shall respect general safety provisions. 

4.1. Organization and implementation of internships, including qualification internships, occur according to the approved study plan for the semester. 

4.2. The dean of faculty shall coordinate the organization and implementation of the internship.  

4.3. Internships in companies are implemented on-site, after assessing all risks and by mutual agreement of the parties, following the requirements specified in the study program.

4.4. Students must comply with the requirements, restrictions, safety, and hygiene measures during the spread of COVID-19 infection set at the internship place.

4.5. If the internship on-site is suspended due to detection of COVID-19 infection, a student, after complying with all the necessary safety measures, may continue the internship at another place.

4.6. Internships, including qualification internships, may be implemented remotely, provided that the place of the internship has ceased to operate on-site and that all the activities are carried out remotely. 

4.7. The internship supervisor of VUAS shall be informed in case of suspension of practice on-site and its implementation remotely.

5.1. Communication with full-time international students and Erasmus+ mobility programme`s students shall be ensured and coordinated by the VUAS foreign affairs specialist.

5.2. All full-time international students and Erasmus+ mobility programme`s students must come to the Republic of Latvia to start studies at Ventspils University of Applied Sciences in time unless there are objective conditions that prevent the student from entering the country.

5.3. Before arriving in the Republic of Latvia, the student approves that upon arrival in the Republic of Latvia, he will follow the epidemiological safety measures established in the country to limit the spread of COVID-19 infection, as well as fill in the questionnaire on the information system website (covidpass.lv) and submit it. The confirmation questionnaire shall be submitted no earlier than 48 hours before crossing the state border of the Republic of Latvia. 

5.4. Before attending the lessons in person, all full-time international students and Erasmus+ mobility program participants must inform the university about arrival at Ventspils University of Applied Sciences. 

5.5. If necessary, the self-isolation of students shall be organized in specially designed locations of the Ventspils University of Applied Sciences dormitory following the internal procedures specified by local government LTD “Ventspils nekustamie īpašumi.” Suppose the student does not plan to stay at the VUAS dormitory during their studies. In that case, they must notify the Ventspils University of Applied Sciences Foreign Affairs Specialist and send the exact address of residence.

5.6. After arrival in the country, the Erasmus+ mobility program`s participants and international students may independently carry out the self-isolation process by notifying Ventspils University of Applied Sciences Foreign Affairs Specialist.

5.7. Upon arriving in the country and before commencing the study process, full-time international students and Erasmus+ mobility program`s students sign the statement on compliance with the requirements for restriction of the spread of COVID-19 during studies (the guidelines Appendix No. 1)

5.8. The information regarding the time of arrival and residence address of full-time international students and Erasmus+ mobility program`s participants in the Republic of Latvia shall be compiled by a Foreign Affairs Specialist of Ventspils University of Applied Sciences. 

5.9. Full-time foreign and Erasmus + mobility program`s students with an interoperable vaccination or recovery certificate shall participate in the on-site education process following the Centre for Disease Prevention and Control regulations.   

5.10. Organization of the study process for full-time international students shall occur according to approved study plans and study form (on-site or remotely).

5.11. The study process for first-year full-time foreign and Erasmus+ mobility program students in the autumn semester is organized from 1st October or the date specified by the study program director.

5.12. In cases of force majeure (e.g., COVID-19 emergency or other objective circumstances preventing the student from attending VUAS in Person to start studies in time), the organization of the study process for full-time foreign and Erasmus+ mobility students can be provided remotely. In such a case, the student is responsible for the technical support of the study process implementation (computer, video camera, microphone, internet connection, etc.), which allows them to fully participate in the remote study process organized by the VUAS.

5.13. Full-time foreign and Erasmus+ mobility program students shall take responsibility for any failure to meet their academic and/or other obligations.

5.14. Organization and implementation of the study process for Erasmus+ mobility program`s students shall occur according to the conditions for the implementation of the project and the guidelines for the Erasmus+ mobility project in the higher education sector during the spread of COVID-19 infection.

6.1. The work of the Lifelong Learning Center, including non-formal education, organization, and implementation of the adult education and interest education study process, as well as customer service, is coordinated by the head of the Lifelong Learning Center.

6.2. The non-formal education process is organized according to the recommendations for educational institutions of the Ministry of Education and Science to contain COVID-19 infection.

6.3. Employees and learners with an interoperable vaccination or recovery certificate may participate in the non-formal education process, including adult education and interest education, in person.  

6.4. Non-formal education, including implementation of the adult education process and interest education and customer service, shall take place on-site according to the work plan approved by the Lifelong Learning Center.

6.5. Customers of the Lifelong Learning Centre shall be ensured that the general safety principles are observed during the spread of COVID-19 infections. 

6.6. The Lifelong Learning Center shall work out guidelines on customer service and non-formal education implementation during the spread of COVID-19 infection.

6.7. Non-formal education, including implementation of adult education and interest education, can be carried out by remote learning forms and elements.

7.1. In case of suspicion and/or detection of COVID-19 infection, students and staff must inform the management of VUAS by contacting the Study department by phone +371 63629649 and e-mail: studijas@venta.lv regarding the case.

7.2. In case of suspicion and/or detection of COVID-19 infection and if the infected person has been present on the premises of VUAS, a decision shall be taken immediately to further implement the study process according to the provisions and plan of action of VUAS in case of suspicion and/or detection of COVID-19 infection and Centre for Disease Prevention and Control .

7.3. For communication with students and staff, information channels shall be used according to the provisions and plan of action of VUAS in case of suspicion and/or detection of COVID-19 infection, according to the Centre for Disease Prevention and Control guidelines.

7.4. Students and staff shall comply with the Centre for Disease Prevention and Control measures, such as home quarantine, isolation, and monitoring of a person’s health conditions.

7.5. In case of suspicion or detection of COVID-19 infection, all students and staff shall organize COVID-19 treatment according to the Centre for Disease Prevention and Control measures.

7.6. Lecturers and students take full responsibility for attending public events, including trips and leisure trips to the countries and territories with increased prevalence of COVID-19. 

7.7. Students and staff shall take full responsibility for any failure to meet their academic and/or other obligations timely.  

7.8. Students of VUAS shall use the university`s student hostel whose activities and general safety provisions for the containment of the spread of COVID-19 infection are ensured by local government LTD “Ventspils nekustamie īpašumi.”  

8.1. The study process for all full-time and part-time study programs is organized in-person following approved study plans and study forms, taking into account general security principles – provision of information, distancing, hygiene, and monitoring a person’s health condition. 

8.2. Mouth-nose masks must be used in Ventspils University of Applied Sciences. 

8.3. Information channels of Ventspils University of Applied Sciences are established to inform about compliance with COVID-19 safety measures, including Ventspils University of Applied Sciences e-mails, homepage, social networks, telephone communications, other e-platforms, and online forms, informing students and employees about the use of the e-mobile app “Apturi COVID” (“Stop COVID”).

8.4. Informative signs are placed on the university’s premises, including in foreign language, on compliance with distancing and hygiene.

8.5. Regular ventilation, cleaning, and disinfection of premises and surfaces, including inventory and work equipment, is performed at Ventspils University of Applied Sciences, following the recommendations specified by the Centre for Disease Prevention and Control.

The Gender Equality Policy