Abroad

We previously announced that short study-related travel for staff and students would not be permitted up to and including December. Considering the many orange and red areas around the world, this decision will be extended through July 2021. 

In March 2021, we will examine whether conditions have evolved in such a way as to allow for exceptions to this policy.  

At the start of the pandemic, spring 2020, it became apparent that in some - well substantiated - cases it was possible to make exceptions and subsequently allow travel abroad in those cases. We also want to offer this flexibility, and allow for exceptions, throughout the spring of 2021.

Committee Exceptions
On behalf of the Executive Board, a committee has been set up to assess applications for study and internships abroad in the second semester, and to grant exceptions in some cases. These exceptions are individually tailored.

If you would like to be considered for an exception or would like more information about the exceptions and the corresponding procedure, please contact the study abroad coordinator / internship / graduation coordinator of your study programme.

Eligible students are:

1. (International) student who is staying abroad / home country and will continue to stay there for studies / internship.

2. International student who is going abroad for studies / internship and will be part of an existing network.

3. (International) student who has chosen an international study programme for which the end qualifications in respect to language, culture, and international context, imply a period abroad.

4. Individual cases not falling under categories 1, 2 or 3 (in which rejection may lead to manifest unfairness) are at the discretion of the committee.  

Rotterdam University of Applied Sciences started recalling all students from abroad who depend on air travel to return. These students have been contacted to this end. If they want to stay abroad after our repeated requests, the Rotterdam University of Applied Sciences will respect that decision. However, this means that the Rotterdam University of Applied Sciences can no longer be held to the duty of care for these students, should their situation abroad worsen unexpectedly. Of course, we will offer help where possible.

 

In case of (imminent) calamities abroad, a student, or staff member must always call this number:
0031 - 10 794 99 99.

At this number, you can reach someone to offer primary support 365 days of the year, 24 hours per day and 7 days per week. The officer is either employed by the Rotterdam University of Applied Sciences (when you call during regular office hours), or is an employee of ISP (International Security Partners). The number must not be used for other questions such as internships, deadlines, or other business that is not urgent. Students and staff can call this emergency number direct, or request to be transferred via a local telephone office by means of a collect call or reverse charge call. Students abroad who have questions about less urgent matters such as grants, can contact CoIA Exchange: coia-exchange@hr.nl.

In case of annulled travel, the responsibility to offer adequate educational alternatives lies with the institute, in consultation with the student and the Exam Board.

 

 If a student has incurred costs in this respect (travel costs, visa costs, accommodation costs) that cannot be refunded in any other way, the leniency scheme becomes effective. Students who have incurred costs in this respect will be further informed by their own institute. Since all trips for the academic year, 2019-2020 have already been cancelled and the students who wanted to return to the Netherlands have returned, it was decided to attach an end date to the leniency scheme. The deadline for submitting a complete application to your institute's dean is 15 July 2020.

 

Keep an eye out on your health. In case of minor respiratory complaints, RIVM recommends staying at home. If the symptoms worsen, contact your General Practitioner or GGD by telephone. Contact your GP or the GGD immediately by telephone in case of a fever with respiratory symptoms (e.g. coughing or shortness of breath) and agree with the doctor whether you can go to work / to school. If this is not the case, report this immediately to your Study Career Coach (SCC), your Course Director or direct supervisor by e-mail. Report the following: name, student number, date, telephone number that you can be reached at (home/ hospital), if you were tested for Corona, contact person GGD. Please consult the specific Flowchart for reporting illness.

As Rotterdam University of Applied Sciences, we cannot determine where our students and employees go on vacation. Keep in mind that the coronavirus is experiencing a peak in some parts of the world and that the virus is emerging for the second time in some countries. The government previously announced that it will no longer bring back Dutch people if they run into problems due to the corona virus. It is now about personal responsibility. So even as a university of applied sciences we can only give advice: use your common sense.