As the pandemic continues to escalate, TU Dresden is once again making every effort to curb it. We and the other universities in Saxony have agreed to double down on the measures stipulated in the
statement issued by the State Rectors’ Conference and the State Ministry of Science, Culture and Tourism on December 2, 2021. However, these tightened measures do not require a fundamental correction of our course of action here at TUD.
Specifically, the Extended University Executive Board has decided to make the following adjustments to the regulations and recommendations for teaching:
Online teaching
Faculties and Central Academic Units involved in teaching should consider whether their courses can be carried out just as effectively online – especially those with a larger number of participants who congregate in one room. Based on a joint assessment by both lecturers and students, online classes should be preferred wherever the health risks outweigh the advantages of on-site teaching. On-site teaching, however, should continue to take place if it has clear advantages over an online alternative.
If it is not possible for some students to participate on site in the long term, it must be made possible for them to acquire the same skills through remote learning (that means at the least turning to a hybrid format) or a suitable equivalent. The reasons for this must be justifiable, for example if the student’s health is at risk, they have to care for a relative, or they are unable to travel from abroad. Excluded from this regulation are indispensable laboratory or practical courses that can only be conducted in facilities with specialist equipment or in learning environments with practical relevance. These courses will continue to be held on site, subject to compliance with the relevant hygiene regulations.
Online teaching at the turn of the year
In order to avoid a potentially higher risk of infection during the holidays, no on-site teaching (and no laboratory or practical courses) will take place during the week leading up to Christmas (December 20 - 22, 2021) and in the first week of classes in the new year (January 5 - 7, 2022).
The Extended University Executive Board recommends that all lecturers plan online lessons for this period of time. If this is not feasible, lecturers may decide to set a make-up date for the course at a later time if necessary.
Reporting chain and procedure, masks
Should you catch the coronavirus, we urgently request that you follow the reporting chain and procedure for
students or
staff so that the necessary contacts can be informed swiftly and the
further spread of infection prevented. We still strongly recommend the use of FFP2 masks.
Two more stringent regulations that are essential for our teaching
will apply starting December 15, 2021.
Compulsory 3G+ (negative Covid-19 test regardless of vaccination/recovery status) for teaching activities involving close contact
Starting December 15, 2021, the Dean's Offices are called on to implement the mandatory 3G+ rule, which was stipulated in the circular mail of November 22, for all courses with a large number of participants or involving close contact (e.g. internship groups). This rule means that all participants, even those who have been vaccinated or have recovered from the virus, must present a valid, negative Covid-19 test, or be tested under supervision on site. To train testing supervisors, the Occupational Health Services provide instructional slides that can be downloaded from the
TUD website. A video on how to correctly use the self-test is available
here. The individual faculties will be provided with a sufficient amount of self-tests.
Validity of self-tests: 24 hours only
From December 15, 2021, the supervised self-tests at TU Dresden will remain valid for 24 hours only, as is already standard in other areas of public life. A new extensive testing facility will be opened in the Mensa (canteen) on Reichenbachstraße on December 13 (see
FAQs for opening hours). The HSZ testing facility in turn will close. Outside the main TUD campus, you can get tested in the commissioned test centers of the City of
Dresden,
Freital or
Zittau/Görlitz.
We would like to thank you once again for helping us meet our responsibilities to one another during this difficult time. We would like to wish you a happy and healthy festive season!