The third state of emergency was issued just before many universities resumed face-to-face classes from this April.
At each university, we are faced with a difficult response again, such as returning classes to online-centricity and maintaining face-to-face while taking measures.
In response to the third state of emergency declared for four prefectures on the 25th of this month, the Ministry of Education, Culture, Sports, Science and Technology is learning by giving universities a "hybrid type" class that combines face-to-face and online. We are looking for opportunities.
Looking at each municipality, the Tokyo Metropolitan Government and Hyogo Prefecture are calling for cooperation in the use of online classes, and Kyoto Prefecture is requesting that the number of students in the university be reduced to 50% or less by using online classes. doing.
In Osaka Prefecture, where the medical system is tight, classes are held online in principle, and if it is difficult, classes are required to be divided to avoid crowding.
The Ministry of Education, Culture, Sports, Science and Technology, which is investigating the current situation at universities and junior colleges nationwide, declared on the 27th that many universities, which were mainly online last year, were scheduled to resume face-to-face classes from this spring. In response, he acknowledged that some universities are switching to online classes, mainly in the Kansai region.
The correspondence of individual universities
In Tokyo, Sophia University will cancel classes until the 1st of next month, and will temporarily switch to online from the end of consecutive holidays until cancellation, and Hosei University will also switch to online in principle except for some training during the period.
Meiji University switches from face-to-face lessons to online-centered classes and conducts face-to-face meetings as a guide, Keio University maintains face-to-face and online at half, except for some campuses, and Waseda University maintains face-to-face. And then.
In the Kansai region, Kansai University and Ritsumeikan University have been switching to online-based classes before the declaration at the request of Osaka Prefecture.
Kwansei Gakuin University in Hyogo Prefecture is aiming to use the combination while gradually switching from face-to-face classes to online, and Doshisha University in Kyoto Prefecture will also switch some from face-to-face to online while maintaining the combination. is.
Wakayama University has decided to conduct all lectures online even in the surrounding areas where no declaration has been issued.
Universities seeking to maintain face-to-face lessons
Waseda University in Tokyo, which has about 50,000 current students, is seeking to maintain face-to-face classes that have just resumed after the state of emergency was declared.
At Waseda University, classes were mostly online last year, but due to the large number of requests for resumption of face-to-face classes and the high effectiveness of face-to-face classes in terms of mutual learning between students. This year, we aim to meet in 70% of the classes.
At the university, about 80 faculty members participate in an online meeting once a week to discuss lesson policies and infection control measures. At the meeting on the 22nd of this month, President Aiji Tanaka said, "A state of emergency was declared. "We will maintain face-to-face lessons," he said. "It is also necessary to switch to online lessons as needed while watching the infection situation."
Face-to-face lessons resumed from spring
At the university, face-to-face classes have resumed from this spring while taking various infection control measures.
Of these, compulsory classes for first-year students of the Faculty of Culture, Media and Society to learn research methods, etc. are held face-to-face in principle in order to provide opportunities for exchange between students. Classes were being held.
A first-year female student said, "I had a desire to go to campus, so I'm happy to be able to attend. There aren't many face-to-face classes yet, but I hope I can continue and be careful." I was talking.
Many "hybrid" classes
On the other hand, there are many classes that incorporate the so-called "hybrid type" that combines face-to-face and online, and students who are not feeling well or who are worried about infection can switch to online classes at the discretion of the instructor.
Of these, a third-year female student who participated in a class to experience a mock trial in the Faculty of Law said, "My family asked me to refrain from face-to-face classes to prevent infection. I'm happy to receive it with high motivation, but I'm relieved to receive it online. "
Patrol by staff Develop air conditioning equipment over 700 million yen
Upon reopening, the university is making it possible to take online classes on campus by utilizing vacant classrooms for students who came to the school for face-to-face classes or using the library.
Along with this, the university has also started patrols by staff.
We go around 60 empty classrooms four times a day to see if there are more than half of the classroom's capacity and if there are any students talking loudly.
In addition, we have installed air conditioning equipment for more than 700 million yen so that all classrooms used for face-to-face lessons can be sufficiently ventilated.
Emphasis on measures against infection during meals
We also attach great importance to measures against infection during meals.
During the lunch break, the entire building will be broadcast to avoid three crowds, keep a distance from people and eat silently, do not put it on the desk when removing the mask, and be sure to disinfect the desk after eating. And so on.
In the student lounge, most students were eating alone.
Yusuke Morita, Deputy Director of Waseda University Research Center, who is considering the ideal way of classes under the corona on campus, said, "There are several patterns in class, such as when everything is online or when online and face-to-face are combined. However, at the university, we will balance the lessons according to changes in the infection situation so that we can shift to either, and give due consideration so that the students do not suffer any disadvantages and their health is not harmed. I want to. "
Infection control in the surrounding "student district"
On the other hand, we are expanding infection control to the "student district" in the surrounding area, with only about 50,000 current students.
The area around Waseda University, where students attended and lived, has continued as a "student district" with close ties to the university and students, but last year the students disappeared and many stores were forced to manage hard. ..
At the university, when resuming face-to-face lessons, staff members have been working since the middle of this month to ensure that students eat silently in the community as well as on campus so that the infection does not spread in the community. Is going around the nearby restaurants.
The staff distributed posters calling for infection control such as "silent meals" and requested posting, with the understanding that students would return to the university due to the resumption of face-to-face classes.
Masao Kitakami, the owner of Sanshin Shokudo, which has been operating near the university for over 50 years, said, "During online classes, the student district became like a ghost town. Thank you for coming back." talked.
On top of that, "I am grateful for management, but from the standpoint of infection prevention, there is also a little scary aspect, which is a dilemma. I think that there is probably no risk of infection in class, but the process of coming out to class, meals, etc. Besides, I'm worried that there may be danger when we get together. I want to make the students aware and try to get back to their original days as much as possible. "
Ayumi Matsuo, Deputy Director of the General Affairs Department of Waseda University, who takes measures against infection, said, "In Corona, there are voices of students and parents who are anxious to resume face-to-face lessons, but there are also criticisms that the measures against infection are insufficient. In each case, I have made efforts to resume face-to-face lessons with understanding. If clusters occur on campus, it will affect the region, and it is the university's social responsibility not to worsen the domestic infection situation. Therefore, I would like to cooperate with the local people to thoroughly implement infection prevention measures and overcome the situation. "
Minister of Education, Culture, Sports, Science and Technology "Consideration from the student's perspective"
Regarding university classes, Minister of Education, Culture, Sports, Science and Technology Hagita said at a press conference after the Cabinet meeting on the 27th, "In light of the severe infection situation and requests from local governments, the spread of infection is severe even at universities that had a policy of face-to-face classes at the beginning of the year. I am aware that there are cases where the proportion of online classes is increasing, such as at universities in the Kansai region. "
On top of that, clusters at the university were seen in after-school activities such as club activities and dormitories, and there were no reports of clusters during class or in the classroom. I think that a certain amount of face-to-face lessons can be held, so I'm afraid that it shouldn't happen that it goes online easily. After the declaration period, I took the student's point of view, such as properly conducting the face-to-face lessons that were originally planned. I would like to ask for your consideration. "