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Complete reopening of higher education

There is good news for the 250,000 students in higher education throughout the country. From 21 May, their courses will be fully reopened. This is the result of a new agreement for the reopening of society, finally reached on the night between 17 and 18 May.

The Government and the Liberal Party, the Danish People's Party, the Socialist People's Party, the Danish Social Liberal Party, the Red-Greens, the Conservatives, the Liberal Alliance and the Alternative have agreed on a plan to bring forward the full reopening of higher education. This means that from 21 May institutions of higher education will be allowed to throw open their doors to allow for full physical attendance.

- I have been looking forward to this day for a really long time. The day when we can finally tell the students that their courses of education are now completely opened up. With this full reopening, we are providing the best possible framework for restarting student life as it should be. The process so far has been long and arduous, and I have great respect for the efforts made by both students and staff. Many students will soon be away reading for their exams, but reopening institutions will allow more students to shift their exam preparations from student hostels back to the campus. This will pay dividends in both the academic and social spheres, says the Minister for Higher Education and Science, Ane Halsboe -Jørgensen.

Since the most recent lockdown in the winter of 2020, many of the approximately 250,000 students and 40,000 higher education staff have been working from home. That is going to change now.

Staff involved in higher education programmes who have been teaching from home will now be able to attend their institutions as follows: 20 per cent attendance from 21 May, 50 per cent attendance from 14 June and 100 per cent attendance from 1 August - provisions which are in line with those that apply to other public employees covered by the new reopening agreement. Moreover, it will be possible to hold social events indoors when in the near future the Danish Health Authority will update its recommendations concerning social events.

Requirements connected with reopening

Recently, an impressive effort has been made by the institutions to build up a comprehensive testing capacity. This will continue to play a crucial role in the near future in connection with the reopening.

It will still be a requirement that in connection with physical attendance all staff and students must be able to show a negative test result achieved within the last 72 by an antigen or PCR test for COVID-19.

The current guidelines concerning social distancing, hygiene, etc., already discussed in the sector partnership for higher education will continue to apply. The sector partnership includes rectors, representatives of student organisations, employees' organisations and the health authorities. At the beginning of June, the parties to the agreement will meet to discuss a plan for the normalisation of conditions at educational institutions, etc.

For further information:

Queries from institutions of higher education regarding COVID-19 may be addressed to: info-covid-19@ufm.dk.

Press inquiries may be made using the press line of the Ministry of Higher Education and Science: +45 7231 8181.

Students will receive additional information from their educational institutions, which they should contact if they have any questions.