FRIDAY, MARCH 27th.

Ms Jo Loiterton
Acting Rektor

These turbulent times are stressful for everyone, but also provide the space and opportunity to be the best versions of ourselves together. At Red Cross Nordic we are proud of our culture – one that supports students to explore and define themselves on their own terms, in a safe and supportive community. Over these past few difficult weeks I believe we have all reaped the rewards of these personal journeys as we have come together as one strong, healthy and united community, choosing to take things, sensibly and supportively, one day at a time.

We are now spread to the four winds, yet we are still together. We have no re-opening date yet and, like everyone else in the world, we watch how this crisis unfolds globally so that we can try to make sense of it locally. 54 students remain on campus as we await changes in border, travel or quarantine restrictions so that they are able to go home. Everyone else is scattered around the globe doing their best to stay safe, well and connected. And connected we are – classes continue in both Year 1 and 2 – as we utilise technology to maintain the threads of learning and care, and of the uniqueness that is the UWC RCN experience. Thank you to our staff and students who have embraced so willingly this momentous and sudden change in how we remain united, and continue to learn and work and grow together.

There is no denying that this transition has asked us to mobilise to the full in a situation with many uncertainties and no ideal solutions. Self care becomes even more important in these days. For all of us, it is vital that we continue to seek balance – there is no denying that online learning has a different level of intensity that seems to create more work, over more time, with more things we need to attend to. We must continue to talk to each other, to give feedback and seek guidance in this demanding exploration so that we can find the best way forward for everyone.

Taking care of each and everyone has been the top priority for us in this process. A clear number two has been providing quality education, leading up to their formal IB Diploma as a qualification. It has been reassuring for all of us that the IB has declared that they will not carry out ordinary exams for any of their candidates this year. They have come a long way in defining how the IB Diploma will be awarded based on other criteria, with internal assessment from their college as a central component. Our teachers do an amazing job in supporting all students to the completion of this work. For the latest update from the IBO, please see here

During these past weeks we have strongly felt the outreach and care shown to us by our broader community. The communication and offers of support from our parents, alumni and national committees continues to strengthen us as we continue to navigate these uncertain times. Thank you. Your support matters, and we are better for it.

Best wishes,

Ms Jo Loiterton, Acting Rektor

Click edit button to change this text.

UPDATE – FRIDAY, MARCH 13th

After careful consideration and consultation we have decided to keep campus open for both generations of students should they choose to remain.

As far as we know, to date, no current UWC RCN student or staff member has been infected with the Covid-19 virus. All measures put into place by our College are purely precautionary and follow the advice given by the health authorities.

Our prime concern has been, and will continue to be, keeping our student community safe and healthy. In order to be able to do so, we must minimise the risk of any current member of our community being infected and, at the same time, provide safe spaces should any community member fall ill.

We have asked all first-year students to contact their parents immediately and make a decision if they would want to remain on campus or if they want to return home for the rest of the term. We will make arrangements to support them with online contact with their class and teachers if they decide to go home. As travel is becoming more restrictive in many parts of the world these days, they should plan for the journey to happen immediately. We will provide support for the travel arrangements.

If a 2nd year student should prefer to go home for the rest of the term, following consultation with their family, they would also be granted permission and given help for travel arrangements. However, they should be aware that they would not be allowed to come back to campus given the current health advice in our part of the world. We would support them in attempts of finding an alternative IB centre for taking their examination, but are not in a position to guarantee this.

Stringent precautionary measures are being put into place on campus for the coming period to ensure the continued health of our students. Some of the most important are:

• Visits to campus are limited to the strictly necessary
• All programs at our centre for visitors have been cancelled, both to minimize risk of infection and to free up capacity for isolation units in case of needs
• Students should stay on campus
• Physical contact between students and staff who live outside should be kept to a minimum

Beyond this, we keep on stressing the normal health advice emphasising good hand hygiene, coughing to the shoulder etc.

We keep regular contact with our local health authorities and receive good advice from them. Updated information about the situation in Norway with regard to Covid-19 can be found in English here.