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CANCELED: The University of Oslo and all the universities and colleges in the country are canceling their exchange stay this fall. Photo: Heiko Junge / NTB scanpix
Many universities and colleges now confirm that they are canceling exchanges this fall, as a result of the crown pandemic.
The Corona pandemic creates great uncertainty for travelers. The Ministry of Foreign Affairs advises against trips that are not strictly necessary for all countries. This has had consequences for students who have applied for the exchange this fall.
– It is difficult to get into the evaluation of individual study sites, but it is a pity that students do not have the opportunity to exchange, says Hanna Flood, president of the Association of Norwegian Students Abroad (ANSA), to VG.
LEIT: ANSA President Hanna Flood thinks it’s a shame that students miss exchange opportunities this fall. Photo: Thea Høyer / ANSA
– Studying abroad is undoubtedly one of the best decisions I have ever made. You learn a lot about yourself, about other cultures and how to see Norway from an international perspective. It is incredibly sad that you will miss this experience.
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He hopes that educational institutions will have the opportunity to send students to certain countries or regions if warranted, and that they will not cancel everything until it is cleared up.
These are being canceled worldwide.
The University of Oslo (UiO) writes on its website on Friday that all ordinary exchanges for the fall semester of 2020 are canceled.
– I am glad that the society and the UiO can gradually open up, and we are working to return to a normal situation. However, I think we cannot put students who have planned to exchange this fall in a difficult and uncertain situation, says UiO President Svein Stølen.
HOPEFUL: UiO Chancellor Svein Stølen hopes that students can travel in exchange for spring. Photo: Ruud, Vidar / NTB scanpix
This spring, more than 200 UiO students had to return home after their exchange stay. Almost 100 students have already been canceled this fall exchange after cancellation at the partner university.
– We hope that in the spring of 2021 we can welcome exchange students and that our students can study abroad again, says Stølen.
The Norwegian Arctic University (UiT) cancels all regular physical exchanges of students for the fall semester. For the fall semester of 2020, there are around 300 students who have planned an exchange stay, write on their pages.
– It is important with predictability and a safe framework for students studying abroad and for students coming from abroad to Norway. Today’s situation is uncertain and we believe it is too great a risk to facilitate the exchange, says Chancellor Anne Husebekk.
VID University of Science has decided to cancel all internships and exchanges abroad this fall semester.
– It pains us to have to cancel the exchanges in the fall of 2020, but we do it based on a full risk assessment, both in terms of the student’s financial obligations, health and the possibility of evacuation in case of illness or other events, says Chancellor Bård Mæland.
Cancel only outside Europe
The management of the Western Norwegian College already decided on April 27 that all exchanges to countries outside of Europe and the Nordic countries will be canceled during the autumn semester.
The Norwegian University of Science and Technology (NTNU) cancels all exchanges to countries outside of Europe “on the basis of NTNU’s responsibility for its own students in the exchange, and because NTNU prioritizes student health,” they write in its pages.
Several of NTNU’s partner institutions have already chosen to cancel all exchanges this fall.
For practical reasons, it will not be possible to change or prioritize destinations on submitted requests. Students may request an exchange stay in lieu of spring 2021, subject to NTNU canceling this during the fall.
BI Norwegian School of Economics has decided that all exchange stays to countries outside Europe for the autumn semester of 2020 are canceled.
They write on their websites that the decision is made regarding the travel advice of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and to guarantee the predictability and safety of their students. Students who have agreed to stay abroad cannot change their destination or postpone the spring semester.
Kristiania University College also decided to cancel all exchanges to countries outside of Europe this fall. Students will not be able to change the destination of the exchange semester at this time.
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Inland University College (HINN) also cancels the exchange to countries outside of Europe. When it comes to exchanges in the spring of 2021, HINN will make a decision in the fall.
Study sites that have only been canceled outside of Europe will make a decision later in May on what will happen to exchange stays within Europe. It is often more flexible here, as vacations often start a little later.
Waiting for the situation
Oddrun Samdal, vice chancellor for Education at the University of Bergen (UiB), says they await updated government travel advice before making a decision on the exchange.
– We are waiting until mid-May for a decision to exchange outside Europe, and until the end of May for within Europe, he tells VG.
Stavanger University has only canceled exchanges to the United States and Oceania.
Autumn 2020 OsloMet exchanges will only take place in selected countries and partner institutions, as indicated on their website.
