Commitments and actions for a safe return to on-site further and higher education

1. Careful and safe opening up on-site
2. Ongoing managing and monitoring of on-site activities
3. Promoting public health
4. Dealing with outbreaks

5. A new vigilance scheme
6. Regular and transparent Communications
7. Specific actions and commitments for key areas

Careful and safe opening up on-site

Institutions and providers commit to:

developing and implementing plans to significantly increase on-site teaching, learning, assessment and research
enabling a return to a holistic experience including activities and services for students, learners and staff
enabling all learners to participate, especially vulnerable learners
ensuring that all learners across all areas have a significant scheduled period of on-site learning
appropriate provisions for vulnerable staff, students and learners who are medically unsuitable for vaccination in accordance with public health advice
continuing to ensure the quality of educational and research activity
continuing appropriate mitigating actions
addressing backlogs and deferred learning outcomes

QQI commits to:

assuring the quality of provision including the significant increases in on-site provision

SOLAS/HEA commit to

working with the sectors to identify resources and support securing them

Stakeholder bodies commit to:

engaging with institutions and providers to achieve significant increases to on-site teaching, learning, assessment and research, to progress mitigating actions and to address backlogs
engaging with institutions to ensure consistency in on-site activity within their sector

DFHERIS commits to:

engaging with Government to represent the needs of the sector
developing a funding proposal for agreement with the Department of Public Expenditure and Reform to support the sector in responding to specific costs and particular issues arising from the impact of the pandemic on the tertiary sector and students. The proposal, building on the funding provided in 2020 under the COVID-19 support package is intended to help enable the return to substantial onsite activity under this Plan
supporting the sector in developing guidelines
working with stakeholders to clarify the transitions process for first year entry to enable planning

Ongoing managing and monitoring of on-site activities

Institutions and providers commit to:

An expanded Discretionary Framework, significantly on-site, that provides for:

carefully managed increases in on-site provision and research activities for the summer period
phased and incremental returns in September 2021
providing appropriate blended learning options as determined through engagements
continuing to use the Adaptation Framework
ongoing risk assessments
making the best use of autonomy and adaptability to meet the needs of learners
maintaining consistency with the principles and framework laid out in this Plan, noting the considerable variation in scale, complexity and diversity of institutions across further and higher education
stakeholder engagement through stakeholder fora and other institution and provider structures
continuing special institutional and provider governance structures for COVID-19
participating in the D/FHERIS structure for COVID-19

Stakeholder bodies commit to:

engaging with institutions and providers on the development and implementation of the Discretionary Framework and Adaptation Framework
engaging through stakeholder groups and other engagement structures
participating in the D/FHERIS structure for COVID-19

DFHERIS commits to:

continuing to review the COVID-19 governance structure to ensure its relevance
supporting stakeholder fora
supporting the sector in developing an expanded Discretionary Framework

Promoting public health

Institutions and providers commit to:

updating sectoral guidelines
compliance with general public health requirements
developing and keeping up-to-date a COVID-19 response plan
supporting the work of public health authorities nationally and locally
compliance with sector specific and local public health requirements
adjusting on-site attendance if necessary due to changes in public health advice

SOLAS/HEA commit to:

working with the sectors to identify resources and support securing them

DFHERIS commits to:

engaging with Public Health Authorities for the sector
working with the sector and public health authorities to update practical guidance
developing a funding proposal for agreement with the Department of Public Expenditure and Reform to support the sector in responding to specific costs and particular issues arising from the impact of the pandemic on the tertiary sector and students. The proposal, building on the funding provided in 2020 under the COVID-19 support package is intended to help enable the return to substantial onsite activity under this Plan

Dealing with outbreaks

Institutions and providers commit to:

expanding sectoral protocols for outbreak management
strong engagement with local public health authorities
strong engagement with other public authorities
close cooperation with staff, students and learners

Stakeholder bodies commit to:

engaging with institutions and providers to deal with outbreaks

DFHERIS commits to:

enabling the sector and public health authorities to update the foundations for outbreaks protocols

A new vigilance scheme

Institutions and providers commit to:

Developing a sectoral scheme for COVID-19 vigilance for staff, students and learners on-site and online to include:

The promotion and implementation of standard public health measures in accordance with public health advice including:

hand hygiene and dispensers
sanitary hygiene
respiratory hygiene
cleaning
ventilation of indoor spaces
the wearing of face masks at all times in indoor on-site shared settings
the promotion of vaccination and support for the vaccination programme rollout
managed movement on-site including entry and egress to buildings and large indoor settings and minimising the convergence of students and learners before, during and after scheduled on-site activity
timetable adjustments as necessary to reduce the numbers on-site at any one time
support for PCR testing pathways for symptomatic students, learners and staff
encouraging and ensuring symptomatic or tested positive students, learners and staff to self-isolate
support for tracking and tracing mechanisms
on foot of the recently published HSA Protocols and feasibility studies in train, sectors will begin preparing for a scheme for the operation of rapid antigen testing
engagement with local and national public health advice and guidance

SOLAS/HEA commit to:

working with the sectors to identify resources and support securing them

Stakeholder bodies commit to:

engage with institutions and providers to support vigilance

DFHERIS commits to:

enable the sector and public health authorities to develop the foundations for sectoral vigilance schemes

Regular and transparent Communications

Guiding Principles

“When we know, you know.” Plans, guidance and policies will be communicated as far in advance as possible, recognising that public health advice is subject to change and that some uncertainty will always exist
the safety of our staff, students and learners is paramount

Institutions and providers commit to:

timely communications with staff, students and learners. If there is a reason for delay or uncertainty, that reason will be communicated
close engagement with each other and with public health to ensure that communications are consistent and evidence-based
close engagement with DFHERIS to support and inform national communications
clear communications to students and learners on the increases in on-site activities that they can expect

Stakeholder bodies commit to:

close engagement to ensure that communications are consistent and evidence-based
develop specific but aligned messaging for members

DFHERIS commits to:

timely communication with stakeholders and institutions
supporting institutions in developing communications materials
communicating the plan nationally and internationally, and in support of institutions

Specific actions and commitments for key areas

International Students and Researchers

Institutions and providers commit to:

Developing an agreed sector-wide protocol with key principles of assurance for Government that the arrival of international students and researchers for the next academic year will be managed in a safe manner in accordance with the most up-to-date public health advice. This protocol will include measures such as pre departure and post arrival training and symptoms checking or testing, measures to implement specific public health accommodation requirements, and the provision of medical and pastoral care services for international students and researchers.

DFHERIS commits to:

Working with the sector and across government departments to seek to address the challenges that international students and researchers will face when planning their study/research trip and on arrival into Ireland. These challenges include, but are not limited to, immigration issues and the implications of public health measures for international students.

Student accommodation

Institutions and providers commit to:

timely communication with students and learners on timetabling and on-site attendance to enable decision making on accommodation
close engagement with each other and with public health to ensure that safety is paramount in managing accommodation
where possible developing accommodation offerings that align with timetabling approach (that is, flexibility in offerings)
providing refunds to students and learners in the event institution owned accommodation is vacated on public health grounds

DFHERIS commits to:

working with the sector and public health authorities to enable a safe increase in the numbers using student accommodation
timely communication with institutions
developing a funding proposal for agreement with the Department of Public Expenditure and Reform to support the sector in responding to specific costs and particular issues arising from the impact of the pandemic on the tertiary sector and students. The proposal, building on the funding provided in 2020 under the COVID-19 support package is intended to help enable the return to substantial onsite activity under this Plan

Research

Institutions and Providers commit to:

enabling full access to on-site research facilities and support services
research laboratories and work-spaces operating up to maximum occupancy where local risk assessment determines that the appropriate levels of ventilation and protection are provided
addressing backlogs
using the responses to the forthcoming results of the StudentSurvey.ie PGR COVID-19 questions to better understand the challenges faced by research students
supporting researcher and research student wellbeing

DFHERIS commits to:

engaging with Government to represent sectoral research matters
working with the Department of Health to address specific research challenges, for example, servicing of research equipment
working with the sectors to identify resourcing issues