COVID-19: Return to Campus update
Active planning is now underway at RCSI to prepare for a safe and careful phased reopening of our Campus.
The health and wellbeing of all our staff and students, as well as that of patients in our hospitals, continues to be RCSI’s number one priority during the COVID-19 crisis. This primary concern is guiding all our decisions as we plan for the next academic year.
The RCSI Reopening Roadmap, which is fully aligned with the Government’s plan and recommendations, sets out an approach which aims to protect the health and wellbeing of the entire RCSI community and ensure that our students benefit from a full academic programme during this challenging period.
Through face-to-face teaching, on-site practical classes, clinical training classes as appropriate, online learning and digitally-enabled small group tutorials, we will provide an engaging teaching schedule while keeping our students safe.
With advice from RCSI’s academic experts in virology and epidemiology, several working groups have been established and are planning for reopening the campus for students in the autumn.
The reopening starts this week with a phased return of lab-based researchers, with priority given to those working on COVID-related projects and other essential research.
Subject to there being no change in Government requirements, students will return to campus in stages from late August to October. Individual start dates will be confirmed to students early next month, along with an indication of the kind of timetable they can expect.
As well as social distancing, other health and hygiene measures will be taken across the campus, in accommodation and leisure spaces. This will include increased building cleaning and inspection checks, providing hand sanitisers, washing facilities, testing and tracing.
RCSI CEO Professor Cathal Kelly said: “As a university wholly focused on medicine and health sciences, we also have to lead by example in protecting human health and wellbeing to the highest standards. I am confident that with this guiding principle and with the medical expertise that surrounds us, we are making the right decision to reopen.
“I also consider that we have a duty to support our healthcare systems around the world by training the next generation of expert healthcare professionals who can join their workforce at this crucial time for global health.”
We have complied a list of FAQs in relation to the reopening for current students, read more here.
