Lausanne
In the Faculties of Medicine and Law in particular, academics absent due to coronavirus will not be able to sit for exams and will have to repeat their year.
In the event of illness or quarantine, students who will not be able to sit the exams will a priori have to repeat their year. (Illustrative image.)
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“I understand the concerns of the students. It’s difficult for everyone and we try to do the best, ”says Géraldine Falbriard, press officer at Unicom. For this particular exam session which started on Monday, the University of Lausanne (UNIL) has established a protection plan health to follow during face-to-face exams. A framework that all faculties must respect. And in case of suspicion, the manual is clear: “People who have symptoms suggestive of Covid-19 (cough, sore throat, difficulty breathing, fever, sudden loss of smell or taste, cold, muscle pain, diarrhea, vomiting) must not participate in the examinations and must contact a doctor or a health center. ” A paragraph that worries the students.
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Dishonesty Encouraged
“The Faculty confirmed to us by telephone that in the event of quarantine via the SwissCovid application, there was no other solution than to withdraw from the exams and repeat the year. Many of us have therefore uninstalled the application and asked our loved ones to do the same, ”says a medical student. The measure concerns 1st and 2nd year students.
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The fear of losing a year leads some to dishonesty and could have an impact on public health. “In the event of symptoms, there is a significant risk that the students will not be tested and present for their exams”, continues the young woman. Professor Pierre-Alexandre Bart, director of the School of Medicine, replies: “It is indeed very unfortunate for someone who would have seen someone positive for Covid-19 before their exams, but the principle of safety prevails. ” He insisted on the “great organizational complexity” generated by the current health context and on “the evaluation objectives which had to be modified accordingly” for nearly 1900 people registered in medicine.
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From the 3rd year of the bachelor’s degree, Pierre-Alexandre Bart confirms that there is the possibility of a “conditional passage” for those who could not have taken a written test, but who would have fulfilled a certain number of criteria set out in the regulations allowing them to take the next step. The only condition: validate in January 2021 the exam missed in the coming days.
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“The candidate keeps his chances intact”
Same observation in law. But the dean of the faculty, Laurent Moreillon, tempers: “The withdrawal of a sick or quarantined student during the exam period is not equated with failure. The candidate keeps his chances intact. ” The rule is valid for all the faculties of the UNIL.
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And why not offer a second chance in the event of illness or quarantine? “The organization of an exam session before the resumption of classes is unrealistic and impossible to set up. The current session ends on Friday September 4 and the start of the school year will be on the 21st ”, explains Laurent Moreillon. No remedial session planned in medicine either. A priori of the same opinion as his colleague, Pierre-Alexandre Bart is not, however, so categorical on the question.
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Give priority to face-to-face exams
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Despite a few exams offered online, the Faculty of Medicine has favored face-to-face exams, taking into account the current context. “Distance events do not by far guarantee equal opportunities. There is then a risk of ending up with differences in electronic equipment, computer security problems and potentially cheating. The students would not therefore all have been on an equal footing, ”explains Pierre-Alexandre Bart. However, he admits that with such exams in August, the main drawback remains the elimination of remedial opportunities for students.
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UNIGE still undecided
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In terms of retaking missed exams in the current period, the University of Geneva (UNIGE) is still undecided. “We are working on the issue and are closely monitoring the evolution of the health situation. An official communication will be sent to our students in the coming days, ”announces the establishment’s communication service.
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