Brand University @ Home

What happens when it is lecture time but nobody goes to university? This is not a question that usually comes up – but it is currently on the minds of universities all over the world.

The coronavirus (SARS-CoV-2) has been putting our lives in a state of exception for weeks. It is causing stagnation, empty streets and of course empty lecture halls. But at Brand University, no one is thinking of just sitting back and doing nothing. Instead, everyone is working together in their home offices to enable the start of the semester on April 6th.

The current situation demands and encourages creativity. “How can we provide knowledge to our students even better?”, “What do prospective students really want to know about us?” These questions are our everyday business. Only the answers are suddenly different:

Professors and lecturers sit in front of cameras to record seminars. IT is doing everything it can to provide videos and live sessions. The application management answers questions via video chat. These are just a few examples of the rethinking and team spirit we are currently experiencing at BU. Because everyone has a common goal: We want the semester to start normally for our students.

The developments in China show that this is possible. In the meantime, normal life is slowly returning there, but in recent weeks and months, teaching at our partner universities in Zhuhai and Ningbo has also shifted to virtual space. Nevertheless, the international cooperation with our lecturers was successful even from a distance. We can now benefit from this experience here in Germany.

At Brand University, we therefore see the current situation not only as a crisis, but above all as an opportunity. As an impetus for further development, a phase from which we can emerge strengthened.

With this in mind, we are looking forward to the summer semester 2020. Stay healthy!