News

Announcement of the Dean of 3FM CU to students concerning the current crisis measures

Prague, March 22, 2020

Dear colleagues, dear students,

we have found ourselves in a very complicated situation that none of us can recall. The Covid-19 pandemic has been spreading all over the world without respecting borders. All people around the world fear its impact on their health, as well as their economic security. As you know, our faculty had been among the first faculties that introduced the unpopular strict measures, such as cancellation of the faculty ball on March 5, which we all were looking forward to. I would like to thank you all that you had accepted this decision with calm understanding. In the following days, the Czech government similarly introduced strict restrictions. It is very positive that these measures are supported and respected by all Czech citizens who obey orderly. Thanks to early (at least when compared with other EU states) acceptance of such measures, discipline and respect of the citizens, the numbers have shown a slower onset than in other EU countries. We consider very important to secure that our health facilities will be able to handle the growing number of the ill. But, it can also result in prolonging the period of duration of the introduced measures. We should view this situation in the light of saving more lives of our fellow citizens, as you are certainly aware of.

Let me move to the specific measures and plans suggested by the faculty representatives for the following period.

The Collegium of Dean reached a unanimous verdict concerning the faculty strategy for the following period at the session on March 19, 2020. Its goal is to minimize the impact of the current critical situation on the faculty functioning and main mission.

I hereby would like to introduce the main points of the strategy concerning all of you, students:

Students of last years of study must be entitled to graduate on the planned dates in order not to postpone starting their work careers at health facilities during the summer months, when their help will be needed not only in hospitals but elsewhere in health care. We might expect that the capacity of the health care workers will be exhausted because of illnesses and quarantine by then. Some of the hospitals have already suggested that without new graduates they will not be able to secure operation of their departments. Therefore, it is our priority No. 1 to make sure that our students will graduate on time.

Students of other years must be able to continue their studies without extending the period of study. All faculty representatives agreed on allowing students to complete their years of study by September 30, 2020 – announcing an adequate number of extra dates for credits and exams within the months of July and August. Such measures should secure that the number of the graduates in the year 2021 will not decrease, preventing a great number of students from extending their period of study.

Accepting new students for the 1st year of study in all study programs will have to take place within the usual extent. However, we can expect changes concerning the dates or forms of the entrance testing in order to assure a steady number of new applicants for the future 1st years of study.

Hereby, I would also like to thank kindly from my whole heart (of a cardiologist ) all the students who have been involved as volunteers or in other charity work, we all greatly appreciate your hard work and commitment. We can predict that the situation will be culminating and I hope that your support to doctors, nurses and other health workers in hospitals, hygiene offices, laboratories, public information call centers, general practitioners offices, taking care of health workers’ children and at other places; that all such activities will help the Czech republic to cope with the situation as best. Naturally, I consider all such activities during the coronavirus pandemic being acknowledged as equivalent to your medical practice in which you lost a chance to participate due to this current situation, and it might also help you to continue in your studies without any unnecessary prolongation.

I wish you all good health, and I will be looking forward to our handling the situation together.

Warm regards,

Petr Widimský