Dear International Partner
We hope you are managing well during this challenging time. AIT is still engaged in scenario planning for Autumn in light of Covid-19 restrictions. We are expecting that scenario planning will conclude within next 10 days and the international office will share this information with your nominated students then. The AIT website will be updated to reflect plans for September 2020 intake https://www.ait.ie/life-at-
AIT is preparing to welcome our exchange students from our partner institutions this Autumn and all plans will be contingent on the evolving situation with Covid-19 and public health guidelines in Ireland.
We are proposing that different students groups will start at different times this Autumn and will follow public health guidelines in Ireland. In relation to your students, the expected start date for classes is 14 September. Please note that all international travellers to Ireland must complete a 14 day self-isolation on arrival.
Attendance at orientation programme for new international students on 10-11 September will be mandatory.
Self isolation requirement:
At present (June 2020) anyone coming to Ireland, apart from Northern Ireland, must self-isolate on arrival for 14 days. Before you arrive in Ireland, you will need to fill in a Public Health Passenger Locator Form.
https://www2.hse.ie/file-
Students will need to know the address where they will be staying in advance of completing the locator form. Students may then be contacted during the 14 days after their arrival in Ireland to check that they are self-isolating.
Further information on self-isolation can be found here: https://www2.hse.ie/
The latest updated on Covid-19 in Ireland are found here: https://www2.hse.ie/
The International Office will be sending advice on booking student apartments to international students along with their letter of offer week beginning 22 June 2020.
Blended learning in September 2020
We envisage a blended learning delivery whereby lectures will be delivered online and students will come in to campus for labs, practical classes and tutorials.
We will be contacting international students to inform them of this blended delivery.
Orientation Programmes for International Students:
Orientation programmes will have some online format and students will be invited in to campus in small groups for tours and other meetings. The International Office will email schedule of events to international students.
International students joining second and subsequent years: 10-11 September from 10am to 4pm. Attendance for new international students is mandatory.
If any of your nominated students decide not to undertake their exchange to AIT this September, please send an email to Annette Buckley at the International Office on or before 22 June 2020.
Email: abuckley@ait.ie
If your student wishes to complete one semester only for second semester in Business programmes, we will endeavour to facilitate this request for January 2020. It may not be possible to facilitate Spring semester study in Engineering and Science programmes due to the academic project that students complete through the academic year.
We value our international partnerships and we hope to continue our collaboration during the new academic year. We wish you a well deserved Summer break when you get time to take it.
Best Wishes
Mary Simpson and Annette Buckley
International Office
Athlone Institute of Technology
Dear Partner
As you all know the situation regarding the public health issue of COVID-19 is rapidly changing across Europe and in more recent days in Ireland. The Irish Government has instructed all schools and higher education institutes to close at 6pm on 12 March until 29 March. Updates will be posted on AIT website:
https://www.ait.ie/life-at-ait/health-and-safety/covid-19
AIT is in the process of providing learning supports to students at AIT during this time.
We are aware that it is an anxious time for people with the level of news and information that is out there at the moment. However, rest assured that our institute is doing everything we presently can to protect our community of students and staff.
As this public health issue progresses in Ireland, we have issued instruction to your students at AIT to follow all of the guidelines as issued by the Health Service Executive (HSE) in Ireland. For up to date information at AIT, please check www.ait.ie/covid19 whereby you will find updated information and links to the relevant sites including the HSE- https://www2.hse.ie/conditions/coronavirus/coronavirus.html
The Department of Foreign Affairs has now imposed a travel ban to affected regions by Covid-19.
Some students have requested permission to travel home but they have been instructed that this may not be possible due to travel restrictions.
Currently examinations are scheduled to take place at AIT from 27 April to 9 May 2020 but this may be subject to change due to evolving situation with Covid-19 virus.
We are mindful that you are worried about your students and we wish to assure you that we will follow all public health guidelines in Ireland.
Kind Regards
Mary and Annette