Welcome to BSIS and Welcome Back to all those returning! We are looking forward to the new semester and opening our building once again.
Covid-19 has changed our worlds and for just over 5 months we had to move to on-line work, but now we are opening up our building for staff and students for the new academic year 2020-2021. It is good to be returning and important that our education is both in-person and supported where necessary on-line. Our unique size and context allows us to deliver as much in-person teaching as possible. However, this will require new rules and guidance for our safety.
The health and safety of our students and staff is the highest priority. We have followed the University of Kent and Belgium regulations in ensuring BSIS is safe and we have put in place new health and safety measures to keep everyone as safe as possible.
Before returning it is important you are aware of our COVID-19 Code of Conduct (Brussels) and follow its guidance. The guidance is there to keep everyone safe. Everyone must wear masks, socially-distance and use hand sanitiser on entering the building and follow the signs on movement through the building. We will provide an additional briefing on the COVID-19 Code of Conduct to returning students on Tue 15 Sep and to new students as part of Welcome Week, but it is important to read it carefully ahead of arrival.
The year ahead will be different, but the academic work, the opportunities for learning and the intellectual engagements will be as deep and as rich as our international reputation of scholarship and teaching has always been over the years.
We appreciate there will be challenges and I encourage all of you to get in touch with any concerns or issues. By keeping safe and communicating concerns we will find a way forward.
It is only by everyone following the regulations that we will be safe together.
Together we will keep each other safe, together we will build our community and together we will find solutions to the challenges.
Thank you and I look forward to welcoming you all back to BSIS.
Jeremy Carrette
Dean for Europe