Spring 2020 Semester
Important information for completing your studies online
Overview
Dear Students,
We would like to thank you once more for your understanding, flexibility and cooperation in embarking in online learning. The university is committed to the smooth continuation of your academic progression during Spring 2020 and future semesters. This page will have the latest academic and administrative announcements, a Frequently Asked Questions guide and university contact points.
Your health remains our highest priority so please ensure that you take good care of yourself, your family and others during this period. The University’s latest announcements regarding COVID19 health-related issues remain here: www.unic.ac.cy/coronavirus.
Studying Online Training Session
Frequently Asked Questions
Applicable to all students except Medical students who will receive information from their course administrators depending on their year of study in the MD and MBBS programmes
The online teaching of courses will take place on the same days and times during which the conventional courses were scheduled to take place.
The distance learning training sessions, delivered on Monday, 16 March 2020, are available at the following links:
Greek: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jMefTB5qXkw&feature=youtu.be
English: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QH7zhcISAZY&feature=youtu.be
For technical support, you can contact:
Email: [email protected], Tel.: (+357) 2284 2065, (+357) 2284 2066
The Spring 2020 Semester will be completed, as per the academic calendar 2019-2020.
The completion of the semester entails the completion of both the teaching/learning, as well as the final assessment.
The Examination period will be extended until the 13th of June 2020.
No face-to-face teaching will take place in Spring 2020 semester.
All classes (including lab/studio/music/dance courses) will be conducted online, until the last day of the teaching period. Faculty members, programme coordinators, Heads of Department and Deans of School, are already exploring possibilities for virtual and other remote methods for teaching lab/studio/music/dance courses and/or ensuring the achievements of the same Learning Outcomes through alternative methods.
Students who are abroad do not need make travel plans to return to Nicosia during the Spring Semester for academic reasons as the semester will be completed online.
The classes missed during the period (Wednesday 11/3/2020 – Friday 13/3/2020 and Monday 16/3/2020 – Tuesday 17/3/2020), will be made up by online classes on Monday 13/4/2020 and, if needed, in case the class on 17th March was missed, on Tuesday 14/4/200 (Easter Week) and during the period between 22nd and 24th April 2020.
Further information will be provided by the instructor of each course.
Attendance is mandatory. Throughout the provision of classes via distance learning mode, your instructors will be taking attendance online. University Regulations continue to apply as posted on the UNIC Portal (www.portal.unic.ac.cy).
Students, who have already returned to their countries and are in a different time zones prohibiting them to attend their online classes synchronously, will have their absences excused; they can, however, watch the recorded videoconferences asynchronously. Furthermore, they can communicate asynchronously with their lecturers and classmates as needed.
For other topics (e.g. student presentations), lecturers will provide for flexible solutions.
For Erasmus, study abroad and exchange students, the University will accept work/assessment done in students’ home institutions and take it into consideration for the final mark/grade if and as needed. Details can be discussed on a case-by-case basis with the course instructor.
No Face-to-Face Midterm Written Examinations will take place at this time. Alternative assessment methods such as open book examinations and problem-solving exercises with scenarios and application problems, projects, assignments, portfolios, etc. will be used instead. In sections with small number of students, it is recommended to assign different scenarios or scenarios with different questions per student. Furthermore, virtual labs can also be used, if they are available.
The marks of any midterm exams that already took place, will count for the final grade as originally planned.
Given the particularities of the current situation, flexibility and understanding will be extended as required and within reason, in terms of project/assignment submission deadlines and student assessments, within the university quality assurance framework and criteria.
Any group work already assigned will be reconsidered by the instructor and may be replaced with individual assignments. If group work is deemed necessary, then no face-to-face interaction should take place and, instead, virtual meetings, as well as remote communication and teamwork tools (e.g. Wiki).
Instructors will adapt either all or part of their course material so it can be delivered in distance learning mode. Measures will be taken to cover material that cannot be taught remotely via intensive courses once restrictions are lifted by the Ministry of Education, Culture, Sport and Youth or through other methods (virtual labs, simulations, etc). Further information on this will be provided by the programme coordinators and respective instructors.
The examination period is from the 18th of May 2020 until the 13th of June 2020. Each course examination will have a duration of 3 or 4 hours accordingly.
The final examination schedule will be announced on the 8th of May.
No face-to-face invigilated final written examinations will take place. Such exams will be replaced by alternative methods of assessment or by online examinations, all of equal weight and difficulty, as per below (1) and (2):
- Alternative assessment methods
- Take-home exams
- Major project assignments
- Portfolios (where applicable e.g. design/art/etc.)
- Other methods specific for the discipline (e.g. music, dance, architecture, etc.)
An oral examination may complement any of the above methods. Guidelines of alternative methods of assessment will be provided by the University and by the Schools and Departments in specific disciplines.
- Online Examinations
- Oral examinations must be recorded.
- Electronically invigilated written examinations (including open book examinations) using e-proctoring software approved by the University.
Departments and Schools will employ the methods more suitable for their programmes and courses.
For a summary of the alternative methods of assessment click here
For more detailed information on the alternative methods of assessment click here
For the relevant guidelines of the Quality Assurance and Accreditation Agency click here
The existing marking and grading scheme will be used.
The award titles (diploma/degrees) of graduates will be issued as per the standard practice, usually two weeks after the last day of the examination period and their electronic copies will be available through UNIC Portal under Academic – Documents. If the circumstances allow, the original certificate will be sent via post.
The diplomas of joint programmes of study are excluded from the above procedure as the relevant procedure requires the signature and certification of all affiliated parties.
Students who are fulfilling all programme requirements may apply for graduation at www.portal.unic.ac.cy (under Academic tab). This application will commence the process of verifying your academic record and your inclusion on the alumni lists.
Award Titles (degrees) are expected to be issued approximately two weeks after the end of the examination period in accordance with existing regulations and procedures.
The June graduation ceremonies are postponed.
The new dates of the graduation ceremonies will be reconsidered at a later stage.
All registration letters, certificates of completion and transcripts will be issued and sent electronically by the Department of Academic Affairs. Any requests for these documents should be submitted to [email protected], indicating your student ID and a contact number.
Online classes will not take place during public holidays (e.g. 25 March, 1st April, Easter, etc).
All University administrative services are operating normally, albeit remotely. The contact details of the various departments are posted at https://www.unic.ac.cy/spring2020/
Students who have been granted access to the University of Nicosia platforms despite their outstanding balance should contact the Director of the Department of Academic Advising, Mr Christos Theocleous, at [email protected].
In case a specific software is required as part of the course curriculum (e.g. SPSS) to which you don’t have access, you should contact the IT department [email protected] indicating your name, student ID and course.
All student Events and Activities organised by the Department of Student Affairs and the Student Clubs are postponed until further notice.
For more information, please contact us at [email protected], or 22842153.
Incoming, outgoing students, and students whose applications have been recently approved, are advised to contact the Erasmus Office for further information relating to their mobilities at [email protected]
Face-to-face library services have been suspended.
However, online services are available 24/7 and remote support Monday –Friday, 8:00-18:00.
You can contact the library either by phone +357 22842100 or email [email protected].
All library e-resources (eBooks, eJournals, databases, RefWorks) are accessible 24 hours a day, 7 days a week and can be found through the library website https://www.library.unic.ac.cy.
To gain access from home you need to either connect via OpenAthens or Proxy Server. More instructions can be found at https://www.library.unic.ac.cy/english-instructions-distance-learners.
This service has been postponed until the library reopens and face-to-face services resume.
All outstanding book loans will automatically be renewed the end of the semester and no fines will be incurred.
You can find any relevant information at https://edc.library.unic.ac.cy or contact Ms. Georgia Christodoulou ([email protected])
All official sport championships and sport clubs’ activities are postponed until further notice. For further information, please contact us at [email protected].
Relevant information for those classes that will be assessed through Proctorio-invigilated examinations available at the following link: 20200507-English Announcement
- Contingency Academic Plan: Addressing Situations Where Physical Interaction Between Students with Students and Students with Faculty Members and Administrative Staff is Not Possible – 09 March 2020
- Contingency Academic Plan: Addressing Situations Where Physical Interaction Between Students with Students and Students with Faculty Members and Administrative Staff is Not Possible – 11 March 2020
- Senate Resolution: Spring 2020 Semester and COVID-19 Pandemic – 108th Senate (Online) Meeting – 26 March 2020
Useful Contacts
Health-Related Contacts
UNIC Health and Safety Office | +357 22 841 779 |
UNIC Medical Centre | +357 22 368 900 |
24-hour Dedicated Ambulance Service for Coronavirus | +357 22 887 171 |
Cyprus Ministry of Health Coronavirus Helpline | 1420 |
Academic Contacts
UNIC Academic Advisor | [email protected] | +357 22 841 524 |
Academic Letters – Registration – Pre-registration – Completion of Studies |
[email protected] | +357 22 841512 / +357 22 841553 |
Transcripts | [email protected] | +357 22 841512 / +357 22 841553 |
Degree Enquiries | [email protected] | +357 22 841512 / +357 22 841553 |
Examinations | Information on final exams will be provided at a later stage | – |
Student Affairs | [email protected] | +357 22 842 153 |
Career Success Centre – Remote work – Virtual internships – Freelance projects |
[email protected] | +357 22 842 152 |
Library Resources | [email protected] | +357 22 842 100 |