Dear VUB students

This academic year hasn’t gone as we would all have hoped. It was a celebratory year, but it quickly became a surreal year, with much – too much – ‘physical and social distancing’. They won’t have to look far for the next Word of the Year, unfortunately.

This isolation has hit you hard. We realise this, and we regret it, just as you do. And now, the exams are coming. To begin with, we want to wish you calm, successful exams. An exam period is already stressful enough. But these bizarre times bring extra pressures, doubts and uncertainties. Will there be a big difference with previous exams? Will I have enough time? Will my computer fail? Is it safe on the tram, the metro or the train? Is it all worth the trouble? These are all fair questions. Sadly, you belong to the first generation in post-war Europe to have been deprived in this way of a relatively carefree student life and its freedoms. This fundamental uncertainty is significant.

Support

With the sudden switch to online lessons and now to new exam formats, we have had to become digital far too abruptly. We are fully aware of this. There were not many alternatives. We preferred to close out this year as quickly and as successfully as possible.

Do not be disheartened. All the VUB services are ready to support you, should you need them. Study counselling, study financing, study spaces for those who have little room at home… the list goes on. Keep telling us what you need; only then can we act. Be sure to check www.vub.be/backtocampus regularly, where we’ve gathered all the most important information.

New for everyone

These are certainly no normal exams, but we are doing all we can to run them as smoothly as possible. We absolutely want to avoid extending courses, in the interests of students. That doesn’t mean there won’t be any problems. This situation is completely new for everyone, including for lecturers, faculties and services, for everyone connected to education and student policy on our campuses.

Circumstances mean that the usual exam method is not often possible. We are of course bearing this in mind. A few days ago, we also wrote to all VUB lecturers, emphasising that we must now confirm our faith in our students, that we must assess students to the best of our abilities and pick them up when they occasionally stumble.

We too stumble from time to time. Just like you, we’ve adapted every time there were new demands, including from the government. We must care for each other, remain calm in difficult moments. Be brave, too, and persevere. We have often said this, to ourselves but also explicitly as a message to the entire VUB community.

Trust

Of course, sometimes things will go wrong. We have tried to prepare for everything. We have provided face masks and hand gels. Stewards are being recruited to keep everything on the right track for those who have to take exams on campus or at an external location. We’ve volunteered as stewards ourselves. We stand by you.

And even then: not everyone will pass every exam. That has always been the case, and this time won’t be any different. It needn’t be a problem. There will be other chances, like always. But again: above all, be gentle to yourself. That’s what we must all do today: be gentle to ourselves and to others. Some people find this a vague message. For us it’s clear. Being gentle means accepting that we are all human, and that not everything we do is perfect, nor can it ever be. We can only learn from our mistakes and our shortcomings. That includes us, and our lecturers.

We are confident that the vast majority of lecturers will carry out exams in an atmosphere of trust. Trust in you. In what you can do and what you have learned, and are now going to prove. Because that’s what we need now most of all: trust in each other, in a good outcome and in the future.

And in the meantime, let’s stay safe and confident.

Yours in encouragement,

Caroline Pauwels

Rector

Jan Danckaert

Vice-rector for Education and Student Policy