NEWS

Rector's Order No. RK – 36-437/16.03.2020.

On the basis of Art. 32, para. 1, item 1 of the Higher Education Act, orders of the Minister of Health No. RD 9104-27/ 25.02.2020, No. RD 01-122/ 11.03.2020 and No. RD 01-124/ 13.03.2020, and in addition to a previous order of the Rector of MU-Sofia (No. RK 36-395/ 09.03.2020)

I ORDER

1. The interruption of in-person classes and practices to all students at the Medical University - Sofia to be extended until 29.03.2020. In cases where exams, competitions for academic positions (juries) and defenses (non-public) cannot be postponed, announced and scheduled, they shall be held after coordination with the management of the relevant faculty, branch, college or department, while ensuring and implementing all necessary anti-epidemic measures recommended by the Ministry of Health, the National Operational Headquarters, the SRHI and other competent authorities.
2. For the period until the restoration of in-person learning activities, the same shall be conducted through phased introduction of non-attendance, distance learning – electronic, audio or written training, according to the capabilities of each academic unit and the specifics of the individual non-clinical and clinical specialties, and subjects from the students' curriculum.
3. The management of the relevant faculty, branch, college or department should create the necessary implementation and control organization by preparing registration forms and reports for distance learning activities carried out during the period – by students, postgraduates, doctoral students and lecturers.
4. Gathering the necessary scholarship award documents According to PMS 90/2000, students' registration for the summer semester will be organized in the units of MU-Sofia electronically. from 03.2020 until 27.03.2020 on., by providing the opportunity to accept scanned income documents, etc. Compliance with the deadline is desirable in order to have the opportunity to prepare and pay the scholarships in a timely manner.
5. To suspend the acceptance of documents for the preliminary candidates – student exams as of March 16, 2020.
6. To cancel the preliminary student entrance exams announced for 22.03.2020 and 04.04.2020, and additionally after discussion by the Rector's and Dean's Council, a decision will be made whether they will be postponed or finally canceled. In both cases, the registration and paid fees will preserve the rights of prospective students if they wish to participate in a postponed or regular session, and additional information on the subject will be published on the university website in a timely manner.
7. I continue. the ban on business trips, internships and official trips of academic staff, administration and students for the period until 31.03.2020., and I recommend that any plans for similar future trips, including those related to mobility projects, internships and scientific engagements in the country and abroad, be postponed and in accordance with the recommendations of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, the National Operations Headquarters and the health authorities.
8. I recommend that foreign lecturers, researchers, scientists and guests who are already in Bulgaria do not leave the country. The agreed mobility, internship or visit is terminated in the event that a foreign lecturer, scientist or guest leaves Bulgaria during their stay in the country.
9. I recommend that all members of the academic staff, administration, and students returning from abroad after March 1, 2020, undergo a voluntary 14-day quarantine at home.
10. I continue the ban on suspending all mass events, scientific congresses, conferences, sports and other events for the period specified in the order, with the postponement of the planned events to be no earlier than the beginning of May 2020. In this regard, I support the proposal of the ASMB to postpone the holding of the XIX International Congress of Medical Sciences for students and young specialists of medical students until the end of September.
11. For the term of the order, in accordance with the order of the Minister of Health to be The work of the student cafeterias in Sofia and Vratsa has been suspended, as well as visits of students and academic staff members to the Central Medical Library and other medical libraries to the relevant units of MU-Sofia.
12. For the same period Access to external visitors to the academic buildings and student dormitories of MU-Sofia should be prohibited. I recommend that communication between employees and students with outsiders be carried out by telephone and/or electronic means. In case of urgent need, outsiders should be allowed into the University buildings after the security officer receives confirmation by telephone from the relevant employee/professor, and after implementation of all necessary anti-epidemic measures.
13. I prohibit the admission of persons in quarantine or with symptoms of acute infectious and respiratory diseases into school buildings, administration and dormitories., as well as those coming from countries with high epidemiological risk, such as China, South Korea, Italy, Iran, Spain, France, Germany, etc. according to the recommendations of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and the National Operations Headquarters.
14. Access to the administration of the rectorate, deaneries and other educational and auxiliary structures to be restrictive while observing all anti-epidemic measures and standards, according to the recommendations of the Ministry of Health, the National Operational Headquarters, the SRHI and other competent authorities.
15. To limit the presence of the administration of the Medical University - Sofia. In this regard, the heads of the relevant faculty, branch, college or department shall ensure the necessary minimum of employees to maintain the activities of the unit, as well as the work of computer and information systems and other activities, the terms of which cannot be changed. Employees who are not included in the schedule and/or belong to persons from a risk health or social group may perform their duties remotely, according to the organization of work proposed by the head, as well as use paid annual or unpaid leave.
16. I suggest, the Rector's and Dean's Council to authorize the time when all the volunteers (students, postgraduates and doctoral students) of the Medical University - Sofia, participating in the campaign on containment and care of patients suspected or carriers of Covid-2019, to be considered as educational employment.
17. I determine permanent deadline, regarding the provision of personal protective equipment, disinfection materials and hygiene materials. The organization of disinfection and placement of these materials in the appropriate places should be carried out by the designated persons for each academic or other structure of the university.
18. I oblige the academic staff, administration and students to familiarize themselves with the orders and recommendations of the WHO, the Ministry of Health, the National Operational Headquarters, the RHI and all other competent authorities and organizations, and to comply with all anti-epidemic measures and standards, as well as to use personal protective equipment.
19. If necessary, additional measures and decisions will be announced in a timely manner as the situation changes and the recommendations of the competent authorities.

For timely information, follow the website of the Medical University - Sofia and the Faculty of Public Health