How does the corona pandemic affect work in IB Hochschule's research projects?
In recent weeks the presidium's weekly review took a closer look at corona-driven online teaching, learning and exams, as well as mobile work from home. While online teaching has settled in quite well for both lecturers and students, with teaching taking place and students not losing time in the form of semesters, the corona pandemic has led to time shifts and extensions in almost all research projects. In the first part of this series, Sarah Scheer reports on her research routine in the InterAct project.
The European project team brings together partners from Spain, Greece, Germany, Finland and Sweden. The online meetings allow very personal insights into existing challenges in Europe. The crisis strengthens our cohesion and makes the importance of the project goal even clearer. Vulnerable and marginalised groups, such as refugees, are particularly affected by the crisis and the need for psychosocial support continues to grow.
InterAct focuses on the psychosocial care of refugees and is also drawing attention on social media to the need for solidarity with refugees and asylum seekers as one of the most vulnerable groups in Europe. Stronger cohesion is also evident in the closer exchange with other research projects and networks over the past few weeks.
... even if the planned time window has to be extended by two months. Some planned research activities (e.g. focus group interviews) cannot currently be implemented. Work on an interdisciplinary online course on psychosocial interventions, on the other hand, seems very fitting right now. A test module has already been implemented online by two partner countries together because everyone is currently in online teaching.
The entire team is extremely motivated despite all the challenges in private and professional life. In autumn we all want to disseminate our products. Date announcements for multiplier events will also be published soon; some of them will be held online. We are very proud of our newly revised website www.interact-erasmus.eu and invite you to view it, share it and thus help spread our vision. Follow us also on Instagram and Facebook.
Sarah Scheer (project coordinator)