Being here or there, it doesn't matter

In 2021-22, teaching at CEU will use a model known as HyFlex - hybrid and flexible. This will enable students both to attend lectures on campus in the normal way and to attend the same lectures online. This dual-mode approach means that students can switch between physical attendance at lectures and following them in real time online.

Our general plan for teaching is to offer as many educational activities as possible in an in-person, on-campus format. In fact, for some groups in-person attendance will be the general default mode for learning.

In order to offer this dual-mode model, the Universidad CEU San Pablo is equipping classrooms with a HyFlex system. This enables interactive sessions to take place with students physically in the room and others participating online from home: everyone, wherever they are, can take part in the session simultaneously. This new dual-mode, HyFlex model enables students to be physically present or to be present online in real time.

All our students can come to campus for their lectures or participate in these same lectures in real time from home. When students come to the CEU campus, they can do so in the knowledge that the right safety and hygiene measures are in place. Indeed, not only will we comply with the recommendations set by the health authorities, but we are going further and putting ourselves forward for an external and independent audit of our implementation of them.

The key for students will be to attend and participate - there’s more to it than just being "in" a class. So, for example, if you’re at home, not only will you be able to access a video feed of your lecture or class via any device, but you can also choose the camera view you want and change it whenever you need. In one click, you can see the class just as if you were seated in the fourth row, or choose a different view to see how those physically present ask questions. You can even come face to face with your lecturer and interact with him or her - just as if you were physically in the room. So, you can follow and participate in the class, while directing your own live feed of it from your own home, using a range of different cameras.

So, we can just watch and ask questions?

It's more than that. Even if you’re at home, you can set up a live session with your classmates for team-working, even if some are online at home and others are in the classroom. So, everyone is connected, just one click away, using any device you want.

Each study programme will implement the dual-mode, HyFlex model in its own way, regarding practical training sessions, sessions where physical presence is required for continuous assessment, timetables, etc. However, in all cases the academic year will be planned in such a way as to guarantee that students can do their practical training sessions (either on a weekly basis or as part of PAP), to maximize the number of in-person sessions on campus,* and to create an interactive learning experience across all scenarios.

Our HyFlex technological solution includes the possibility of the use of online videoconferencing, meaning that, if a temporary lockdown occurred, we would still be able to continue with real-time lectures and interactive student participation, whatever the circumstances may be.

* To maintain the right to continuous assessment, there may be some courses which will have minimum requirements for physical attendance on campus, with exceptions detailed in the CEU UCH 2021-22 Action Plan. These requirements and other criteria related to physical presence on campus may be modified if the health authorities’ safety guidelines change or if prudence requires that these activities be organized in a different manner.

"Dual-mode" means that there are two ways in participate in lectures - and this is an important change. But the real shift is not technological but methodological. It's about renewing the university's role as a place of discovery, passion and critical thinking. Studying at university isn't about passing exams. It's about becoming the person you want to be.

There are three goals in front of you: your professional development, your personal growth and your ability to contribute to making society better for everyone. Let’s face it, if all your goals were just about you, that would be bit selfish, right? That’s why our approach at the University is focused on your professional development, on your personal growth and on helping you to contribute to the common good. We believe that everyone has the ability to contribute to a better future, and that there are things which might seem impossible and yet which, together, we can actually achieve. That’s why your experience at the University can’t be just about you.

The motivation we feel towards working hard in our studies increases when what we’re learning is our choice. In the same way, the enjoyment we take from learning increases as we become more aware of how we can contribute to making the world a better place.