Francophone universities call for help in wake of COVID-19

On Monday, the French-speaking Rectors’ Council called for “urgent intervention” by the French-speaking community because of the impact of the coronavirus pandemic on the functioning of universities. The health crisis has profoundly changed the way universities operate since March, according to the rectors, with consequences for staff and students, and has also led to significant specific expenditure, reports The Brussels Times.

The six universities of the French-speaking community (University of Liège, Université Catholique de Louvain, Université Libre de Bruxelles, the University of Mons-Hainaut, University of Namur and Université Saint-Louis – Bruxelles) estimate the additional expenses related to COVID-19 at €17 million (US$20 million) in 2020. In particular, that amount covers the generalisation of distance learning and teleworking, sanitary facilities and the outfitting of premises, increased social assistance for students and the need for administrative support.

The rectors also point to the “exceptional growth” in the number of students at the start of the new academic year, both in terms of first-time enrolments in bachelors degrees, and in total.
Full report on The Brussels Times site.