If extensions are needed in the future “the commission must cooperate on that.”īrunori is coordinating an EU project involving 25 partners in Europe and is already thinking about postponing their next meeting in May until September.

“Deliverables can be done mostly remotely,” he said. “We don’t know if timelines could be delayed,” Brunori said.Īt the University of Bologna, Rotolo has not received any requests to extend research deadlines, but does not exclude the possibility of that happening in the future. Some argue the European Commission should come up with a plan for potential delays for projects in Italy and in other countries that may be affected in the near future. With meetings cancelled up until May, researchers need to find workarounds to be able to deliver results for certain projects on time.įor Horizon 2020 projects funded by the EU, researchers are likely to need an extension of deadlines. “This is the time for action.”ĭespite significant efforts to minimise the effects of the crisis, some research activities are disrupted. “We have long time to embody digital technologies in teaching,” Brunori told Science|Business. However, its ICT staff had to work nearly 20 hours a day for two weeks, to put the systems in place.įor Gianluca Brunori, a professor of food policy and bioeconomy at the University of Pisa, the measures taken by universities to move activities online could be the nudge they need to implement different ways of organising teaching and research in the future. Rotolo said the digitisation of teaching, exams, meetings and certain research activities did not cost the University of Bologna a lot of money. “I hope what we experiment here could be used in other countries,” said Rotolo. We didn’t realise this is possible,” Rotolo said.Īcademics are also looking at the crisis as an opportunity for universities to adopt digital technologies for teaching more broadly, not just in time of crisis. Rector Paolo Mancarella said these moves, “Do not represent in any way the closure of the university, but only precautionary measures” that change how some activities are performed.Īntonino Rotolo, vice rector for research at the University of Bologna told Science|Business that Italian universities have reacted “very promptly” to the restrictions imposed during the lockdown, and were able to move their activities online. However, “degree sessions and midterm exams will continue,” the university said in a statement. Students at Bologna will defend their final dissertation online, “given the uncertainty of the situation in the upcoming weeks.”Īt the University of Pisa, all teaching on campus has been suspended. The university is to organise exams online and has decided to cancel conferences and public events, and to close its libraries to the public. The University of Bologna has also moved all its courses online, with the exception of “activities that are not compatible with distance learning”. “At the moment we are very busy with the rescheduling of courses and research activities,” Grotti said. “It is a critical period but we try to guarantee the functioning of the university,” Stefania Grotti, head of unit at Politecnico’s research office told Science|Business. “We will face this emergency together with responsibility,” he said in a statement. Universities in Italy have moved their courses online, while some will be able to give exams and hold dissertation defences through web conferencing.Īt Politecnico di Milano, the rector Ferruccio Resta urged students and staff to avoid physical gatherings in favour of virtual meetings. To contain the virus, the government has taken sweeping measures, including closing down university campuses and restricting the movement of all people, with the exception of employees who need to travel to work. As of 10 March, more than 9,000 people were infected in Italy and 463 have died. Italy is the EU country most affected by the rapid spread of COVID-19, the respiratory illness caused by the coronavirus originating from Wuhan, in the Hubei province of China. Universities in Italy have made impressive efforts to digitise courses, exams and research activities that do not require lab work, amid a country-wide quarantine announced by the government on Monday.

Italy lockdown end date