QR codes for every classroom when AUT opens on Monday

Auckland University of Technology students will use QR codes to enter every classroom for Covid-19 contact tracing when they return to class in level two.

AUT will be employing the level 2 guidelines laid out by the Tertiary Education Commission and the Ministry of Health, says Vice Chancellor Derek McCormack.

All campuses will be operating on Monday and services operating, although decisions of face-to-face teaching will be decided at school and course level.

Universities can have groups of more than 10, providing social distancing is maintained where possible and when classrooms are big enough.

“We’ve added to that our preference that people should wear masks where they’re in close contact,” Mr McCormack said.

Students’ masks do not have to be single-use surgical masks, they can be homemade fabric masks or a scarf that covers nose and mouth appropriately.

Mr McCormack said the university’s main area of focus is on the current students, however there is still concern for the future.

“If we lose a lot of students, we lose a lot of income and that reduces our ability to pay for the amenities, facilities and services that support the remaining students,” he said.

“So that’s one of the difficulties that we have to face with the border closures because a lot of our international students will be prevented from coming”

Mr McCormack said some students are eager to return to use on-campus resources, whereas others are feeling anxious about the health risks involved

“We’ve got these two issues to try and deal with as we oscillate backwards and forwards through the alert levels,” Mr McCormack said.

“So, working on how we deal with [students’ needs] best is something we’re looking at and we haven’t got the best solutions yet.”