In light of the recent developments related to the Novel Coronavirus in Cyprus it is highly important that we all work together to protect ourselves, our families and our University.
Preventative Measures
It is essential that we all continue to
Comply with government and ministry of health orders and measures.
Make sure you practice and encourage good, basic hygiene. Remember to wash your hands often and thoroughly with warm water and soap, for at least 20 seconds. Use alcohol-based hand sanitisers when needed. Avoid touching your eyes, nose and mouth with unwashed hands.
Clean and disinfect regularly used surfaces (handles, doorknobs, counters, tables).
Practice social distancing and self-isolation. Avoid in-person interactions, crowded and confined spaces and respect vulnerable populations by avoiding close contact with them.
If you develop Coronavirus-related symptoms
General malaise/ weakness, and/or
Temperature >37.3°C, and/or
Dry Cough, and/or
Muscle aches
Contact the epidemiology centre on 1420, or the emergencies (via the phone) of the nearest hospital to you and inform them of your situation and then act as per their instructions
Practice self-isolation at home, self-monitor every 24-48 hours and follow advise from personal doctor
Article by Dr. Vasiliki Christodoulou, Lecturer in Forensic Psychology
Studying at University during the Pandemic?
With the international health crisis currently affecting our world, many university students have seen their routines, goals and plans change suddenly. During this stressful and challenging period, students are expected to spend more time with family than usual, others are required to remain away from loved ones, whilst most are faced with adjustments to new ways of living and learning. Although all these challenges are probably acknowledged by your academic institution and academic support can be provided, as individuals we can also take into consideration specific steps to further support ourselves.
Please see below some suggestions for your attention:
Acknowledge and validate the experience
It is important to validate and acknowledge that this period reflects significant loses (e.g. physical contact with your peer group, social events, living environments, sporting events, among others) as well as stressors. You may show kindness towards yourself by acknowledging that this period is not a vacation, but a rather challenging emotional time in which you are likely expected to keep going with several tasks and expectations (e.g. attending online classes and working on assignments). Make sure that this realisation is also shared with family and peers, so that additional expectations are not placed upon you during this time. In this respect, families can acknowledge and make space for students’ feelings and maintain good quality communication about what is challenging or new during this time.
Plan to have easy access to support
Access to psychological support at a time of crisis is essential. Although in-person psychological support may not be on offer right now, your university may be able to provide distance support, either over the telephone or via video conferencing. Tele-health is a type of service that has been sufficiently studied and seems to be helpful, especially under the current circumstances. It is important to note that even if you had not experienced psychological challenges prior to this time, the stressful messages from the media and the general climate of uncertainty may trigger a stress reaction. A brief and focused supportive intervention may give you the necessary skills to better-manage during this unstable time. You can receive support in this time of crisis at our UCLan, Cyprus designated helpline 24 69 4015, using the keyword ‘Covid-19 psychological support’. Matters of confidentiality will be maintained and a confidentiality agreement will be obtained prior to your online session.
In case of Emergency please contact your personal doctor or 112.
Maintain/ Cultivate a good routine
The introduction of online classes has meant that the structure of the day and students’ usual routines have disappeared. This may disrupt sleep/wake cycles as well as eating habits or even connections with other people. Although routine is easily lost, it is essential to maintaining our mental health, during stressful times. Making sure that you sleep at a regular time, eat a well-balanced died, have an exercise regime and home-based self-care activities can be helpful. For example, increasing your time in front of a computer screen or a television set may contribute to a feeling of overstimulation and added stress. Keep your screen time within reasonable levels and find relaxation and self-soothing activities that do not involve use of electronics (e.g. meditation, prayer, cooking, bath, exercise, book reading).
Curb your appetite for news messages on the pandemic
The news is fast moving and changing daily. This creates a temptation to keep watching the updates or constantly checking your social media newsfeed. This means that you may end up feeling constantly and continually in a state of hypervigilance and alertness. Therefore, it is essential that you create opportunities for mental distancing from the stressful news. You may achieve this in two ways: Firstly, you can focus on watching the news only once or twice a day at specific pre-chosen time, so that your mind has time to recover from the stress reaction in-between. Secondly, you may choose your media sources more carefully, so that you are informed from sources that are not scaremongering and are willing to publish positive news.
Cultivate social connections.
The World Health Organisation has updated the term social distancing to physical distancing. This was an important update, in that, physical isolation does not necessarily need to lead to psychological distancing from peers and loved ones. A great opportunity for maintaining connections is to set up video conference meet-ups with group of friends. It is important to move beyond texting to actual vocal or video communication which enhances the feeling of connection. Consider engaging in shared projects with friends using technology (e.g. meet up online to exercise together, have a coffee together, study together or even create something together).
Let’s ignore physical distance and connect emotionally
Some of the most challenging aspects of this period of self-isolation include the uncertainty of knowing when we can again meet up with our friends, hug our loved ones, gather for a dinner with our family members, celebrate together an important day (i.e. Birthday). Up to this point, we learned to deal with obstacles, natural or manmade disasters, psychological falls with social gathering and physical connection. This was our way to help prepare for and then heal from the emotional ravages of the event. However, this time around, we will need to stand alone to stand together. This is a different arena of unity and connection, but we must remember that we are only standing alone physically, while we are standing together psychologically and spiritually.
Let’s remember that together we will make it through this challenge!
Dr Vasiliki Christodoulou
Lecturer in Forensic Psychology
Date: March 2020
UCLan Cyprus Student Support Services
During an emergency or any form of crisis, it is common to feel desolate, unhappy, confused, frightened or even angry. Especially in the given circumstances where self-isolation and social distance is mandatory, the anxiety of keeping well and healthy but also the uncertainty on how the outbreak will affect us academically, socially and economically may increase the high level of stress.
Everyone reacts differently to stressful situations.
Need help? Do you know someone who does?
If you, or someone you care about, are feeling overwhelmed, please contact
The Psychological Wellbeing and Counselling Centre: 24 69 4050 | [email protected]
Constantly hearing and reading about the Covid-19 can be upsetting. Take breaks from joining social media and from watching, reading, or listening to news.
Exercise; Stretch your body; Meditate; Take care of your mental and physical state. Make sure you maintain a balanced dietary by eating healthy, avoiding alcohol and substances. Get plenty of sleep and workout regularly. Don’t use smoking, alcohol or other drugs to deal with your emotions.
Don’t forget to use technology and social media to your benefit. While practicing self-isolation and social distancing, make sure you connect with your friends and loved ones. Hey, it could be a chance to reconnect with old friends and classmates!
Remember; you are not alone.
Remote Teaching and Learning
Dear students,
We look forward to welcoming you to our campus and embarking on the 2020/21 Academic Year.
In line with directives and guidelines issued by the Cyprus Quality Assurance Agency and the professional bodies which accredit some of our programmes, we are fully committed to maintain the highest quality academic standards of our programmes of study.
In light of the Covid-19 related health and social distancing measures, we have adapted our teaching and learning methods to ensure all our students can continue to attend their studies either through face to face and/or remotely, via online delivery.
You are kindly invited to complete the form as following and indicate to us if you prefer/intend to attend classes face to face on campus, or to participate in the teaching and learning remotely via online methods. The online participation is not a blanket option; you are kindly asked to provide your reasons and attach some evidence. Click here to access the form. Please send the completed form with any supporting evidence to [email protected]
As you appreciate this exercise will help us to better plan for logistics and manage the rotational scheme (if needed), therefore it is necessary for your completed form to be emailed to us no later than the deadline of:Wednesday 16th of September.
Year 1 students : This year, we expect year 1 students to join us on campus for the Induction during 16th – 30th September. Students who cannot join us at this stage, are invited to attend the virtual online sessions as per programme schedule. Teaching will commence on 28th September 2020 (teaching for School of Law and MSc Data Analytics commences 21st Sept. 2020).
Year 2, 3 & 4 : As you know returning students are expected to start their courses week commencing 21st September, which is especially designed to allow you to meet your faculty and tutors, to prepare you for your programme of study and to offer you some training on the adoption of alternative teaching methods and MS TEAMs, so that you can flexibly participate in the hybrid (blended) education model.
During semester 1 of academic year 2020-21, our conventional face to face courses will adopt the ‘blended learning’ mode. This means that, teaching and learning will be offered by faculty on campus as per academic calendar and planned timetable, respecting restrictions on the number of students allowed to be physically present in the classroom or laboratory. Simultaneously these teaching sessions will be live streamed using Microsoft Teams to reach those students who cannot attend on campus due to pandemic related difficulties (e.g. health medical issues, lockdown and travel restrictions, visa delays and complications in the case of international students etc). Moreover, our classrooms have state of the art smart technologies which can support blended teaching and learning and allow faculty to record sessions so that our students can access them at a later stage and enhance learning. Please note that, your attendance and class participation either physically at the University campus or remotely are compulsoryand will be monitored daily in order to safeguard requirements from the Cyprus Quality Assurance Agency or from the Ministry of Health in line with the COVID-19 protocol.
At this stage, we are grateful for your cooperation and spirit of shared responsibility so that we can continue to work together and master the Covid-19 challenges.
We wish you a safe and enjoyable new academic year.
Travel: Government Decrees and Public Announcements
For the latest and most important announcements concerning the Covid-19 measures and travel guidelines, visit the official website of the Press and Information Officehere.
Information for all stakeholders concerning flights from/to the Republic of Cyprus
The Civil Registry and Migration Department, in line with the Decision of the Council of Ministers, dated 15 March 2020, concerning the operation of the Public Sector, announces that the Department is operating with limited personnel. Therefore, no applications for the issue or renewal of residence permits are accepted for submission, except in cases of extreme urgency.
The Department reassures the public that, for third-country nationals who possess residence permits or tourist visas, whose validity has expired within a reasonable period of time and cannot be renewed or extended or for the third-country nationals who cannot be repatriated, no measures will be taken against them.
Moreover, concerning the Orders issued by the Minister of Health, in relation to restrictions on the right of entry into the Republic of Cyprus, under the present circumstances, the issuance of all entry permits is suspended.
The Public can contact the Department through the following telephone numbers:
General Employment and Visitors: 22 403930 | 22 403945
Companies of Foreign Interest: 22 804445 | 22 403946
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