Throughout the summer, the College of Business has been working to plan teaching, learning and assessment for Autumn Trimester, in the context of the COVID-19 pandemic, and changing Government and Public Health Advice.   September 2020 will be different than usual, for all of us, but we are committed to the quality and inclusiveness of our education being as excellent as ever. We are therefore working to give you the best possible blended learning experience, while ensuring you can access and use campus and Quinn facilities to the greatest extent possible.

Term dates 

• The Autumn Trimester will start on Monday September 21 for all except first years. 
• First year students will start on Monday September 28 
• Term runs until December 11, with the assessment period continuing to December 23.

Orientation

• For first year and newly arriving students, formal orientation activities will take place for Quinn students on September 24.  The orientation programme will be a combination of online webinars and a campus tour. Full details on the orientation programme will be available here. Further activities will be scheduled throughout the trimester.

Teaching, Learning and Assessment for Autumn 2020

While our preference is for a fully face to face learning environment, at this time, Covid-19 presents challenges in maintaining this.   We warmly welcome and encourage you to take part in campus life and opportunities for face to face class attendance, subject to Public Health Guidelines. We also respect the individual circumstances of students whose own health or that of family members, or are facing travel restrictions and difficulties returning to Dublin, may require their remaining at-distance.  We also anticipate the need for flexibility should circumstances change.  We are working to ensure that all students can access lectures and learning materials online and continue to progress their learning actively, and in the best ways possible within current restrictions. 

To balance the principles of a quality learning experience, health and safety, and flexibility, the Quinn School has adopted the following principles for the Autumn trimester:

• In the case of business modules, we will provide a blend of online assured and face to face learning options to optimise your experience whilst maintaining a safe learning environment.  By online assured, we mean that all students will be registered to online offerings and that modules may be followed online, if required.
• Final stage students will self-register and can select the offering and mode of delivery that best suits them.
• Where face to face delivery is available, students will have the flexibility to choose in- person attendance or remain with the online offering only.
• Online classes will be a mix of live real-time delivery, lecture capture and pre-recorded content.  Classes follow normal timetables as far as possible.
• Interaction with your peers and with your lecturers is a priority, and we are committed to ensuring as much interaction as possible.  There will be opportunities for face to face classes and peer to peer activities within a number of core modules, at each stage of every programme.  
• Under current social distancing requirements, which are subject to change, when face to face is offered, attendance frequency will vary by class, stage and will be scheduled by rota.
• Face to face lectures will be recorded and available on Brightspace so that where real-time participation is not possible lectures can be followed at your own pace.
• All online classes will have a regular contact element or virtual office hours to allow additional opportunities to engage with the lecturer.
• As always the Quinn Programme Team are here to support you, by email and through pre-booked online and face to face appointments.

Assessment:

• Autumn trimester will see a much greater focus on continuous assessment through the term.  End-of-trimester exams will take place at-distance but please make sure to consult your module descriptors to see what form assessment will take.  Please note that the module descriptors are subject to change up to September 11. Fuller detail will be provided on Brightspace and by your lecturer when your modules begin.

Further information:

• You will receive further information on your registration  - which is now scheduled for the week commencing September 7. You will be advised about this by email. Incoming students will receive details on their registration later in the month.

• As you are aware, the response to COVID19 is constantly evolving and our plans must be adaptable to this evolving environment.  Should restrictions be imposed or removed, the delivery of modules and their assessment may have to change at short notice. 

• Please note that this outline pertains to modules delivered by the Quinn School, and that the approach taken for modules, options and electives taken with other Colleges and Schools may vary.