After several long months, we are finally back in our boutique academy in the centre of Amsterdam.

Without a doubt this has been a challenging time which has put all education providers to the test, making us rethink our learning environment and the personal support we offer to students. Being a small and flexible university, Amsterdam Fashion Academy could immediately follow the instructions released by the Dutch government to adapt to the Covid-19 pandemic, and continue to provide a high quality learning experience for our students using online technology and innovative teaching practices.

Induction Week

While the uncertainty can be unsettling, we want to become a point of reference for the students for this year, starting by organising the Induction Week on campus from Monday, 31st of August to Thursday, 3rd of September 2020. New students will be divided in small groups with a lecturer available per group. We will apply specific and very strict safety rules to allow the students experience the Induction Week in a safe environment.

70% of courses will be provided on campus

We will provide 70% of courses on site to small groups of students, whilst always following safety measures. Therefore, on the 31st of August we will be ready to welcome all our students to start enthusiastically and with renewed energies the academic year 2020/2021 in our Amsterdam building. To comply with the official regulations the timetable has been adjusted to ensure the safety of both the students and staff, and we will support the physical classrooms with some of our virtual classrooms and one-to-one tutorials.

Online courses

The Amsterdam Fashion Academy is fully committed to provide students with a quality online learning experience, which as far as is possible, replicates the teaching and learning that usually takes place on the physical campus. The use of digital technology to provide access to students has become a reality in a very short time. It gives the students an experience of working in a way that replicates industry practice, digital group meetings, online presentations of ideas and communication skills. This in turn benefits their digital literacy skills and they are engaging in an inclusive and innovative way of learning.

Safety rules (valid from August 31st onwards)

The Amsterdam Fashion Academy is an international institution. Therefore, to be able to provide the 70% of courses on campus, we will apply the strictest safety rules, even though the official local regulations are more loosen.

This high amount of on campus class is a privilege, that can be maintain only if everyone will respect the following rules and will adopt a conscious behaviour also outside the building. We trust in everyone’s responsibility.

• Enter and exit the building from the front door.
• Before you enter, please wear a facemask, and always wear it inside the building. We encourage the use of disposable non-medical masks, which need to be changed every 4 hours. Disposable non-medical facemasks are safer and easy to throw away after use without having to bring home, wash and disinfect. We will have extra facemasks during the first weeks, but you are responsible to buy your own disposable masks.
• Once you enter in the building, we will register your presence and we will measure your body temperature through a scanner. If your temperature is higher than 37.5 degrees Celsius, we will ask you to go home and follow the class online. Do you have one or more of these symptoms?

• • • Cold symptoms (nasal cold, runny nose, sneezing, sore throat)
    • Coughing
    • Shortness of breath
    • Elevated temperature or a fever (above 37.5 degrees Celsius)
    • Sudden loss of taste and smell (without nasal congestion)

If you have the symptoms about, please stay home and get tested immediately.

• Once in the building, please disinfect your hands: you will find hand sanitisers at the entrance and all around the building.
• Please, go directly in your classroom.
• Always respect 1.5 meters of social distancing.
• Use of the kitchen:
  • • Students having class in the library and on the first floor must use the main kitchen located on the ground floor. Maximum 2 people are allowed in the kitchen at the same time. Please, wait in the entrance hall of the building for your turn.
    • The kitchen on the second floor is for students having class on the second floor. It is equipped with coffee/tea facilities, cups, and glasses. You can refill and get drinks there. Please, avoid going to the ground floor kitchen. The kitchen on the second floor also has a fridge, you can store your food there to reduce traffic on the ground floor kitchen.
    • The lounge on the third floor is equipped with coffee/tea facilities, cups and glasses for students having class on the third floor.
    • Please, bring used cups, glasses, and spoons in the main kitchen on the ground floor before leaving the building.
    • Having lunch inside the building is not allowed. The timetable is designed to avoid lunch breaks between classes as much as possible.
• Use of restrooms: before using the restrooms, please sanitise the surfaces with the provided disinfectant wipes.
• The staircase is very narrow. Please, make sure you have 1.5 meters in front and behind you when using the stairs. This is at least 5 steps in both directions. People going up the stairs take precedence. If you are going down and see someone coming up, please wait in the hallway
• Ventilate the classroom every 30 minutes. The best way to protect a group of people spending more than 15min together in a closed room is with constant ventilation.
• If you cough or sneeze in the bathrooms, keep the door open after use and let the ventilator running after use.
• Once a facemask is on, you should not touch it or pull it under your nose or mouth. Only touch the mask to take it off, grab it by the elastic or ear strings and throw immediately away.
• If you are unsure about your health and have mild symptoms, stay home, and attend the lessons online. If you develop any Covid19-specific symptoms, call your doctor, and ask for a test appointment.
• The building will be sanitised two times per day.

Please, be aware that if you do not follow the rules above, you could be asked to leave the building and attend the classes online.

Any questions?

If you have any questions, please refer to Cristiano Carciani, Head of School: carciani@amsterdamfashionacademy.com