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Universities in times of corona How are working together and offering solutions during the corona crisis

#connectuniversitiesNL Foreword Contents

Dutch universities are actively taking collaboration with scientists all over the steps to combat coronavirus and to world, on new knowledge in this uncertain continue their research, education and time. Together with the fourteen universities, active role in society during this crisis. the Organisation for Scientific This takes many different forms, from Research (NWO), the Royal Netherlands current research to voluntary work and Academy of Arts and Sciences (KNAW) and from disseminating digital knowledge many other institutions and companies, we 1 2 3 to the donation of equipment and have joined ResilientSociety. This cocreation materials. It is not just researchers but platform for the COVID-19 crisis allows us to Understanding The pandemic is Our education also students who demonstrate in many work together to make this knowledge even and combating affecting us all. continues. areas that they can achieve a great deal more accessible globally. by pooling their knowledge, strength and coronavirus It affects our lives, On campus, if we flexibility. By collaborating with companies, It is hard work, and there are still significant together well-being and future can, online, because government organisations and other challenges when it comes to research we can. And with a knowledge institutions in the Netherlands projects at this time of working from home and with European and international and the ‘1.5-metre society’. There is still a focus on the well- partners, we show how this time is great deal of uncertainty about education being of our students challenging people and inviting people to in the coming academic year and the work together to come up with creative introduction weeks. But as far as we are solutions. The speed and creativity are concerned, the motto in every scenario is inspiring; it shows what drives us and what as follows: ‘On campus, if we can, online, we can do with our free talents. because we can’. This flexibility will continue to be necessary. Together, we can do it. It only took a few weeks to move our 4 5 teaching online, with over 90% online at I am proud to present a selection of Contributing to Donating equipment, this point. are working extremely examples from research, education and hard on this, and students are also adapting other projects in the e-zine ‘Universities healthcare issues manpower and quickly. This situation is calling upon us in times of corona’. This is just a small brainpower all, as responsible and active participants selection. Meanwhile, the studies continue in today’s society and – certainly when and new projects are being added every day. it comes to the students – as shapers of Let us be sure to hold on to this energy and the society of the future. As pioneers with continue to support each other. passion for our profession, for each other and for society. We see scientists we are Pieter Duisenberg proud of, every evening on television. President of the Association of Universities In the background, there are many others in the Netherlands (VSNU) who are working directly or indirectly, in #connectuniversitiesNL Introduction Understanding and combating coronavirus together Universities are closely involved in the leading international Projects that make all the difference research into coronavirus (COVID-19). To understand The global coronavirus outbreak is having a huge impact on our society the virus, and to contribute to laying the foundation for a and severely disrupting public life. The consequences are also far-reaching treatment or vaccine. They also actively contribute to the for universities. Since the lockdown came into force on 12 March 2020, academic research and education institutions in the Netherlands have rapidly sharing and dissemination of research data. The crisis makes adapted to the situation. Under various themes, this e-zine offers insight into it particularly important for scientific information to be the many distinctive projects, studies, adaptations to education and other available without barriers. initiatives through which universities are contributing to the joint challenge of combating the coronavirus epidemic. This provides an idea of the solutions, help and support offered by the universities. For today, and for the future.

The University of is At the Netherlands Centre for One carrying out large-scale research in Health, scientists from the northern Netherlands into the University are collaborating with risk factors for the coronavirus. University Medical Center Utrecht, Research data is linked to data from UMC, AMC location, the Lifelines Biobank, to detect both University, Wageningen genetic and environmental factors University & Research, Radboudumc that help to determine whether and Medical Center. someone will become seriously ill or develop only mild complaints. and Erasmus MC are conducting research into European scientists, including several an antibody against COVID-19 in from , have the context of One Health. This established a consortium and are recently led to a breakthrough that working with partners in China and could contribute to a medication Iran to find biomarkers for COVID-19 for treatment. diagnostics. The GEFACOVID project is intended to lead to new diagnostics and treatments.

Human health is closely linked to animal health and the COVID-19 outbreak is a consequence of this.

4 How Dutch universities are working together and offering solutions during the corona crisis How Dutch universities are working together and offering solutions during the corona crisis 5 In this context, Wageningen Utrecht University, , This research builds University & Research is involved Leiden University and Erasmus in research into the spread of University Rotterdam have created an disease among animals, such as at expertise portal for Social Sciences mink farms in North Brabant, where and (SSH), in which on the work our researchers are examining how the they are making their knowledge disease was passed from human of coronavirus available (the SSH groups have done to animal. COVID-19 portal). Leiden University Medical Center took Wageningen Bioveterinary Research the initiative to launch the SCORE (WBVR) and Coalition for Epidemic in the past on project, in which scientists from Preparedness Innovations (CEPI) European countries are researching are working intensively together to treatments and ways to limit the combat and prevent coronavirus. spread of coronaviruses. CEPI is a collaboration between antibodies targeting public, private and philanthropic Radboud University is participating in organisations that was launched COVIDSEARCH, a search engine for in Davos in 2017 with the aim of the SARS-CoV coronavirus research, and is helping developing vaccines to stop future researchers and doctors to quickly epidemics. WBVR is developing find up-to-date and relevant scientific preclinical models for coronavirus, that emerged in sources in the multitude of studies allowing vaccines against the virus available. to be tested for efficacy and safety in humans. Scientists from the fields of social 2002/2003 sciences, , and Utrecht University supplies epidemic humanities at the University of models to organisations such as the Amsterdam, Vrije Universiteit RIVM to provide information on Amsterdam, Radboud University, the spread of the virus, differences Maastricht University, University between countries and the usefulness of Groningen, Open University, and necessity of measures to contain Wageningen University & Research, the spread of the virus. Berend-Jan Bosch research leader coronavirus Utrecht University

6 How Dutch universities are working together and offering solutions during the corona crisis How Dutch universities are working together and offering solutions during the corona crisis 7 Medical microbiologists from TU Delft is simulating the interaction Leiden University Medical Center, in between the density of the population collaboration with a pharmaceutical and the percentage of infectious company, are investigating the people present in the population in effect of a new experimental vaccine an easily understandable way. against coronavirus. Tests are being developed to demonstrate Where does the 1.5-metre distance whether vaccine-induced antibodies standard come from and what do can prevent the virus that causes we actually know about the droplets COVID-19 from entering the cells. in our breath or in a sneeze as A crowdfunding campaign for this potential transporters of coronavirus? study has already raised more than The is 700,000 euros. investigating the fluid of sneezing, coughing, speaking and The first ten patients in the simply exhaling. ConCoViD study were treated at the Erasmus MC, in collaboration with Researchers at Universiteit Maastricht Scientists from the fields of computer 15 other centres in the Netherlands. are working on a model that uses sciences, data sciences, artificial In this study, blood plasma is algorithms to predict whether or not intelligence, law, , administered to coronavirus patients. a patient infected with coronavirus and communication science sent an The plasma comes from donors who will require ventilation. To this end, urgent letter to the government to have recovered from COVID-19 and they are collaborating with specialists ensure that citizens’ fundamental produced virus-killing antibodies in from Amsterdam UMC and all Dutch rights are guaranteed when designing their blood. hospitals. and implementing so-called coronavirus apps. Scientists from Leiden University, The COVID Radar app of Leiden Leiden University Medical Center, University Medical Center maps the Radboud University initiated the Erasmus MC, Amsterdam UMC, virus and its spread. This allows ‘uNLock consortium’, which is UMC Utrecht, UMC Groningen and the researchers to collect data on developing an open source, non-profit Radboudumc are members of the symptoms and people’s behaviour application that makes it possible to Outbreak Management Team (OMT). and aims to provide a better picture issue proof of coronavirus tests with As a team of experts, they advise of how the coronavirus epidemic is maximum privacy and security. the government on ways to combat developing in the region. the virus.

8 How Dutch universities are working together and offering solutions during the corona crisis How Dutch universities are working together and offering solutions during the corona crisis 9 The pandemic is affecting us all. It affects our lives, well-being and future The coronavirus and lockdown are affecting many aspects of our lives. Which strategy would be most effective in our society As a psychologist, and culture to defeat the virus together with the population? Dutch universities are conducting research into the various aspects of the complex situation and sharing their knowledge. I find it interesting to see what people

Occupational and social The Open University is participating prioritise and what psychologists at Maastricht University in the European COVIDiSTRESS are investigating the effects of network, which examines how the virus and the accompanying coronavirus affects our lives. measures on the workplace stress, This data is shared via an open they decide to health and well-being of employees science protocol. Any researcher who and the role of teleworking. wishes to use the data for research can request this via the Center for let go of An interdisciplinary team of scientists Open Science. at Radboud University is keeping an eye on the well-being of staff People around the world are reacting and students. Every month, the differently to the pandemic. The respondents share details of their is leading a well-being, sense of meaning and global psychological study, PsyCorona, fulfilment, communication and into the consequences of the online work experience in an online coronavirus crisis. They want to find questionnaire. out whether the differences could possibly be explained by and culture.

N. Pontus Leander associate University of Groningen

10 How Dutch universities are working together and offering solutions during the corona crisis How Dutch universities are working together and offering solutions during the corona crisis 11 Only recently, social media was The platform ‘Science versus Corona’ criticised for standing in the way of aims to find an exit strategy, i.e. a physical contact. In this time of social policy that enables society to recover distancing, it is actually bridging while keeping the pressure on the a wide gap. As we now have less healthcare system to an acceptable face-to-face contact, we are literally level. Scientists from various less aware of the disadvantages disciplines, from epidemiology to of social media, according to economics and from psychology Tilburg University. to computer science, are analysing Vulnerable elderly people, people in VU Amsterdam are investigating how the research data of the submitted nursing homes, homeless people, Rotterdam residents are dealing with VU Amsterdam and Amsterdam UMC proposals. This is an initiative of the families with young children where the new reality and whether there is are investigating the problems and . the home situation is not safe and a difference between Rotterdam and social distance among the elderly people with intellectual disabilities or national patterns. during the coronavirus crisis for the What are the preferences of psychiatric problems are particularly broadcaster Omroep Max. Based Dutch society when it comes to hard hit by all the measures. Leadership, crisis management and on the results, the programmes of an exit strategy? TU Delft and The University of Amsterdam is policies are currently being put to Omroep Max will adapt their content VU Amsterdam are enabling citizens researching the impact on these the test, to say the least. Utrecht to make older people more resistant to outline their preferred coronavirus groups, their counsellors and University has produced brief mini to the virus and its effects. policy by means of serious gaming. informal caregivers. lectures, lasting about eight minutes, The RIVM, the Ministry of Health, in which The University of Amsterdam is Welfare and Sport and other scientists International scientists including experts from the Netherlands and conducting research into the short- who advise the government are several from Radboud University abroad discuss what the coronavirus and long-term effects of home incorporating these results in their and Radboud UMC are investigating crisis means for public administration schooling during the coronavirus recommendations to the government. psychological reactions to the and vice versa. crisis on inequality of opportunity coronavirus pandemic, how people in education. Non-coordinated regulations mean adapt to adverse living conditions It’s important to sleep well. However, that countries are taking their own and stress and what factors protect this is currently not always easy. The humanities are also of great value decisions to prevent the spread them from developing stress-related ‘Help each other through the when it comes to gaining a better of coronavirus. This is leading to mental disorders. coronavirus measures by sleeping understanding of the pandemic and strange and undesirable situations in better’ allows people to participate the impact of the measures. Among border regions. Maastricht University What is the socio-economic in sleep research at VU Amsterdam. other things, Leiden University is (ITEM knowledge institute) is impact of COVID-19 on the city of The experiences and tips are shared examining what we can learn from combining the measures and the Rotterdam? In their report The city in a weekly newsletter and show how quarantine measures during the most up-to-date information affecting under threat (De bedreigde stad), humans and animals are adapting to medieval plague epidemics. European border regions into a single Erasmus University Rotterdam and changing circumstances. Cross-border portal.

12 How Dutch universities are working together and offering solutions during the corona crisis How Dutch universities are working together and offering solutions during the corona crisis 13 Leiden University contributed to a had already been visited more than Our education continues. ‘On campus, if we can, popular online question session by 14,000 times. online, because we can. And with a focus on the well-being the Dutch Research Agenda (NWA), specially for children. As well as having psychological of our students consequences, coronavirus is also Distance learning has been taking place since Monday, Now that Utrecht University affecting our physical health. In order 15 March. In many cases, all lectures and tutorials, examinations are unable to attend to help students with this, the sports schools, Stream the Professor allows centre at Tilburg University asked and tests were converted into online variants within just one children from groups 7 and 8 to its sports lecturers to make videos week. This has a huge impact on students, lecturers and ask questions to a professor every explaining which sports the students scientists. And although working via screens is not always ideal Wednesday morning. and staff can practise at home. and we have not yet found a good online replacement for For international students of Radboud The Acceleration Plan has enabled everything, we are inventive and are coming a little closer to the University, the International Office lecturers and support staff to find new reality every day. There can be no doubt that our academic has created the Radboud Buddy Box. information on online education community benefits from sharing and meeting. As soon as we This allows Dutch and international in a single location via the Online students and staff (including PhD Education Helpdesk. can, we will therefore be the first to embrace this. Meanwhile, we candidates) to send each other a are finding new ways to work. The same applies to our concern filled shoebox, leading to further In collaboration with university funds, for the well-being of our community. online contact. crowdfunding campaigns have been launched at various universities for For practical, psychological and social students who are in acute financial support for students, lecturers and distress and are unable to call Some of the students at Eindhoven Topics include activating education, staff who are working from home, upon DUO. University of Technology can simply virtual classes, virtual reality, master Leiden University developed the do practical work from home. classes, chats, blogs, online tests, Healthy University @Home website, They can log in 24/7 and manage serious games and research on online which offers knowledge based on various test setups in Remote Labs. education. scientific research. In addition, helplines have been set up for various The Academic Centre for Dentistry On the Digital teaching web target groups. Amsterdam (ACTA) is also organising page, education experts from the online meetings for students. Open University are sharing their Erasmus University Rotterdam has knowledge in the area of online set up the digital welfare platform In 2019, the Open University created education. The page contains ‘Are you OK out there?’. Students six micromodules in the form of practical tips, tricks, tools, can find a listening ear at the activating education. The modules video lectures and (scientifically ‘Students4Students’ helpline and are available free of charge and help substantiated) advice for lecturers at create a personal well-being plan, lecturers to find a teaching method all levels of education. for example. One week after launch that suits them. at the end of March, the platform

14 How Dutch universities are working together and offering solutions during the corona crisis How Dutch universities are working together and offering solutions during the corona crisis 15 Contributing to healthcare issues Hospitals and university medical centres are under tremendous pressure to cope with the influx of patients while We will soon need all still providing them with the medical care they need under this pressure. Universities are contributing to the search for the talents we can solutions and resources. get, which is why I The Maxima Medical Centre in Students from Delft University Eindhoven is overwhelmed with of Technology, Leiden University have made a donation questions from its staff and hardly Medical Center and Erasmus MC has time to answer them. Eindhoven joined forces in OperationAIR, an University of Technology is therefore initiative that yielded a working developing a chatbot with learning prototype for an emergency respirator to the student capacity, so that frequently occurring for coronavirus patients in just three follow-up questions can also be weeks: the AIRone. answered immediately. emergency fund Radboud University and Radboudumc It is possible for two patients to use have launched the You have a part a single ventilator at the same time, to play (Je bent nodig) campaign claim researchers at the Technical to raise funds for healthcare staff Medical Centre of the University and related research. More than of Twente. Using existing medical €75,000 has already been raised for devices, they have come up with protective equipment and projects to a design and tested it on different develop new, alternative ventilators. types of ventilators with a special In #kraakdecrisis (crack the crisis), double artificial lung. Together with they are combining initiatives for a Radboudumc, Amsterdam University sustainable future. Medical Centers and Medisch Spectrum Twente, an initial version of a protocol has been drawn up and published on the website. Emergency fund donor

16 How Dutch universities are working together and offering solutions during the corona crisis How Dutch universities are working together and offering solutions during the corona crisis 17 Combining clinic and technology allowed Technical Medicine students to create an IC-worthy ventilator within just three weeks

The current situation calls upon (the VUmc Fund and the AMC our creativity and stimulates Foundation) with the support togetherness. For example, many of the University of Amsterdam, medical students and residents are VU Amsterdam, the Amsterdam volunteering in various places to University Fund and VU Association, combat the virus. the ‘Coronavirus Research Fund of Amsterdam UMC’. This is bringing Another example is the initiative the entire Amsterdam academic Jaap Harlaar launched by the fundraising world together in the fight against Clinical Technology professor foundations of Amsterdam UMC coronavirus. TU Delft

18 How Dutch universities are working together and offering solutions during the corona crisis How Dutch universities are working together and offering solutions during the corona crisis 19 A linguist from Radboud University which allows the university to take Donating equipment, manpower and brainpower made a virtue of necessity and, on a brokerage role with the aim There is still a shortage of tools and resources, which together with the editorial team of of linking the inner world of the the University of the Netherlands, Eindhoven University of Technology is leading to a wide range of solutions and inventive launched a channel for so-called (particularly students and student alternatives. We are doing everything in our power to Quarantine lectures on YouTube. teams) to the outside world. deploy people and equipment where they are needed. This platform allows researchers to post lectures that they normally Students of Erasmus University This is the result. A selection: would have given in a lecture room Rotterdam launched Markt010, an or parts thereof online. initiative to help market traders sell their goods online. The boat The site of the University of the shed of the Skadi Rotterdam rowing Netherlands features stories by association has been converted into With Student for the City (Student voor Within just one week, what began as academics about the coronavirus a market hall from which people can Stad), students from the University of a friendly deed for fellow students and how it is affecting our lives. pick up goods. Over 1,200 cheese Groningen have launched an initiative grew into a hit on Facebook. and vegetable packages have already that aims to connect as many TU/e innovation Space has launched been sold. students as possible with people or A university staff member asked all the platform TU/E against COVID-19, organisations that are most in need Utrecht University colleagues whether of help. Over 900 students applied. they would like to become language When the head, heart and hands buddies for international students. work together, creative solutions can be found for the problems of today Residents of a care or nursing home and tomorrow. can easily stay in contact with their family thanks to the ‘Beppie’ app. The Greenhouse Horticulture Beppie converts a postcard written business unit of Wageningen by the elderly in an app on the University & Research has donated smartphone. It also works the other its entire stock of protective clothing way around. This is a graduation to the Red Cross, including overalls, project by a student of the University gowns, gloves and overshoes. of Twente.

As an international student in the Netherlands, how can you keep up to date with the impact of the coronavirus crisis in the Netherlands? A student at Utrecht University noticed that it was quite difficult for her international fellow students.

20 How Dutch universities are working together and offering solutions during the corona crisis How Dutch universities are working together and offering solutions during the corona crisis 21 Students from the University of not allowed to leave the house and to The market is Twente came up with a solution to people in vital professions. coronavirus-related challenges during the Pan-European hackathon. The app Students at Maastricht University mentor.me connects students with have set up a babysitting service for the beating heart mentors who can help them with healthcare workers who have small studying at home and homework. children at home, and law students The app won the students a prize. are providing free legal advice to small of this city. entrepreneurs and employees on the Every day, students at Tilburg consequences of the coronavirus University volunteer for the Serve the crisis. Connect & Support is a platform With Markt010, City project ONS Soepje. They cook that connects people online. and deliver meals to people who are we are getting this heart beating again during the coronavirus crisis

Students of Erasmus University Rotterdam

22 How Dutch universities are working together and offering solutions during the corona crisis How Dutch universities are working together and offering solutions during the corona crisis 23 VSNU The Dutch universities stand for high-quality academic education and excellent research, through which they make valuable contributions to the welfare and well-being of the Netherlands, and to challenges worldwide. In the VSNU context, the fourteen Dutch universities demonstrate their common ambitions and create the preconditions required to achieve them. The corona crisis is a major challenge for all universities, regarding research, education and innovation. The universities work together and offer solutions. They cooperate with each other, between different disciplines, with companies, government and other knowledge partners, and in their European and international university networks. Only together can we act effectively in this global crisis. Together, we can do it.

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This is a VSNU publication , May 2020 www.vsnu.nl #connectuniversitiesNL

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