1. What are the actions taken by UTP as a response to MoHE’s recent directive in allowing Institute of Higher Learning (IHL) students to return to the campus beginning 28 December 2021?

UTP will continue to adhere to the directives set by MoHE and is committed to ensure that all procedures and SOPs set by MoHE and relevant authorities such as Majlis Keselamatan Negara (MKN) and MOH are adhered to.

Based on the SOPs set by the Department of Higher Education on 14 September 2021, only fully vaccinated students are allowed to return to campus and the numbers of students allowed on campus depends on the respective campus capacity.

2. What are the categories of students who are allowed to enter the campus for January 2022 semester?

All students are required to return to campus for January 2022 semester as all teaching, learning and assessments will be via both face-to-face (F2F), online and hybrid approach. Each group of students will experience a mix of online, F2F and hybrid learning for all the courses that they have registered for. Failure to return to campus means students will not be able to participate in F2F learning activities planned by the academic departments.​​

3. Are partially vaccinated students allowed to return to campus?

No. Only fully vaccinated students are allowed to return to campus, as in line with the initiative by MOHE on “bubble campus”, i.e. all students and staff on campus are fully vaccinated.​​

4. If a student is not vaccinated due to medical reason, what should he / she do?

If a student is not vaccinated due to medical reason, please fill up the ‘Penilaian Kesesuian Menerima Vaksin Covid-19 Bagi Pesakit Dengan Masalah Kesihatan Tertentu’ form issued by Ministry of Health and email it to COVID Response Team at covid.response@utp.edu.my​. Please also include your details and the medical evidence/s from the local government hospitals.​

5. Are the students allowed to enter the campus if they cannot take the vaccination due to medical reasons?

The students are required to inform UTP Centre For Student Experience (CSE) via En Ahmad Faiezal at faiezal_majid@utp.edu.my and UTP Health Safety & Environment via En Azimie Ahmad at azimie.ahmad@utp.edu.my​ of their medical conditions (see item 4). For these students, please expect delay of returning to campus. Further information will be communicated accordingly to these students.

6. Are international students/Malaysian students who are currently abroad allowed to return to the campus?

For fully vaccinated international students who are now abroad, they are subject to the specific SOPs set by EMGS, MFA, MOH and Malaysian Immigration Department.

For fully vaccinated local or international students who are currently abroad and plan to travel to Malaysia, they are advised to get the latest SOPs from Malaysian Immigration Department and/or EMGS website.

For fully vaccinated Malaysian students who are currently abroad, your return to the campus must follow the guidelines set by the Malaysian Immigration Department. UTP can accept your return to the campus on any dates provided that you adhere to the SOPs set by the Malaysian Government. Please check and get the latest updates from the Malaysian Immigration Department website​.

7. When are the students allowed to enter the campus?

Since January 2022 semester will start on 3 January 2022, students’ return to campus will be conducted in phases. Students will start to enter the campus on 28 December 2021 and shall follow the dates set by UTP.​

The following are the dates for students to return to campus in phases: -

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8. What are the procedures that students need to follow before returning to the campus?

Students must ensure that below procedures are followed and adhered to before returning to campus:​​

1. To register with the UTP CSE at this LINK​ before 8pm, 6 December 2021.
2. All students are required to take the RTK Antigen Test one day before travelling/entrance date to the campus. Only students with NEGATIVE results can proceed to travel.
3. No public transportations are allowed except for East Malaysian students. Students can also choose to come via carpool. All passengers must be fully vaccinated.
4. Only 3 family members are allowed to accompany a student.
5. For students who are carpooling, the capacity of passengers will follow the vehicle’s capacity.​
   

9. What is the RTK Antigen Test and where are students supposed to do the test?

The Covid-19 RTK Antigen Test is a common method used in Malaysia to determine if you have contracted the Covid-19 virus. This method, which costs about RM50, detects viral protein related to the coronavirus to determine a reactive or non-reactive result. As the name suggests, the rapid test is a faster method of detecting the virus in the body and can take as quickly as 15 minutes to acquire the results. Typically, the rapid test only requires a swab sample from the nose to yield results of reactive or non-reactive.

Students can go to any health district clinics, private clinics and clinical labs such as BP Clinical Lab, Pathlab and many others to set appointment to do the RTK-Antigen Test. This test needs to be done one day prior to their return to the campus.

10. Will the students be given any consideration to return to the campus if they refuse to take the vaccination?

No, they are not permitted to return to the campus.​​

11. How will the teaching and learning (T&L) be conducted in January 2022 semester?

All T&L activities will be done via 3 methods as arranged by the academic department:

1. T&L delivery via hybrid classrooms. In this approach, students will be divided into 2 groups. Each group will alternately attend class physically or through online on alternate week. For example, if Group 1 attended class physically in Week 1, then Group 2 will attend the class online in Week 1. T&L activities will occur in synchronous mode, i.e. both students attending physically or online will attend the class at the same time.
2. Online learning approach – all students to attend the class through online platform. This is for courses with large number of students.
3. Physical face to face (F2F) – all students to attend the class physically. This is for courses with small number of students.

Blended learning approach will be used in all courses. The department will pre-determine the T&L approach (as above). All classes will be limited to 2 hours maximum.

Assessments will be conducted via the following methods:

Quiz/Formative assessment
Online via ULearn /MS Teams, synchronous or asynchronous

*Presentation/Viva-voce
Online, F2F or hybrid, where appropriate, following strict SOPs. For F2F, the maximum timeframe is 2 hours

*Test – F2F or online where appropriate. For F2F, the maximum timeframe is 2 hours

*Final assessment - F2F or online where appropriate. Final assessment will be in the form of Final Examination. The detailed approach will be deliberated in the University Academic Committee based on the suitability and standing of students. For F2F, the maximum timeframe is 2 hours.​

12. What about accommodations in UTP? Can the students stay at a single occupancy room?

Fully vaccinated students will be assigned rooms on a twin sharing basis. Our Residential Village (RV) will communicate and arrange for students’ accommodations accordingly.
Any specific request related to room preference shall be addressed directly to the RV’s administration. Students are advised to contact the RV Department via UCS​.

13. Who should the students contact if they require more clarifications on returning to the campus in January 2022?

Students may contact the COVID Response Team via email at covid.response@utp.edu.my​.

PROCEDURES TO UNDERTAKE AND ADHERE TO:

1. Register with UTP CSE before 6 December 2021 @ 8pm at this link​.
   
2. Attend engagement session with UTP CSE on the procedures to adhere to.
3. East Malaysian students to join a special WhatsApp group with UTP CSE official, En Amzar Safwan Abu Bakar.
4. Please make sure your residential areas are not under EMCO/PKPD.
5. If you or your family members are categorised as person under surveillance (PUS), person under investigation (PUI) or close contacts, do notify UTP CSE and postpone your travelling.
6. Take the RTK Antigen Test 24 hours before travelling (Only students with negative results are allowed to travel).
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