[JODIE talks to camera]: Hi everyone. I’m Jodie, for those that I haven’t had the chance to meet yet. I’m the director of Global Student Recruitment here at RMIT.
As we head into Easter, I just wanted to say hello to each of you and just give you a bit of an update in terms of RMIT’s response to the COVID-19 issue that we are all facing into at the moment.
As you’ll be aware, many of our staff have been working from home for the last few weeks, as you can see behind me, and we’ve shifted the university to online delivery, which has demanded a great deal from both our staff but also our students in trusting us and moving to a new way of learning. Many have adapted really well to that, and some we’re still supporting along the way, both staff and students.
As some of you in China may be aware, in the last day or so we’ve just set up a VPN to ensure that delivery of online is going to be happening in a smoother and better way for our students.
We’ve also recently set up a $10 million fund to support our students as well. We recognise that for many of them this is a really difficult time for them and their families. Where possible, we’re also not asking students to be taking exams at the end of this semester as well. We’re looking at our authentic ways of assessment and those sorts of things.
So as you can see, as we’re moving through this, we’re continuing to learn and review our position as we’re seeing what others are doing really well and responding to what our students and staff need at this time
In addition, we’re taking lots of great feedback from each of you, and you’ll know that our staff, our team are working from home but still have been engaging with you on a regular basis.
For those of you that are used to working with Tracey and Sabine, you might have had the opportunity to meet some others in our team, because everyone is just pitching in and supporting wherever we can at the moment, so you’ll have the chance to meet some of our other great team members as well as Tracey and Sabine who I know support you day in and day out.
Trust me, we’ve each been thinking of you a great deal, we know this is a scary time for lots of us. If we’re fortunate enough to have our families well and coping through this, then for many of us it’s a time where we’re looking at our businesses and our jobs and what that will mean going into the future. It’s very uncertain.
Please be aware that each of you are ongoing and trusted partners of ours here at RMIT. You know that, you’ve seen us through the good times, and we want to be there leading into these tough times that we’re leaning into.
So as we move into the Easter break, I want to thank each of you for your ongoing support. You really have been amazing partners to us here at RMIT. I also want to wish the best to each of you and your loved ones and ensure that you’re keeping safe. We’re very much thinking of each of you at this point in time. And above all, hopefully you’ll each be able to have a break, you’ll be at home over the next few days. But know that we’ll be back and ready to work with you and working in how we best support our student community over the upcoming months.
Alright. Thank you so much. Happy Easter from me and the rest of the team. Thanks, bye-bye.
