Universities and in-person elections reopen in Italian universities, but the mix of lessons and distance learning also remains. The still delicate situation of the Covid-19 epidemic requires it. For this reason, the University of Padua and TIM have signed an agreement to support distance learning, facilitating students and their families in taking courses and using the digital services of the University of Veneto.
The agreement - explains a note from Tim - "is part of a broader project to support students undertaken by the University and provides for the supply on favorable terms by TIM to the University of 48.000 SIM cards with a monthly data profile of 60 GB and the rental of as many LTE/Wifi modems to be allocated free of charge to all students (regularly enrolled up to the first year out of course) to guarantee them free access to distance learning and the University's digital services".
In September, in order to be able to reopen safely, universities will have to follow precise guidelines for the containment of the coronavirus infection. To ensure social distancing and avoid gatherings within the universities, the capacity of the universities will be reduced by 50% compared to the usual influx of students. In practice, yes, we are starting again but with closed-number classrooms and mixed teaching.
TIM has made itself available to distribute the SIMs and the related modems through its shops in the North-East, as well as to make direct home deliveries throughout Italy and in the European Economic Area.
Students, through the platform made available by the University of Padua, will be able to book the day and time for collecting the SIM and modem, in one of the TIM shops in the North East participating in the agreement. In this way, waiting and possible gatherings will be avoided.
The activation of the SIMs, once in the student's possession, will take place through the same portal of the University of Padua, which will also act as a point of contact with the TIM Customer Service, both for the activation phase and for management support and assistance during the provision of the service in the foreseen year. The platform was specifically created by the IT and Telematics Services Area of the University of Padua. The portal will allow you to manage the appointment with the points of sale and alternatively home delivery by courier in the foreseen cases.
"The University of Padua has put in place a strong aid and subsidy plan, with an economic commitment of 15 million euros, for those who are already attending courses and for future freshmen", he recalls Rosario Rizzuto, rector of the University of Padua. The agreement with TIM goes in this direction: to support distance learning, which we will provide in blended mode, providing students with a free internet connection. The pandemic has profoundly changed our habits, calling us to provide answers to new needs. Thus online teaching will remain as a support tool for the students of our University to return to the classroom. An effort that has seen us deliver 150 hours of online lessons on average per day, and more than 100 exams and two thousand degrees in the summer session alone".
"Supporting distance learning and the development of digital skills, guaranteeing and strengthening access to the network and the digitization of educational systems, is essential to support the recovery phase that awaits us and reduce social inequalities" is the comment of Federico Rigoni, Chief Revenue Officer of TIM. "With this important partnership, TIM strengthens its commitment to the world of education through ever closer collaborations with schools, universities and research centres, confirming us as a point of reference for the development and digital transformation of the country", he said. concluded the manager.
In a month and a half since the launch of the initiative, the platform dedicated to SIM/modem requests has recorded 3.245 appointments at TIM points of sale in the North-East area and 816 requests for home delivery outside the North-East, with numbers rapidly increasing as we approach the start of classes.
