Start of Exams in Westfalenhalle 3

“German as a Second Language” – this was the subject of an exam that over 700 students from TU Dortmund University took on 25 June. For the first time in the University’s history, the exam had been shifted to Westfalenhalle 3, a hall in the exhibition center. An estimated 7,500 students have taken their written exams there during this period – in line with an ingenious hygiene concept aimed at preventing coronavirus infections.

The reason for shifting the exams elsewhere is the coronavirus pandemic. Room capacities at TU Dortmund University can only cater for exams with up to 200 students – if hygiene and distancing rules are to be observed. And even these exams sometimes have to be spread over several lecture halls, since even in the main lecture hall only a tenth of the 800 places can be filled.

Students praise implementation of hygiene concept

It is the supplementary exams for the 2019/20 winter semester with large numbers of students which are currently being packed into just six days up until 2 July and taking place in Westfalenhalle 3. There are several exams each day. The first students flocked into the building on the morning of 25 June. Kira Hein, who is in the second semester of her bachelor’s teaching degree, also came to the exhibition center to sit her “German as a Second Language” exam. This had, in fact, been scheduled for 16 March but was then cancelled at short notice because of the coronavirus pandemic. “It’s good that things are getting going again,” she said, “but I’m really fidgety ahead of the exam.”

Two signs explaining the main rules of conduct. — Signs detailing the most important hygiene rules showed students the way.

For Lukas Herrmann, who is studying “Special Educational Needs” and in the fourth semester of his bachelor’s degree, it was a bit like being at a “gig”. “You’ve got to hand it to the University. They’ve arranged things really well as far as the exams are concerned,” he said. Dr. Olga Naumovich, who co-supervises the “German as a Second Language” module at the Faculty of Cultural Studies, was also satisfied: “Everything is running smoothly here, although we’re writing six different ‘German as a Second Language’ exams in the exhibition center.” A pigeon that had briefly lost its bearings and flown into the hall caused a slight commotion before the first exam. Whether or not it wanted to sit it remained unclear.

A special surprise at the end of the exam

TU Dortmund University has developed a hygiene concept for the exams taking place in the exhibition center. It includes, for example, minimum distances between examinees, who must wear a mask when they arrive but not when seated. All chairs and tables as well as corridors, aisles and sanitary facilities are disinfected by service staff during the breaks between exams. Examinees can also arrive by car; parking spaces at the exhibition center have been specially reserved.

After the exam, a little surprise awaited the students: At 10.00 a.m., funDOmio, a pop-up amusement park, opened in the grounds of the exhibition center and the examinees were granted free entrance. If you wanted to, you could round off your first exam in the exhibition center with a relaxing ride on the carousel.

Impressions from the first exam in the Westfalenhalle exhibition center:

© Felix Schmale/TU Dortmund

The first supplementary exam took place in Westfalenhalle 3, a hall in the exhibition center, on Thursday, 25 June.
© Felix Schmale/TU Dortmund

When registering, the examinees kept to the markings on the floor which indicated the minimum distance.
© Ina Fassbender/afp

Rules not only applied when entering the exam room: Minimum distances were specified in the hygiene concept for the duration of the exam too. However, students did not have to wear a mask when seated.
© Felix Schmale/TU Dortmund

...and then, after the work was done, left the exhibition center again in accordance with the hygiene rules.