The Dublin University Business and Economics Society (DUBES) has decided to hold all speaker events for the upcoming Michaelmas term online, the society has announced.
This move is in response to the current coronavirus pandemic, in line with the social distancing measures provided by the government.
DUBES typically hosts speaker events every few weeks with attendee numbers that would pose a challenge for social distancing.
Auditor and Chair of the DUBES Committee Conor Murdoch stated: “At DUBES, the health and safety of our members and guest speakers is our number 1 priority, and we believe that by hosting our events online we will best be able to ensure that safety while still providing our members with the engaging and educational content that they have come to expect from our society.”
“We hope to make this transition to online events as smooth as possible, and we are committed to running them to the same standard as any in-person event we have held in the past,” he added.
DUBES’ statement also outlined that the Central Societies’ Committee (CSC) has provided societies with access to its professional Zoom license, allowing DUBES and other societies to host speakers’ events entirely online and use features like Q&A periods, online polls, and
live chats.
“As of now, the society aims to return to its regular, in-person, events in the second academic term. However, this is dependent on the appropriate guidance at the time, and is liable to change subject to that guidance.”
“Furthermore, over the next couple months, DUBES will be trialling several other methods
designed to encourage online engagement and promote membership in the society for both
returning members and the incoming class of first years,” the statement continued.
College announced earlier this week that the next academic term will begin on 28 September 2020, pushing back the original starting date by three weeks.
College also added that while they plan to hold as much in-person teaching as possible, larger lectures will take place online. College’s “hybrid” model will see “seminars, tutorials and laboratory classes” take place in person.
