The ISE - like all other teaching companies in Germany - was forced to completely stop face-to-face teaching overnight in mid-March of this year due to the corona pandemic.
New solutions had to be found quickly and not only presented the teaching and administrative staff of the ISE with previously unthinkable and completely unexpected challenges, but also the course participants in the following tough tests.
After all, it has always been the goal of the ISE - no matter how difficult the circumstances may be - to always provide the best possible information and support for the participants. We have remained true to our goal over the past few difficult weeks and have used all avenues and resources that gave the best chance of maintaining and succeeding in these endeavors.
We are proud to now be able to report: There was no standstill, learning progress continued almost unabated even during these times.
In much closer cooperation than usual, it has been possible to continue to serve the interests of all those involved extremely satisfactorily over the past twelve weeks - although this required great efforts on all sides. Teaching staff had to learn new procedures for distance learning and participants had to cope with considerable technical requirements from home in order to be able to take part in distance learning.
It should be highly acknowledged that a significant proportion of the course participants were also confronted with online instruction for their own children at home and with the resulting time and effort.
All of this has now turned out to be extremely positive, especially given the development that occurred quite unexpectedly in mid-March.
Certainly one of the crucial reasons: the individual commitment that everyone - not just the ISE staff, but also every single person taking part in the course - showed during this difficult time. There was clearly a desire not to give in to the situation and instead to make the best of it.
So it's actually not all that surprising that the worst of it could now be overcome with joint efforts and solidarity.
The courses have been starting again for a few weeks now. Sometimes still in cautious formats, with a reduced number of participants, a kind of teaching shift operation, of course always in compliance with the highest hygiene and protective measures.
And with the beginning of every week, the number of courses being resumed increases.
Time to say thank you. For the fact that we all got through this together in such a disciplined manner. Thanks to all course participants who have proven to be so committed and flexible in the new situation, as well as to the ISE staff, who have once again shown their great ability to always remain able to act and be effective even under the most difficult circumstances.
It's still a slow, careful ramp-up at the moment. But the last five weeks since some courses resumed show that things can continue!
Successful restart.