Two major universities in Lima, Peru, have moved classes online this week to manage traffic congestion and vehicular restrictions expected around upcoming concerts by South Korean pop group BTS.
The Pontificia Universidad Católica del Perú and the Universidad Nacional Mayor de San Marcos announced remote learning measures for students and staff as local authorities prepare for heavy traffic around the Ciudad Universitaria area.
At the Pontificia Universidad Católica del Perú, main campus classes will switch to a virtual format starting at 1 p.m. on Wednesday, Oct. 7, and Friday, Oct. 9. Morning academic activities on campus will run as normal, though university officials specified that individual academic units retain the authority to determine specific exceptions.
Each administrative department head at the university will determine which essential personnel must remain on site, while employees who are not required on campus may work remotely starting at 1 p.m. These arrangements apply exclusively to the main PUCP campus and will not affect previously scheduled events. External university sites, including Centrum PUCP, NOS, and the Chorrillos campus, will remain open.
The Pontificia Universidad Católica del Perú is a leading private research university in Lima, while the Universidad Nacional Mayor de San Marcos, founded in 1551, is the oldest continuously operating university in the Americas. BTS, a seven-member South Korean boy band, is one of the world's most popular musical acts, and their stadium concerts frequently require extensive municipal traffic management.
San Marcos education schedule and physical education exception
The Faculty of Education at the Universidad Nacional Mayor de San Marcos has shifted all undergraduate academic activities online from Tuesday, Oct. 6, through Friday, Oct. 9, inclusive. Faculty leadership recommended that teaching staff coordinate access links and technical requirements with students to ensure virtual classes proceed smoothly.
An exception has been made for the university's Professional School of Physical Education. Because its campus is situated in the separate district of La Victoria, undergraduate classes will continue in person as normal following established timetables.
