Election programme

Studenten Organisatie Groningen

2010-2011

Studenten Organisatie Groningen For further information see the

Sint Walburgstraat 22 comprehensive election programme.

9712 HX Groningen

www.stemsog.nl

Preface The candidate group 2010-2011 of the Studenten Organisatie Groningen (SOG)

proudly presents her election programme with her vision on and concrete

suggestions for improving the Rijksuniversiteit Groningen (RUG). An elaboration on the

points of view in this programme are to be read in the Comprehensive Election

Programme. For more information on the candidate political group, the successes of

the current political group and the Comprehensive Election Programme, go to

www.stemsog.nl

It seems self-evident, but the SOG keeps on harping on the matter: at the RUG

education should always be of primary importance, every year. It is for this very

reason that all members of the SOG group devote themselves fulltime for the

interests of the students in the university council. The SOG group is critical but also

constructively thinks along with the University Board. Naturally, the SOG strives to

making small things as easy and comfortable for students as possible and therefore

we are going to do our best to, among other things, implement a payment system

for printing that is integrated in the student ID. Next year we will dedicate ourselves

fulltime to realising these plans.

Vote for SOG for fulltime dedication & concrete results!

The candidate group:

Szilvia Nagy

Thijs Beudeker

Jasper van Dijk

Ryanne Hijmans

Sanne Schipper

Marjolein Gielstra

Moniek Dijkstra

Marjolein Regelink

Education

To students the core task of a university is to provide inspiring and challenging

academic education. In line with the university’s aspiration to belong to the top of

European universities fits the ambition to offer high-level study programmes. The

quality of education and the yield with that can be improved by offering

personalised counselling, comprehensive evaluations and an emphasis on the

teaching skills of professors. With this support students should be offered as much

freedom as possible to get out of their study as much as possible. The SOG finds that

quality of education should always be at #1 in order to guarantee study programmes

of high academic extent.

Education at #1!

Good education demands well-educated professors. The basic qualification for

education (BKO) is an excellent method for guaranteeing the quality of professors or

improving it where needed. In the future the senior qualification for education (SKO)

should be implemented.1 Additionally, the entire system of quality management

should be strengthened by which professors can be judged on poor education. In

the view of the SOG this can be realised for a large part on the basis of the following

three means: professor assessments, course evaluation and curriculum

evaluations.2,3,4

Judge professors on poor education

A student studies best if he is challenged by the education he receives. Offering

bespoke and interactive education, guest lectures for example, can enhance this. In

addition to that offering extra-curricular activities is interesting for students to

broaden their knowledge and skills. Broadening interactive ways of working and

small-scale education will lead to a greater involvement of the students.

More interactive education

According to the SOG problems with the progress booked by students is caused by a

lack of challenging and qualitatively high education, flexibility and guidance.

Difficult subject (so-called “obstacle subjects”) should be clearly dealt with. More

intensive counselling (especially for first-year students, recidivists and graduate

students), inspiring professors and sound feedback will improve yields demonstrably. 5

Offering personalised educational counselling

1 UR “Nota Universiteitsraad Project BKO/SKO”, UU, February 2009.

2 SOG-note “Evalueren kun je Leren”, January 2008.

3 SOG-note “Evaluaties Geëvalueerd”, April 2009.

4 COWI “Toevoeging Curriculumevaluatie Handboek Kwaliteitszorg”, RUG, March 2009.

5 SOG-note “Drijfveer achter Studiesucces”, February 2008.

An important aspect of education is the assessment of knowledge and

competences. The SOG is of the opinion that the way of assessment should do justice

to the academic grade of education. Therefore there should be sufficient space for

assessment by means of writing articles and open questions.

The RUG is also the centre of the academic society. The SOG is of the option that the

university has to facilitate a wide variety of challenging extra-curricular activities that

add to the freedom of choice and academic cultivation. Sound advice and

guidance must not be forgotten in this. Students should commence a bachelor’s

course well-informed, make a contemplated choice for a minor, receive clear

information on master studies and be pointed to future career possibilities.

Focus on career possibilities

Because of the traditionally wide spectre of studies that are offered the RUG is a

relatively large university that attracts students with very diverse interests. Because of

this the SOG is of the opinion that flexible bachelor courses would be appealing to

students. This system should be more broadly implemented within the RUG.

Unfortunately current studies are often broad but inflexible. It is therefore important

that study programmes offer the possibility of choosing from a broad range of

courses.

Freedom of choice

Research

Top universities are characterised by a good balance between education and

research. The SOG greatly values this and has been emphasising the added value of

sound integration of education and research for years. By interweaving both core

tasks from year one on students will be stimulated in the development of an

academic attitude. The vision of the SOG on research in this sense is focused on

three subjects.

Research should be visible and accessible in the Bachelor phase and be integrated

from the first year of study on. Guidance for doing research has to be more

structured. Additionally, top researchers should be employed within the faculty as

broadly as possible.

Lastly, researchers should collaborate with businesses and societal organisations. The

SOG stands for maintaining broad and fundamental research at the RUG. Scientists

have to be aware of their social position at all times.

Internationalisation

The SOG want that 50% of the students at the RUG acquire study experiences

abroad. Professors too should have attention for internationalisation: 20% of the staff

of the RUG should be attracted from abroad.6 This corresponds with the current vision

of the RUG. Our university can be proud of her 2250 international students from more

than 100 different countries. However, a lot can still be improved.

In order to stimulate 50% of the RUG students to go abroad various programs for

studying and doing research abroad have to be offered. Students who need support

could be offered international minors or exchange programmes. Adventurous

students could set out their own course of study abroad. To make the threshold as

low as possible for students unambiguous and simple policies must be introduced

with regard to internationalisation.7 This has to be well-communicated to the students

and the International Office should be able to help anyone who has questions about

going abroad.

Going abroad during a minor

The RUG needs to have an attractive network of partner universities. This offer should

be a mix of universities in popular continents and universities that offer a qualitatively

high educational programme. In addition to that, the current network has to be

utilised better: it happens too often that students ignore excellent universities in

countries close to the Netherlands. The SOG is of the opinion that more students

should obtain study experiences abroad.

6 Note of the University Board: “De wereld als podium”, November 2005.

7 SOG-note “The RUG is not Enough”, March 2007.

Facilities

Facilities play a special role within the academic community. They do not play a key

role, as opposed to education and research, but at the same time cannot be

eliminated from a student’s daily study life. Facilities are to be divided into two

categories: digital affairs (ProgressWWW, Nestor, RUGmail, etc.) and physical affairs

(study- and computer workplaces). Nevertheless, there is always overlap for example

with the possibility for paying with a student ID.

An increasing emphasis is being put on interactive and problem-solving education in

which students have to write and collaborate a lot. This should also be supported by

the facilities. It is for this reason that the SOG pleads for more group and computer

workplaces. Additionally, students must have access to IT facilities at home too. The

SOG is pleased that in pursuance of the SOG-note “Thuis voor de buis” it has been

decided to start a pilot with using the University Workplaces (UWP) at home. By this

way students can make use of RUG software at any computer. This system must be

implemented university wide. And in addition to that the RUG must continue to invest

in (computer) workplaces at the university. This is important in view of the increasing

number of students and the current stir at the workplace.

More study en computer workplaces

In earlier notes the SOG advocated the integration and equalisation of

communication channels and personal communication to the student. 8,9

Communication via many different channels is absolutely not clear. The SOG

proposes to communicate with students via Nestor. Students must compose a

communication package with study and subject information, announcements of

study associations and initiatives like Studium Generale. RUGmail and ProgressWWW

must be integrated too.

Additionally, the SOG is of the opinion that better IT facilities have to be introduced.

There where these facilities have been installed they should be better utilised. The

SOG stands for providing more video lectures. Video lectures are an extra provision

and to not serve as a complete substitution for a normal lecture. By this way lectures

of difficult subjects (“obstacle subjects”) and matter that a student does not yet fully

master can be comfortably and easily reviewed at any time. Therefore the SOG also

wants that the RUG provides for rooms with all necessary appliances and in addition

to that sufficient infrastructure for making providing video lectures on Nestor possible.

The SOG saw to it that the University Library remained open longer during the

weekends in exam periods. But also outside of the exam periods extended opening

hours should be applied so that students have more opportunity to study there. There

must be the possibility to study at any faculty library during the weekends too.10

Extended opening hours of university and faculty libraries

8 SOG-note “Een voor Allen, Alles in Een”, August 2006.

9 SOG-note “Ik Zie Ik Zie Wat Jij Niet Ziet”, June 2008. 10 SOG general question: “Verruimde openingstijden UB”, December 2008.

The SOG suggests to pay with the student ID.11 The current system with paper XAFAX-

cards does not suffice and must therefore be replaced. The student ID can

eventually be used for much more.

Paying with your student ID

Organisation

In addition to good studies and motivated students a properly working organisation is

of great importance within the university. An organisation where students and

employees form an academic community and where people work together to bring

the RUG to a higher level.12 Good profiling, alumni policy, sustainability and

cooperation with other parties are of tremendous importance for that, in which the

SOG also sets great value on that many student organisations that Groningen has. It

is important that a student receives a lot of freedom to develop himself next to his

study.

Additionally, the SOG attaches value to an active role in the participation within the

“Harmoniemodel”. The university has to facilitate an active role in student

organisations and participation because this can contribute to the education of a

student to an adequate academic.

Freedom of choice

11 SOG note “Allemaal, digitaal!”, January 2010. 12 SOG note “I love RUG”, November 2009.

Standpoints

Education at #1!

Fulltime dedication for your vote

Going abroad during your minor

Paying with your student ID

Judge professors on poor education

Focus on career possibilities

More interative education

Extended opening hours of university and faculty libraries

Offering personalised educational counselling

More study en computer workplaces

Freedom of choice

VOTE FOR SOG!