Focus on student perspective and well-being
The Faculty of Sports and Nutrition (FSN) hired extra academic study advisers to provide students with individual guidance, and helped study associations organise extra activities. The faculty involved the degree programme committees in its plans for the National Education Programme funds early on. This included the Nutrition and Dietetics degree programme committee. Committee member Talitha Laane provided input on the spending targets and explains how she took the student perspective into account.
“Some prefer to be online while others want physical education” -
Talitha Laane, second-year Nutrition & Dietetics student
“In the degree programme committee, I look at different plans and budgets. This includes the budget from the National Education Programme. The degree programme committee is consulted to approve documents. The chair of the degree programme committee distributes the tasks and documents among the members, after which we provide feedback.
Student perspective
I include the student perspective in my feedback. To do that I make sure I keep in touch with students. During the coronavirus pandemic this was mostly my own class because it was more difficult to make contact with other classes at that time. I also take into account what I hear from lecturers, and what I pick up in the corridors and online.
We reviewed the proposals of the National Education Programme with the Education Committee (OC), and discussed them with the degree programme manager. We told her what we thought the money should be used for. Sometimes we were told that funding would have to come from a different source than the NP Educational Funds. For example, we felt that our teachers should also receive funds to learn more about sustainable diets, and about eating cultures in other countries. Those points did get taken into account, but will be covered by other funds.
Online vs offline classes
We also provided feedback on the ‘new’ teaching practices, which were mainly online during the coronavirus pandemic. Our students struggled most with ‘hybrid teaching’. It could be quite inconvenient if your fellow students were absent when you were allowed to go school. Some classes benefit from being taught live. It makes it easier to ask questions. And you have more direct contact and discussions with other students.
But some students still prefer online classes, while others prefer live classes. Students often have different opinions on this. Even now.”