- Introduction- Organization UvA & Faculty of Humanities - BoS- Cases- Questions

Eva Overman, Education and communication. Mail: e.m.overman@uva.nl

Introduction Board of Studies14 October 2011

Profile Faculty of Humanities

• The Faculty has strong links with cultural organisations in Amsterdam. Research carried out by the Faculty has a strong international profile.

• 7000 students• About 1200 employees• 27 BA and 49 MA programmes, divided over 6

departments

Organization Puzzle

• How well do you know your Faculty?

Organization Univeristy of Amsterdam

Organization FacultyFaculteit Geesteswetenschappen•Decaan •Vice-decaan en directeur Graduate School for Humanities•Directeur College of Humanities•Directeur bedrijfsvoering •Student-lid Dagelijks Bestuur •Bestuurssecretaris

Hoofd Onderwijs(=opleidingsdirecteur)

Opleidingen

Examencommissie

Facultaire Studentenraad (FSR)

Opleidingscommissies (OC)

Facultaire Ondernemingsraad (OR)

Afdelingen(afdelingsvoorzitters)

Stafmedewerker Onderwijs Organisatie (SOO) (programma’s, roosters, studiegids)Studieadviseur (studentenbegeleiding)Onderwijsadministratie (baliefunctie voor studenten)Programmateams (docenten; adviseren hoofd onderwijs en coördineren toelating/selectie studenten)

Departementen•GARS•KRC•Mediastudies•Neerlandistiek•Taal en Letterkunde•Wijsbegeerte

2. Faculty - Daily Board

• Dean

• Vice-dean and director Graduate School for Humanities

• Director College of Humanities

• Head of operational management

• Studentmember Daily Board

• Executive secretary

Daily Board Faculty of Humanities

Acting D

ean

prof. dr. Jan Willem van Henten

Tem

porary director G

SH

prof. dr. Kees Hengeveld

Director C

oH

prof. dr. Ieme van der Poel

drs. Liduine Bremer

Head operational m

anagement

Student-m

ember

Anna Veltkamp, BA drs. Agaath Bronkhorst -Homminga

Executive

Secretary

• Department of Art, Religion and Cultural Studies

• Department of History, Archaeology and Area Studies

• Department of Media Studies

• Department of Dutch Studies

• Department of Language and Literature

• Department of Philosophy

Departments

De onderwijsdirecteuren

Heads of Education

dr. Hans van Rossum

HA

A

AR

CS

dr. Arno WitteM

ediastudiesdr. Jaap Kooijman

Dutch S

tudies

dr. José Plug

L&L

dr. Ineke Vedder

Philosophy

dr. Jacques Bos

Structure Departments

• Board: department chair and Head of Education• Staff Officer Educational Organisation (SOO in Dutch

programs, schedules, study guide)• Study Advisor • Programme Administration (onderwijsadministratie)• Program teams (lecturers; advise head of education and

coordinate admission/selection students)• Board of Studies • Examinations Board (exam regulation, fraud, exemption)

4. Faculty Representative Advisory Bodies

• Works Council (OR): chair: dr. Jonneke Bekkenkamp 

• Students council (FSR): chair: Jaap Oosterwijk

OR and FSR

Advise Dean on:

• Teaching and Examination Regulations (OER)

• Budget

• Nomination board

5. Board of Studies

• Advise- and quality assurance body on level of programmes: lecturers and students

• Advises the Head of Education and the dean• One BoS for every BA and subsequent MA

programme. • All dual and research MA’s have their own BoS• Experts!

Structure and appointment BoS

• All members are appointed and discharged by the dean of the faculty

• The number of lectureres and students (with right to vote) is proportional

• A minimum of 4 members, maximum 8

• Chair and vice-chair

• Lecturer members appointed for 2 years, student-members for 1 year

BoS Duties according to the law on higher education

• Art. 9.18 Board of Studies1. Each programme establishes a BoS. The

duties of a committee are:a. To comment on the Teaching and Examination

Regulations (OER) as meant in art. 7.13b. To judge the manner of implementation of the

OER c. If necessary, or on own accord, to advise the

head of education as meant in first paragraph, and the dean about all matters concerning education of the programme in question.

Standing Orders (Huishoudelijk Reglement)

• The text that is highlighted can be changed

• The BoS determines when the standing orders take effect

• Mail standing orders to e.m.overman@uva.nl

• Publication on www.student.uva.nl/fgw_oc

Duties according to Standing Orders art. 6

1. The BS issues the dean with an annual recommendation regarding the Teaching and Examination Regulations.

2. The BS conducts an annual review of the implementation of the Teaching and Examination Regulations.

3. The BS offers solicited and unsolicited advice on all matters relating to educational components of the study programme.

4. The BS advises and assists the director of the College or the Graduate School on the coordination of the study programmes and on policy development within the College and the Graduate School.

5. The BS monitors the quality of matriculated students and diploma recipients.

6. The BS monitors the quality of student counselling. 7. The BS monitors coordination between the Bachelor’s programmes and

the designated follow-up Master’s programmes.8. The BS advises on the course catalogue.9. The BS advises on the test schedules.

BoS Recommendations/advises

• Always put them in writing, even if the BoS gives a positive advise without comment

• Be specific, clear and give arguments.

• Unsolicited recommendations are possible

• Terms

• When a BoS recommendation is not accepted, it should be supported with arguments.

Teaching and Examination Regulations (OER)

• Contains the most important rules and regulations

• Consists of a general part (rules of faculty) and a course specific supplement (study programme, rules for admission/end terms etc.)

• 17 November: OER 2012-2013• 15 December: Course specific supplements to

FSR and OR: before that time imput BoS via Head of Education

• BoS recommendations via head of education to the dean

Study success

• Starting September 2012

1. Information/Intake and Introduction

2. Reinforced and continued counseling

3. Program frame-work

4. Transfer arrangement and compensatory

Course evaluations

• The head of education is responsible for course evalutions

• The BoS advises the head of education about education taking into account the results of course evalutions

• The BoS can advise the dean to evaluate certain courses

• September/Oktober and

Course catalogue

• Digital guide providing general information about programmes and course descriptions

• Advise on clarity and completeness of information offered, and if last years advises have been conducted

• March

• www.studiegids.uva.

Course manual

• Specific information about course objectives, literature , tests

• The BoS advises on the completeness and clarity of information about conditions for participation and feedback

• June

Cases• Look at the 3 cases • Discuss how and when you advise about each

case:

• The OER, course catalogue or course manual?• At the moment when the OER takes effect• Point of evaluation• Own initiative?

3 CasesQuestion 1Only 8% of all students studies abroad for some time during a semester. As international experience is considered an important topic, the BoS states that this is too small a percentage. The BoS states that the experience is a crucial part of the programme. However, the board has stated that international experience does not have high priority. Question 2A course that is offered and has received a high evaluation by all students is considered as a difficult course. However, only 5 EC are given forthis course. The BoS thinks that there should be more EC awarded to this course. Question 3You receive a complaint from a fellow student who is blind. She has difficultypreparing for her exams, as there are too little books in Braille. Apart from

that, the professor refuses to give an oral examination.

Visitation

• External assessment of the programme and national comparison

• Criteria: intended final qualifications programme structure, achieved final qualifications

• Linked to accreditation (quality mark)• BoS is discussion partner of the visitation

committee• www.nvao.net

Services for BoS

• Pigeonhole at department

• Secretary

• BoS manual

• BoS mailing-list

• Grant

BoS Grant UvA

• Apply for grant at the end of your EC membership

• 1 year stands for 2 months of student support

• For application a declaration of membership is needed. You’ll receive this at the end of your year.

Faculty BoS Meetings

• 3 times a year• Organised by Education and communication• Goal: - Exchange of experience- Discussion of current educational issues with the

Dean, FSR and other BoS members.- Discussion agenda: linkedin group BoS Next: 16 November 2011, 13:00-15:00.Bungehuis, room 1.0. First issue: explanation BoS manual

More Information

• BoS manual

• www.student.uva.nl/fgw_oc, and follow us on linkedin and facebook (from november onwards)

• Dive into the archive of your BoS (minutes, advises etc.)

• Ask for the most recent self study/visitation report