Our core mission is to represent the interests of all FSW employees within the Faculty’s General Assembly (FJA), working to improve working conditions and the work environment. We also engage with important topics such as the five-year strategy and the Education and Examination Regulations (EER), and we advise on the implementation of policies and financial plans.
Education
Last year, we worked hard to improve the recognition of excellent teaching. We reviewed the teaching awards process to ensure it fairly reflects and rewards excellent teaching efforts. Additionally, we were closely involved in the “Recognition and Rewards” initiative, which aims for a more balanced way of recognising academic quality within our faculty. In response to faculty-wide changes in the process for obtaining the University Teaching Qualification (UTQ), we provided advice to the Faculty Board (FB) and closely monitored the implementation of these changes. We also urged the faculty to take a stronger stance against the ‘Motie Hertzberger’ and its impact on English-taught education and our English-speaking colleagues.
Organisation and Policy
- Maria Montessori building: Since the opening of the building, we have continuously monitored feedback from staff and passed concerns on to the FB. Recurring issues include high levels of carbon dioxide in some shared offices and insufficient soundproofing, leading to noise disturbance.
- ICT: We addressed problems related to the distribution of technology and the suitability of equipment, especially for home workspaces.
- Communication: We repeatedly informed the FB when staff felt inadequately informed, heard, or represented.
- Employment & Appointments: We made proposals to improve the procedures surrounding the annual appraisal. In addition, we provided advice on standardising procedures for appointing professors and extending terms for positions such as directors and (vice) deans.
- Organisation and Regulations: We have been actively involved in updating the faculty’s regulations and implementing the university’s governance model within the faculty.
Campus Protests
Due to the ongoing war in Gaza, universities across the country have seen protests, including on our campus, reflecting the deep concerns, helplessness, and anger among students and staff. The RC has engaged in intensive discussions with many stakeholders to understand the complexity of these issues and the different perspectives involved. We participated in discussions with the FJA to find ways to acknowledge the concerns of the protesters and explore possible solutions.
Focus on Social Safety
Ensuring a safe and inclusive environment remains a top priority. Based on input from our community, we have repeatedly engaged in discussions with the FB and advised them on how to handle and communicate regarding reports of transgressive behaviour.
Looking Back and Ahead
The past year has been marked by significant activity, particularly around social safety and campus protests. We have had regular constructive conversations with the FB and have provided more unsolicited advice than in previous years. The coming year promises to be equally challenging, with inevitable financial cuts on the horizon. The scale of these cuts for Radboud University and our faculty is not yet known, but the FB has already started brainstorming with directors of research institutes, educational programme directors, support staff, and us about potential areas for cuts and their impact on different parts of the faculty.
Despite these challenges, we are confident that we will once again play a crucial role in shaping the direction of the faculty, as the FB has consistently involved us and taken our advice to heart over the past year.
If this update has sparked your interest in our work and you think this might be something for you, consider joining the RC. The next biennial elections for the Representative Council will be held in April 2025.
Do you have any questions or would you like to discuss something? Feel free to contact our chair, Gero Lange (gero.lange [at] ru.nl (gero[dot]lange[at]ru[dot]nl)), or drop by for a coffee and a chat in MM 03.330.