The semester structure is under consideration – what is at stake?
The semester structure is under consideration
– what is at stake?
In 2019, the work began on assessing whether NMBU should change the semester structure, and now you have the opportunity to provide your input. The proposed changes are mainly to divide the year into equally long blocks. This means shorter teaching periods. The intention is to streamline the administration work, improve the learning outcomes and increase student well-being. On the other hand, many are worried about what may happen to the students' mental health and the student volunteering if we get more frequent exam periods.
Journalist: Nora Helgeland
Translator: Pauline Marie Søndenå
Illustrator: Anne Trætteberg Reitan
The changes in the education system
In connection with the changes in the education system, NMBU has developed two sub-projects; Sub-project semester structure and Sub-project timetable structure. In the Sub-project semester structure, three models are assessed against different criteria. The first model is the current model saying that NMBU should continue with two semesters and three blocks. The second model is to divide each semester into two blocks and to have two courses with 7,5 points in each block. Here it would be possible to have subjects in a multiple of 7,5 points that can go over several blocks. The last proposal is called the European model, which divides the year into six blocks with ten credits in each block. Here it is also possible for ten point-courses to go over several blocks, while five point-courses can only go over one block. The consultation document assesses, among other things, how well these models facilitate shorter teaching periods, but also the flexibility to be able to have longer teaching periods.
UKA
One of the many reasons why so many students choose NMBU is because of the unique student environment. Few places have as much student engagement as Ås, and over the years there have been no limits to what we have achieved through volunteering.
UKE manager Jørgen Bonden does not think as many are willing to get involved if we get more frequent exam periods: “For UKA in Ås’s part, the new semester structure will affect us quite a lot. We have well over 1000 volunteers putting down a huge effort in an already intensive October. Should the new structure lead to an exam period right before, under or after UKA in Ås, we believe it will lead to fewer people wanting to put in the effort required for the stundents’ biggest highlight! We will probably also get fewer visitors and meet a smaller audience, which we believe is negative for Studentsamfunnet’s part and the social condition of the student body! After all, this is what gives Ås such a good student environment, and it will in the long run damage the student environment’s good reputation and commitment.”
Increased study quality
Ulrik Meisner is a senior adviser and works in the study department at NMBU. He is also part of the project group that has prepared the consultation document assessing the three models. “The background for the project is a desire to increase the study quality of our studies, “Ulrik Meisner comments. A part of the work is also a pedagogical assessment where it is concluded that flexibility is very important so that the structure can be adapted to each course. Furthermore, it is taken into consideration that a combination of long-term and short-term project-based teaching as well as interdisciplinarity is important. This is something Meisner believes the European model facilitates. “On the other hand, it looks like small maturation subjects can be a challenge with the European model since it is not possible to distribute five-point subjects over several blocks”.
An endangered student society?
The leader of Studentsamfunnet in Ås, Hedda Mejlænder Larsen, is, on the other hand, worried about how the new semester structure can affect Samfunnet:
“I have read through the pedagogical assessment and looked at the parameters that the university has set up in the consultation document, and the recurring theme is that the parameters for how these plans will affect the physiological environment among students and student volunteering are not included. These are really important parameters for the students’ well-being during their studies, and I think it is very unprofessional of the university that these are not set as assessment criteria. In its promotion for NMBU as a study place, the University is very fond of promoting a good student environment in Ås. A student environment is mainly built up by volunteering and engagement among the students both at Studentsamfunnet and the student associations. As I see it, both proposals for a new semester structure dividing the semesters into two or three will be damaging for the psychosocial environment and student volunteering. These two models will lead to more frequent exam periods which again will lead to more stress among the students feeling a greater pressure to spend more time at school and thus reduce the wish and willingness to volunteer. Samfunnet is completely run on a voluntary basis and is dependent on students wanting to work there in order to provide a good offer to all the students. In order to maintain a good student environment, we are dependent on having Studentsamfunnet as a gathering place. The best option is therefore to maintain the current semester model.”
Both AU and Ulrik Meisner points out that the criteria can also be changed and would like input. Mental health and preservation of student volunteering is something AU is working to get included in the consultation document. AU also emphasizes that a new timetable structure is being worked on. It will be more predictable by making it possible to plan several years ahead. In other words, not compress the current timetable and course structure into six semesters.
Administration cost
According to AU, it is almost impossible to get the schedule sorted out with the current model. A change in the semester structure can lead to a reduced need for administration. This allows employees to spend more time on other things. For example, the student counsellors can spend more time with the students. “In the preliminary assessments by the project group, it does not appear that the administration cost will be reduced”, says Ulrik Meisner.
This is a very important issue for AU, they are now working on getting a student vote into the work. Until 1 November, all committees, student councils and faculties will decide what they think about the various models. Until this date, everyone can provide input and help define what is important for the students in this process.
You now have the opportunity to express your opinions! You can do this by attending the Student Parliament, send an email to studenttinget@nmbu.no or visit the AU office at Ur.
Tuntreet wants to hear your thoughts on the new semester structure. Join our survey by scanning the QR code:
If you have more to share, feel free to send us a letter to tuntreet@samfunnetiaas.no
