Bloggers Blogger Geert’s study time in Wageningen is almost over. In the few remaining blogs he writes for Resource until the end of the year, he looks back upon his years as a bachelor’s student Economy and Governance. In February he moves to the UvA (University of Amsterdam).
During my time in Wageningen, I have had all sorts of different types of teachers. And when I say teachers, I mean in the original Latin meaning of the word: educators or instructors. This includes professors, lecturers and student-assistants. Some are strict, some allow everything. And, while some teachers are absolute experts in their field, others are true masters in the skill of educating. After three years of following a bachelor’s, I can conclude that, although each teacher is different, they are generally all great people.
After three years of following a bachelor’s, I can conclude that teachers are all great people.
Thus, I have no complaints about the WUR teaching staff. What did occasionally grind my gears over the past years, is my position compared to that of the teacher’s. I see the relationship between students and teachers as a horizontal one, since we are al humans, after all. Therefore, I prefer that teachers see me as an equal. However, I am pretty sure there are both students and teachers who differ on this issue.
Of course, there is a certain respect and reverence for teachers. They take time and trouble to share their expertise with a new generation. During my time at the Maastricht University College, before coming to Wageningen, it was customary to applaud after each lecture. Personally, I think this is taking it a bit far: the lecturers are just doing their job after all.
Is there a formal (top-down) relation between university lecturers and students?
In addition to these unwritten rules, I am curious about the written rules, stubborn as I am. Can a teacher remove me from the lecture hall? To what degree can I make claims as a result of paying for lectures? Is there a formal (top-down) relation between university lecturers and students? Naturally, teachers are authorised to assess the student’s academic achievements. Is this where their authority lies? Or is that power neutralised by examination protocols and revision models?
Most of these issues work themselves out because every student and teacher has a moral compass. Although it is nice to know this is the case, the mechanics are not entirely fail-proof. It annoys me that during my student career, the ten-day revision deadline for exams was frequently exceeded. Moreover, not once did I receive an email explaining that correcting my exams is taking longer than expected. So, what is a revision-deadline worth? And why is my failing to meet a deadline suddenly a problem?
Geert van Zandbrink has almost completed his bachelor’s in Economics and Governance. In February, he continues his studies at the UvA.