Key issues
What will the Faculty Council (FR) focus on this year?
Enhancing participatory decision‑making within the faculty
The faculty has participatory councils at the programme, institute, and faculty levels, but the visibility of these councils—what they do, what they are responsible for, and whom to approach for what—still leaves much to be desired. Even among the councils themselves, we do not always manage to find one another. As the Faculty Council, we are committed to improving collaboration between the various participatory bodies within FSW and increasing the visibility of participation within the faculty.
The Faculty Council also advocates for establishing a realistic workload norm for council members, enabling the professionalisation and strengthening of participation. This would allow us to jointly focus on the important substantive themes.
Key issues
1. Promoting a fair and balanced division of responsibilities
The Faculty Council is committed to ensuring a fair distribution of the workload and therefore closely monitors the impact of policy decisions on work pressure. The Council also advocates for a realistic allocation of working hours. Key points of attention include the career prospects of staff within our organisation and the implications of the new collective labour agreement regarding the flexible deployment of employees when student enrolment declines.
2. Ensuring the feasibility and long‑term sustainability of academic developments
There are currently several important developments taking place within the academic community, such as Recognition & Rewards, teacher professionalisation, the allocation of quality assurance funds, diversity and inclusion, and social safety. The Faculty Council closely monitors these developments and contributes constructively by providing both solicited and unsolicited advice. In doing so, we focus on the feasibility of these developments (in terms of workload) as well as the long‑term sustainability of the changes.
3. Strengthening solidarity and mental well‑being
The Faculty Council monitors initiatives related to mental well‑being. We are also committed to fostering an inclusive and diverse academic community in which everyone feels welcome. Key points of attention include strengthening the connection between the The Hague campus and FSW Leiden, as well as reinforcing the sense of a single academic community in which everyone plays an important role
4. Providing input on significant developments in teaching and assessment practices
Policy regarding education and assessment must be developed with the quality of education as the primary guiding principle. The Faculty Council believes that the quality of teaching should not be hindered by organisational challenges such as software or facilities, and therefore contributes proactively to the major transitions that are planned. Transparency in communication and policy is essential in this process.