Students at the Department of Political Studies were forced to study 150 per cent during four weeks. Now the union wants to start a dialogue with the institution about what has happened.
1600 pages, two seminars and 150 per cent rate of study. Four weeks for nine credits. That’s what the students at the course “Conflict and Cooperation in International Politics” had to stressfully go through in a course that usually goes on for two more weeks than these the students were given.
– I think I studied for eight hours a day and then I also studied on weekends, says a student who wants to remain anonymous.
– I tried as hard as I could to keep the pace but it was impossible to read everything. It was very intense and none of the people I talked to were able to read everything. Most of them were very stressed. The content of the course was good, but it would have been better if we had more time, says the student.
”Unfortunate for the students”
The Social Sciences Student Union looks seriously at what has happened and says that it could lead to severe consequences for the students’ studies. Some students can have problems living up to the learning outcomes, which could affect their grades.
– It’s unfortunate and puts the students in a situation they shouldn’t have to be in. One shouldn’t have to have a higher rate of study than what one signed up for, says Sebastian Persson, responsible for education at the Social Sciences Student Union.
Not reasonable
Jakob Gustavson is director of studies at the Department of Political Studies and the one who taught the course. That the learning outcomes have suffered is on the other hand not something he has noticed.
– Judging by the results of their exams it has not been a problem, says Jacob Gustavsson. The reason why the students studied 150 per cent during four weeks he says, was to give the students more time for their b-essays. But, even though students have found it stressful and have had problems keeping up with the reading Jacob Gustavsson does not see the arrangement as a problem, though he does not find it reasonable to study on weekends.
– But they are free to tell me that. I think it’s also a very narrow-minded way to reason, talking about per cent and weeks.
Normally a student takes 1,5 credits per week. Why is it different this time?
– This is the way it’s done at the other alternative courses as well.
But that’s not true, your course is the only one with that arrangement.
– But previous years we have had that arrangement.
Starting a dialogue
The Social Sciences Student Union now want to start a dialogue with the department about what has happened and what can be done in order for it not to happen again. – We will discuss it with those involved at the department. We hope that the students will come to us with their opinions so that we can work with the department in collaboration with the students, says Sebastian Persson.
Text: Linus Gisborn
Translation: Mia Söllwander
