Clearer syllabi and an improved mental environment. These are some of the measures that need to be taken at the University, according to a new case report from the student representative.
The new report from Petra Holst, student representative at Lund University, shows what situations make students actively seek out help from the student representative and the Lund University Student Unions Association, LUS. The report covers 490 cases from the school year 2014-15 and gives a hint of how well different areas within the University’s Organizations work.
Several cases of bullying
In this year’s report, Petra Holst wants to emphasize on the errands she has received regarding study environment. She has, among other things, chosen to highlight a case of bullying, where a student had been ostracized by other group members during a group project.
“It’s important to remember that the study environment also includes psychosocial problems and that the physical study environment isn’t independent of the social and psychic conditions. It should be clear what student services the University offers and where you can get help in these types of situations”, Petra Holst says.
In her role as student representative, Petra Holst works daily with helping students and unions who encounter problems within the University’s operations. The cases can cover anything from discrimination to poor course information.
Mistakes are most often made by the administration
Most errands are found within the category administration and information issues. It is a broad category which can cover a late, or incomplete, reading list, grade criteria or the cost of having something printed.
“This category shows that many of the syllabi need to be made clearer and more extensive. Both teachers and students are bound to what the syllabus says, and that makes it an important part of the education”, Petra Holst says.
This year’s report is the third of its kind, and it shows that the University has many areas that need improvement.
Petra Holst also thinks that a clearer syllabus is the way to improved education quality, which is something Dick Harrison, Professor in History, newly stated as a problem at the University’s Humanistic Educations.
Text: Hedvig Wrede
Translation: Elise Petersson
