for VP Education
I’m Henrik (he/him) – 2nd year Chemistry student -, and I am keen to change that by becoming your Vice President Education!
For far too long the University’s response to teaching and wellbeing of its students has been inadequate and late - evident in the poor management of the COVID-19 crisis. I’m Henrik (he/him) – 2nd year Chemistry student -, and I am keen to change that by becoming your Vice President Education!
My experience being an executive member, participating in the Debates Union, Latvian society, and Investment and Trading club, closely working with course representatives, and actively debating student related issues, has allowed me to experience and see some of the struggles students face. Nevertheless, I believe that through targeted action they can be resolved. As your Vice President Education, you can expect me to act on:
Contesting release of unsuitable course material:
- Hold University accountable for recycling outdated and inaccurate lecture recordings and handouts.
- Advocate for recording all live lectures and QAs to alleviate timetable clashes and give full access to course material to those unable to attend.
- Campaign for improved online teaching technology training for all staff members so that your lectures are clearly audible and visible.
Improving suboptimal learning environment:
- Lobby for the introduction of a Catch-up week in 1st semester to relieve academic stress to 2nd-year and pre-honors students as well as allow 1st-year students to adapt to the new environment.
- Work with Liberation Officers and BAME student representatives and activists to stop systemic discrimination against all staff and students, as well as enforce anti-racism curricula though holding people controlling it accountable.
- Stand for releasing exam and course content timetables at the beginning of each semester.
Correcting problematic marking:
- Lobbying for university-wide standards for marking schemes, so it is always clear what is required of you.
- Expand Meet your marker practice allowing students to receive personal and specific feedback on their assessments from their markers.
- Enforcing unambiguous marking deadlines by advocating for marking late submissions separately.
- Push for earlier release of marks for regular assessments so you have feedback before the next assignment is due.
For additional information on my manifesto and aims, search for Henrik4VPE on Facebook and feel free to message me in case of any questions.
Many of us have been required to watch lectures recorded before the start of the COVID-19 pandemic with content that is outdated, high levels of surrounding noise or even conflicting information between handouts and lectures. I believe the issue starts with lecturers lacking the appropriate online teaching technology training and the lack of regulations on repeated use of course materials.
I aim to rectify this by:
- Advocating for clear and enforceable regulations on the time and circumstances course materials can be reused.
- Lobbying the University to provide adequate training to all staff on teaching technology and standards for all electronic recordings.
My aim is to work with liberation officers, BAME and LGBTQ+ communities and student representatives both to guarantee that the mentioned communities do not face any discrimination from staff and other students or must engage with curriculum insinuating any denial of their rights.
Currently there exists a noticeable gap between University’s responsibilities in enforcing previously mentioned and their capability to do so. Accountability and number of staff members responsible for protecting BAME and LGBTQ+ community members is appalling, hence resulting in marginal help and extremely long waiting time for it.
I aim to stop this by:
- Lobbying for more transparent and enforceable guidelines for anti-racism and anti-segregation curricula.
- Encouraging whistleblowing about discrimination faced as well as guaranteeing additional protection to whistleblowers.
- Pushing for increased amount of liberation officers with more capabilities to help.
Additionally, I aim to work with staff members of the Advice Place and Counseling service, to ensure no student, especially BAME and LGBTQ+ community members, are experiencing severe mental health issues and not able to receive appropriate help because of the suboptimal learning environment.
I aim to rectify that by:
- Closely working with VP Welfare to ensure access to staff qualified to deal with issues commonly faced by BAME and LGBTQ+ community members.
- Increase accessibility to counselling services before and after office hours.
By actively consulting with course and school representatives, I have seen numerous feedback points on suboptimal marking both in terms of justification and release of marks. Some of us have received the first feedback on a regular assessment only half-way through the semester, actively penalizing the same errors repeatedly.
I aim to change this through 3 key policies:
- Lobbying the university to release marking-schemes for all assessments with clear guidelines of what’s required and marked.
- Create a university-wide standard for feedback on assessments, so the justification for marking is clear and comprehensive.
- Expand the Meet your marker scheme to allow all students to discuss their feedback, marks, and potential improvements with their markers.
This would allow students to resolve any disagreements about received grades and most importantly allow them to excel in their subjects by accessing helpful and personalized feedback.