The Founding Students

We certainly agree that a campus is a good place to address period poverty.

It's important that students pursuing a Dutch-taught program have a good command of the Dutch language. Students without a pre-university diploma, a partial pre-university certificate in Dutch, or a B1 certificate in Dutch should demonstrate their language proficiency. This is already standard practice, so further expansion is unnecessary, but current requirements should be maintained.

Yes, definitely. We need to be more inclusive of students with disabilities. Furthermore, we want to welcome a diverse student population within our university where everyone feels at home. Some students don't have the financial means to avoid working during their studies, and not all students have the luxury of fitting their study schedule within their work schedule.

Students should have more flexibility to tailor their education so that it fits their capabilities and learning needs.

Disagree. Attending tutorials should not be mandatory because students should have the flexibility to organize their studies in a way that suits their learning needs and capabilities. Clear standards, like the binding study advice (BSA), ensure that students take their studies seriously and seek the necessary support when needed. Students should have the freedom to choose the learning method that works best for them without impeding their progress.

It's important for the university to strike a balance between equal opportunities for all students and the pursuit of a diverse student population. When allocating student housing, fairness and justice should be ensured, taking into account both Dutch and international students.

We believe that all study materials should align with the course content and priority should be given to materials relevant to the law curriculum. Diversity and decolonization are important, but they shouldn't come at the expense of the most relevant study material for the program, as that is not in the best interest of the students.

Yes, students should have more elective courses.

It's a complex issue where the university must balance ensuring the safety of all involved and respecting the right to peaceful protest and freedom of speech. In some cases, police intervention may be necessary to maintain public order and ensure activities remain within legal boundaries. At the same time, it's important for the university to respect the freedom of demonstration and strive for open dialogue and engagement with its students.

No, the binding study advice (BSA) is an important measure to see if a student can handle the academic workload. A BSA of 42 credits is low enough to give students space to not stress too much about meeting the required credits, but high enough to give a realistic assessment of their suitability for the program and to motivate them to be engaged and committed from the start.

By setting clear standards, the BSA ensures that students take their studies seriously and seek the necessary support when needed. This prevents students from unnecessarily continuing in a program that may not suit them, ultimately saving them time and money. Maintaining the BSA ensures better alignment between students and the program, contributing to a more successful academic journey.

Yes, the university should be accessible to everyone, and the UvA should do more for students with disabilities.

It's essential that students receive the necessary support for mental health, regardless of who provides this help. Whether it's managed by the government or the university, what matters is that effective resources are available to help students. Collaboration between universities and the government could result in broader and better access to mental health care.

It's important for the university to find a healthy balance in the number of international students to maintain diversity and an international environment while ensuring there is enough space and resources for all students. The university should be able to respond to capacity challenges without imposing unnecessary restrictions that could limit valuable international perspectives.