No FASoS Weekly this week due to technical issues
Due to technical issues, the FASoS Weekly of this week unfortunately cannot be send out. We hope to fix the problem soon and will hopefully be able to send out the FASoS Weekly again next week.
We apologise for the inconvenience this may cause.
FASoS Strategic Plan: What have we done and what do we plan to do? Some highlights
In the field of HR, we:
- Started with the introduction of “Recognition and Rewards” within FASoS;
- Adopted a new Strategic Personnel Plan and updated the Career Policy in which we further phased in the career principle;
- Took action with regards to creating more flexibility for teaching staff with caring responsibilities.
In the field of Education, we:
- Introduced the position of “D4” coordinator to support the work of our teaching fellows;
- Reduced workload, e.g. by streamlining the Education Plan process, hiring additional teaching capacity, offering extra support for graders, raising the rate for hours per student in the BAs, hiring an additional Educational Coordinator, and the structural transformation of one D4 position into an UD position (as of September 2022);
- Set up the taskforce Technology-Enhanced Learning (including both academic and support staff) to support the use of digital technologies in education.
In the field of Research, we:
- Produced an extended report about the range of activities conducted by the FASoS Research Institute (consisting of four research programmes and five research centres);
- Increased awareness and action about our obligations and commitments to open research, including research data management, open access publishing and the GDPR (General Data Protection Regulation);
- Added online writing & coffee sessions to the usual Graduate School training programme, to help combat the isolation of PhD candidates. PhD candidates themselves organised a successful (on-campus) biannual conference of the Graduate School in September 2021.
We have also:
- Made investments into FASoS’s digital infrastructure with the introduction of the new Prowise SmartScreens;
- Installed LED lighting in all FASoS buildings;
- Attracted a legal GDPR specialist for a day a week (in collaboration with the other inner city faculties).
During 2022, we would like to further implement our plans for the faculty.
In the field of HR, we will:
- Get a head start when it comes to implementing Recognition and Rewards at FASoS;
- Work on (further) creating a sustainable work environment by looking into how we can make the academic year ‘smarter’/shorter;
- (Further) enable staff to conduct their care duties in line with the UM Cares project.
In the field of Education, we will:
- Finalise and fine-tune the introduction and embedding of “preparation weeks”;
- Prepare the core strategic document ‘FASoS: Educational Vision and Portfolio’ which guides education at FASoS;
- Develop interdisciplinary electives offered across educational programmes.
In the field of Research, we will:
- Work on the development of a Digital Studies Lab to support research and teaching across FASoS. The Lab is envisioned as a space for creative experiment in the production and representation of knowledge;
- Begin preparations for the evaluation of our Research Institute, planned for 2023;
- Continue to promote the visibility of our research and related activities for academic and other audiences, for example, via the Valorisation Prize, new communication activities supported by our KNAW award for Science Communication, and continued attention to our website.
We will also:
- Start the “garden project”;
- Upgrade our coffee room in GG 90-92;
- Start thinking about how to implement “Future of working @UM” in relation to FASoS housing;
- Start designing a Strategic Personnel Plan for support staff.
‘What’s up, EU?’ talk with the European Students’ Union, on 21 May
The European Students’ Union (ESU) speaks on behalf of almost 20 million students and works with the European Union institutions on higher education policy, such as the development of Erasmus+.
Are you interested in the ESU, what EU policies they are working on, and how to get involved? Register here for the next ‘What’s up, EU?’ talk on 21 May from 13.00 – 14.00.
Brexit FAQ page for current students from the UK and exchange students
The United Kingdom’s exit from the EU will also have an impact on higher education. Please note that there is still a high degree of uncertainty around future relations.
To inform students from the UK and incoming and outgoing students to and from the UK on the possible implications Maastricht University has composed a Brexit FAQ.
Although utmost care was taken in compiling the information, no rights can be derived from the document.
New open office hour of the programme directors BA-AC
The programme directors of the BA Arts & Culture, Alexandra Supper and Nora Vaage, hold their weekly open office hour on Tuesdays, 15.00-16.00 in GG90-92, room E0.01. You are welcome to drop by with questions and concerns about the programme.
It is appreciated if you let us know via email if you’re planning to visit: baaccw-fasos@maastrichtuniversity.nl.
Information on exam location Club Pellikaan
Flycatcher’s annual student monitor showed that some students are unhappy with Club Pellikaan as an exam location, particularly with a view to its accessibility and its toilet facilities. UM takes the results of the student monitor very seriously and, where possible, seeks to achieve complete satisfaction among all its students on exam facilities.
ES students can register now for a free language skills training course
As a 2nd- and 3rd-year bachelor’s student European Studies you have the opportunity to take a free language course in a second language other than English during periods 4 and 5. If you pass the course, you will obtain 3 ECTS credits for it. Please register for a course via the My UM portal before Sunday 3 December 2017.
Application 5th semester Study Abroad for 2nd year students
If you would like to spend your 5th semester abroad at one of our partner universities please check the Student Portal → My Organisations → FASoS Bachelor ES or CW/AC → Study Abroad (left-hand side menu). The application deadline is Wednesday 22 November.
Free writing and research support
Are you busy writing your bachelor’s or master’s thesis? Peer Point is a peer-to-peer service set up by the University Library offering free advice on how to write your paper and do your research work. Check out opening hours on the Peer Point Facebook page or via email.
Specialisation Information Meeting Arts and Culture on 16 November
If you are a second-year student you will need to make a choice regarding your bachelor’s specialisation soon. For this purpose, we have organised an information meeting. During this meeting professors, coordinators and students involved in the bachelor Arts and Culture will inform you about the various specialisations.
When: Wednesday, 16 November, 10:00-11:30. Where: Tapijnkazerne, Building Z, Lecture Hall. You can find the full programme here.
