Shortened Election Program

Studenten Organisatie Groningen

2009-2010

Quality, Freedom of Choice and Concrete Results

Studentenorganisatie Groningen

Sint Walburgstraat 22

9712 HX Groningen

www.stemSOG.nl

Foreword

The candidate fraction 2009-2010 of the Studenten Organisatie Groningen (SOG) is proud to

present the shortened election program, containing our visions and concrete proposals. For

more information on the current party and it’s successes, look at www.stemSOG.nl

The SOG is an organization dedicated to student’s interests, with a very active fraction in the

University council. The SOG-party forms a critical view towards the policy of the College

Board, but is constructive in its approach. It distinguishes itself from other student groups

through regular use of the initiative and with several proposals on various subjects throughout

the last years. SOG maintains close contact with the student organizations, associations and

faculty councils in Groningen in order to best represent the students.

Vote SOG for quality, freedom of choice and concrete results!

On behalf of the candidate party,

Jolien Geerdink

Bianca van der Molen

Marleen Elshof

Sàndor Schokker

Jasper Kornmann

Marieke Blom

Guido Gündel

Anne Lenferink

Chelsea Turner

The SOG on Education

The SOG is against compulsory study advice and entry selection. The SOG also strongly

opposes non-substantial study blockades, and the introduction of restraining rules of

admission from bachelor to master programmes. Restrictive measures reduce the choice and

the motivation of students and have a negative impact on students' academical

development. Each student must be able to both broaden and deepen their academic

horizon.

Good teachers are essential to good education. Therefore, all teachers should at least meet

the basic qualifications of an academic teacher. If they do not meet those requirements, the

SOG thinks that they should be sufficiently trained in order improve the level of academic

education.

The SOG stresses the value of integrating education and research. Both education and

research form the pillars of every university. Combining these important facets in the

numerous educational programmes will encourage students to develop an academical way

of thinking. The SOG advocates introducing a flexible bachelor with a greater emphasis on

research.

Each student at the university should receive challenging education. This means: Top routes

and extra challenges for gifted students, as well as sufficient guidance for all students.

The SOG believes in a maximum review period of 10 days for exams, and for faster resit

examinations, which are better and a more effective option to help students to pass their

courses. Similarly, bachelor and master theses should be reviewed by more than one teacher

in order to secure objectivity.

The SOG advocates a university-wide introduction of the minor programmes and good

information service on minors. Many students do not yet know what is possible within the RUG,

and the SOG believes that better information will help prevent problems.

The SOG on Facilities By keeping faculty libraries open longer in the evening and at weekends, more students are

able to study in quiet libraries. The SOG has already arranged for the library to remain open

longer in the weekends during exam periods. The library should continue to stay open longer

in these periods to meet the demand of students. In addition, the overall opening hours

should be extended.

More computer workstations must be created, while not every student has access to a

laptop. In addition, facilities for laptop users have to be better. It must be possible to connect

laptops to the universal printer system to make printing directly from your own laptop possible.

By placing these workstations in a central part of the library, students will experience less

inconvenience.

The SOG believes that print facilities at the RUG must be improved. Students should be able

to use the print facilities on each site, and the payment for printing must be digitized. In

addition, two-sided printing is cheaper than printing on one side, therefore this measure will

adhere to both efficiency as well as environmental awareness.

In addition to all hardware devices, the SOG thinks that all lecture slides, readers, and video

lectures should be quickly and easily available on Nestor. This can help students to prepare

for exams and provides a better support for students who miss lectures.

The SOG issued the proposal 'Pinnen is winnen' (“to pin is to win”) and was happy to see this

realised. Now every canteen in the RUG is supplied with a pin payment apparatus. It is

expected that this will generate more sales in the canteens. The SOG now wants pin payment

options on all payment locations throughout the RUG.

The SOG promotes an extension of opening hours, a better selection of products and a better

balance between cost and quality of products. There must also be a permanent selection of

certain products which are offered at reduced rates. Existing opening hours should take the

schedules of the numerous courses that the RUG offers into account to accommodate the

needs of students.

Students with limitations or disabilities should be able to inform the central university

administration of their condition, and this in turn should be communicated centrally as well.

Hereby students can be accommodated and possible inconveniences can be avoided.

Evidently, the privacy and comfort of students should always be first priority.

De SOG on internationalisation

The SOG strives for a large number of international students in Groningen and motivates RUG

students to go abroad. A time abroad is a great experience and an addition for the student

as he learns loads of things that can’t be taught in a classroom. The SOG wants all RUG

students to have the possibility to go abroad.

The facilities that the RUG offers its visiting student should be of a high standard. The SOG

wants the housing facilities that we offer our visiting students to be of better quality. It should

feel like home and not a hostel. The students will have a pleasant stay in Groningen and will

spread positive words about the city and the university.

Moreover, the SOG wants the RUG to have a wider network of partner universities so RUG

students will have a great variety of universities and countries when deciding to go abroad.

Internationalisation should be stimulated by an International Stimulation Fund. Teachers

should also be motivated to improve their English skills.

Dutch lessons should be cheaper for international students and English lessons should be

more accessible to Dutch students who want to go abroad. Language tests should be

practised and facilitated by the RUG.

Lastly, the RUG should make sure that when its own students go abroad, they leave well

prepared. They should know if the lectures they’re planning to attend will be accepted at the

RUG and how many EC’s they’ll receive.

The SOG on students

The SOG believes that student organizations play a substantial role in the relationship

between students and their university. The policy of the RUG should encourage this, for

example by increased cooperation with academic, faculty and social associations and

organizations in the field of sport and culture. The SOG also calls for proper facilitation of

these organizations. The SOG has successfully advocated for senior management and grants

administration certificate recognized governance work. In addition, the SOG calls for flexible

handling of active students within boards and organizations.

The entrepreneurship minor - co-initiated by the SOG - is a good way to encourage

entrepreneurship among students at the RUG. This can still improve by encouraging students

to use their expertise at the RUG and the bring more attention starter plan that the SOG

introduced.

The SOG on Research The RUG does not currently enable students who are especially interested in research to fulfil

their wish to become more involved in this particular area.

The SOG believes that better integration between research and education in all bachelor

programmes is necessary. In order to help teachers get recognition for helping students with

their research, the SOG proposes a special course code which they can use to represent the

hours they have spent. Secondly, lectures should also include information about ongoing

research and outstanding scientific questions, for example by a sheet with this information at

the end of each lecture.

As well as the possibility of research in the bachelor programmes, there's also a need for more

research masters and minors to be introduced to students, in order to help them participating

in the fields of research.

Excellence in research is important to obtain a top position within the academic world. The

RUG must focus on excellence in research groups and students with excellent research

potential. Scientists at the RUG must assist in raising funds to institutions such as NWO, KNAW

and the industry, in order to encourage more research to be carried out that could otherwise

not occur.

The SOG believes that the establishment of Graduate Schools (research masters, doctoral

training and graduate schools) in Groningen and reducing the number of Graduate Schools

to one per faculty is a profitable development. The RUG Graduate Schools should be actively

promoted. If research is education-related, the student will easily become enthusiastic about

research, and will be more inclined to seek information about projects within the Graduate

school choice.

Successes:

Card payments in canteens

Extra money for education intensification

Integration of Progress, Webmail and Nestor

Lecturer-of-the-year award

Extended library opening hours

Improved evaluation of quality of education

Commercial activities at Zernike

RUG account at home

More attention for problems concerning graduation phase

Entrepreneurship minor

More attention for quality of lecturers

Improved exchangeability of grades between the RUG

and other universities

Vote SOG for:

Freedom of choice, no study blockades

Improved printing facilities at the university

Judging lecturers on below-par education

Improved price/quality in canteens

Research integrated in education

Extended opening hours of libraries

Accurate and adequate minor information

More computer workplaces

Exams corrected within 10 days

Improved housing conditions for international students

Video reruns of lectures on Nestor