‘Leiden University does not recruit volunteers’

‘Leiden University does not recruit volunteers’

Leiden University does not recruit any volunteers to check bachelor theses, says Minister Van Engelshoven. That is what the university itself said to her, despite tweets from the rector indicating the opposite.

Rector Magnificus Carel Stolker was very happy last month that former colleagues wanted to help with the many reviews. After all, that would leave more time for the ‘real’ teachers to supervise the many new students. There was a lot of criticism on the plan. Trade union AOb, protest movement #WOinAction and also chairman Pieter Duisenberg of university association VSNU found it “absolutely no possible solution” regarding the work pressure. 

Incorrect

In the meantime, Leiden University has informed Minister Van Engelshoven that the reporting on the follow-up work by volunteers was “factually incorrect”. In the answer of Minister Van Engelshoven to parliamentary questions of the SP it is stated that the former colleagues and colleagues involved are given a temporary appointment as a teacher and are paid accordingly.

Furthermore, Leiden informs through minister Van Engelshoven that the current staff of the law faculty will still be involved in the supervision and assessment of bachelor theses. Each thesis will be assessed by two staff members, one of whom will always be a permanent staff member of the faculty. “An assessment can only be made by those who have been designated by the examination board as authorized to do so. This also applies to temporary former colleagues and peers”. (HOP, Hein Cuppen)