Arranging parallel courses is not easy. Photo Shutterstock This approach is ideal for tackling personal development or skills training across the years of a university degree. But arranging such parallel courses is not easy. Now a workgroup will consider how to improve the situation.
Various degree programmes already include parallel courses, says Marine Sciences programme director Karen Fortuin. ‘We have the Boundary Crossing & Personal Leadership course, which starts in teaching period 2. This course lets students build up a portfolio during the programme on who they are and what direction they want to take in this domain.’
But parallel courses are difficult to arrange within the WUR system for various reasons, explains Fortuin. ‘One issue is timetabling. Another is credits: when should students get credits for a course that recurs several times across three years and is closely intertwined with other courses?’ The remuneration for tutors is also complex, says Fortuin. ‘You can’t book tutors for three years. So we now ask them whether they are willing to be available for one whole year at any rate.’
New steps
A report was produced on parallel courses a few years ago, says Fortuin. ‘At the time, the Board of Education was very enthusiastic about the benefits of parallel courses and the report’s recommendations. But no steps were taken after that. That is why I sent a letter to the Board of Education on behalf of various programme directors who are struggling with the implementation of parallel courses. The board has now set up a workgroup to see how things could be improved.’
