{"id":114946,"date":"2020-06-19T16:09:39","date_gmt":"2020-06-19T14:09:39","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.erasmusmagazine.nl\/en\/?p=114946"},"modified":"2025-12-19T11:24:58","modified_gmt":"2025-12-19T10:24:58","slug":"no-weekend-lectures-on-campus-to-make-up-for-delays-due-to-corona","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.erasmusmagazine.nl\/en\/2020\/06\/19\/no-weekend-lectures-on-campus-to-make-up-for-delays-due-to-corona\/","title":{"rendered":"No weekend lectures on campus to make up for delays due to corona"},"content":{"rendered":"

Erasmus University doesn\u2019t intend to offer lectures on campus over the weekend. A university spokesperson said that in view of the existing workload for academic staff, weekend education is out of the question.<\/p>\n

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Rotterdam central station.<\/span><\/p>

\n\t\n\n<\/svg>\n<\/span>\n\tImage by:<\/span>\n\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\tWynand van Poortvliet\/Unsplash<\/span>\t\t\t\t\t<\/span>\n\t<\/p>\n<\/figcaption><\/figure>

In response to questions in the Dutch House of Representatives, Education Minister Ingrid van Engelshoven\u00a0suggested<\/a>\u00a0that universities and universities of applied sciences could consider organising education activities over the weekend to make up for Covid-related delays in their curricula. \u00a0At present, these institutions have to plan their activities within relatively tight time slots, as the Cabinet wants to discourage students from travelling during rush hours. Lectures need to be scheduled between 11 a.m. and 3 p.m. and after 8 p.m.\u00a0 This is intended to lighten the load for public transport companies, which face reduced capacity as a consequence of the Covid crisis.<\/p>\n

But according to an EUR spokesperson, Erasmus University won\u2019t be considering extra lectures over the weekend: \u201cAs far as our education programme is concerned, staff will only be teaching during the normal working week \u2013 in principle, this does not include weekends. Our lecturers have worked very hard over the past few months, and various studies also show that they are experiencing increased pressure of work. As a university, we wish to promote a healthy work-life balance.\u201d<\/p>\n

However, examinations will occasionally be organised on Saturdays \u2013 but this was also the case before the Covid outbreak.<\/p>\n

Concerns<\/h2>

Last Thursday, Van Engelshoven explained during her House appearance that in principle, she sees weekend and evening education as undesirable. \u00a0\u201cIt\u2019s a last resort. But if institutions \u2013 following consultation with their lecturers and students \u2013 would like to explore this option, we won\u2019t be standing in their way.\u201d<\/p>\n

The rectors of the Netherlands\u2019 universities recently expressed their concerns<\/a>\u00a0about the restrictions on education hours in a joint opinion piece: \u201cStudents\u2019 personal development and character building are the foundations of academic education. We are consequently concerned that if we are unable to quickly return to this crucial, face-to-face interaction, a generation of students will be left by the wayside.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\t

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De redactie<\/h2>\n\t\t\n\t\t
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