Brussels, 1st May 2020
Dear KU Leuven Community, Rector Sels, Dr. Eyckmans, Dr. Lemahieu and KU Leuven examination decision board,
In these times of high uncertainty, KU Leuven’s community must stand together and collaborate to find the best solutions to the COVID-19 crisis. Exams are one of the most vital parts of our studies and recently there has been a lot of discontent, distrust and confusion with the way they have been addressed.
The student representatives understand the importance of maintaining rigorous and high-quality examination standards, however we believe that such standards can be attained without putting students' health at risk. The decision of holding mandatory physical exams for all students who are in Belgium, and online assessment to those who are abroad, will inevitably lead to an unfair situation for all students, but most importantly it will pose a serious risk for student’s health and that of their families.
We truly acknowledge the hard work KU Leuven is putting to ensure a timely graduation of its students and to find the best solutions. And we, as student representatives, would like to help by providing a solution which takes into account the concerns of both Belgian and International students. In moments of high uncertainty, flexibility is needed, this is why we would like to raise a petition for allowing students to have the choice to decide between doing online or in person examinations.
This petition is based on the feedback and concerns received from the students: Many students are facing a lot of stress, demotivation, uncertainty, worry and fear. But it is also true that not everyone encounters the same situation at home nor has access to the most optimal environment to take an exam at home.
By enabling students to choose whether to do exams online or in person, the problem of fairness in the assessment, and most importantly the health risks can be avoided, as each individual will be able to assess which is the best option for their particular situation.
This is why we would like KU Leuven to bring the focus to solutions which address the exam rigor and at the same time prioritize student’s health and examination fairness. We believe KU Leuven should channel its energy towards supporting digitalization of exams or finding suitable alternative assessments for those who have to or prefer to take exams online. We strongly believe no student should have to choose between exams and their health.
The student representatives would also like to provide some solutions, and have gathered several measures and ideas attached in the email that have been taken by other universities worldwide. Given that online examinations will have to take place, and is the method most universities both in Belgium and abroad have followed, on health and fairness grounds we reemphasize the request of freedom of choice.
Thank you for your consideration and continuous collaboration,
KU Leuven Student Representatives
The RESPONSE to this petition can be found here: https://drive.google.com/file/d/19J-iqYpvsUsCnkixW...
Updates
Reached 250 supporters
May 1, 2020
May 1, 2020
I AM ABSOLUTELY BLOWN AWAY BY THE CONSTANT FLOW OF ENERGY COMING FROM THIS COMMUNITY!! THE MOMENTUM IS GENUINELY INCREDIBLE AND IT SHOWS THAT WE ARE READY FOR REAL CHANGE AT KU LEUVEN!!
May 1, 2020
I HAVE BEEN SPENDING ALL MY TIME COMMUNICATING DIRECTLY WITH THE ADMINISTRATION TO PUSH OUR CASE FOR FLEXIBILITY!! THE PRESSURE IS MOUNTING AND THEY ARE FINALLY STARTING TO PAY ATTENTION TO OUR DEMANDS!!
Reached 100 supporters
May 1, 2020
April 30, 2020
WE ARE BLASTING TOWARD 250 SIGNATURES AND THE MOMENTUM IS ABSOLUTELY ELECTRIC!! KEEP THIS ENERGY SURGING SO WE CAN SHOW THE DECISION BOARD EXACTLY HOW MANY STUDENTS DEMAND FLEXIBILITY RIGHT NOW!!
22 Comments
As a parent, I fully accept and understand the dissatisfaction among students against a total unfair planning of the following exams. As teaching was held online, exams could be the same. Definitely, the same exam method should apply to everybody, online or not.
I understand that this is a very unusual and hard situation so it is almost impossible to make decisions that are good for everyone. I personally get anxious about online exams. I don't know what to expect, since this exam type has not been introduced before. We have to deal with time limitations, possible technical problems and together with the usual exam pressure it would be extremely hard to perform as we could under normal circumstances. Therefore, I would like to request the faculty to reconsider the decisions that have been made regarding the examination process.
I don't like the fact that the professors aren't taking into account that some of us cant study locked up. I have been inside my room/apartment for 9 weeks, how do you expect me to take the same level of difficulty test I would if everything was normal and I was mentally healthy. (seriously for the last 3 weeks my migraines have became worse and my eyesight gone to sh*it because the only source of "entertainment " is my phone and laptop)
I find it very disappointing to see the lack of consideration coming from the staff of KUL by putting us through on-campus exams when it's clearly not the right time. All universities are doing online exams (which makes sense) and KU Leuven should be considerate enough towards their students and their health by doing it too.
Although I appreciate the efforts of KUL to make our exam schedule more flexible, it did not change much for me personally (2 exams just got moved to a later date). My concerns lies more on the fact that the exam content is not the same for students taking the exam at KUL and the exam online + since the exam duration is shorter, the exam becomes more difficult in the sense of less questions will be asked f.e. if you don't know how to fully solve 2 exercise questions but the exam now consists of 4 instead of 5 exercise questions, we got a higher risk of failing the exam.
it just seems more wise to not have exams and instead some form of project assessment.
No comment, just want easier exam
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Brussels, 1st May 2020
Dear KU Leuven Community, Rector Sels, Dr. Eyckmans, Dr. Lemahieu and KU Leuven examination decision board,
In these times of high uncertainty, KU Leuven’s community must stand together and collaborate to find the best solutions to the COVID-19 crisis. Exams are one of the most vital parts of our studies and recently there has been a lot of discontent, distrust and confusion with the way they have been addressed.
The student representatives understand the importance of maintaining rigorous and high-quality examination standards, however we believe that such standards can be attained without putting students' health at risk. The decision of holding mandatory physical exams for all students who are in Belgium, and online assessment to those who are abroad, will inevitably lead to an unfair situation for all students, but most importantly it will pose a serious risk for student’s health and that of their families.
We truly acknowledge the hard work KU Leuven is putting to ensure a timely graduation of its students and to find the best solutions. And we, as student representatives, would like to help by providing a solution which takes into account the concerns of both Belgian and International students. In moments of high uncertainty, flexibility is needed, this is why we would like to raise a petition for allowing students to have the choice to decide between doing online or in person examinations.
This petition is based on the feedback and concerns received from the students: Many students are facing a lot of stress, demotivation, uncertainty, worry and fear. But it is also true that not everyone encounters the same situation at home nor has access to the most optimal environment to take an exam at home.
By enabling students to choose whether to do exams online or in person, the problem of fairness in the assessment, and most importantly the health risks can be avoided, as each individual will be able to assess which is the best option for their particular situation.
This is why we would like KU Leuven to bring the focus to solutions which address the exam rigor and at the same time prioritize student’s health and examination fairness. We believe KU Leuven should channel its energy towards supporting digitalization of exams or finding suitable alternative assessments for those who have to or prefer to take exams online. We strongly believe no student should have to choose between exams and their health.
The student representatives would also like to provide some solutions, and have gathered several measures and ideas attached in the email that have been taken by other universities worldwide. Given that online examinations will have to take place, and is the method most universities both in Belgium and abroad have followed, on health and fairness grounds we reemphasize the request of freedom of choice.
Thank you for your consideration and continuous collaboration,
KU Leuven Student Representatives
The RESPONSE to this petition can be found here: https://drive.google.com/file/d/19J-iqYpvsUsCnkixW...
Updates
Reached 250 supporters
May 1, 2020
May 1, 2020
I AM ABSOLUTELY BLOWN AWAY BY THE CONSTANT FLOW OF ENERGY COMING FROM THIS COMMUNITY!! THE MOMENTUM IS GENUINELY INCREDIBLE AND IT SHOWS THAT WE ARE READY FOR REAL CHANGE AT KU LEUVEN!!
May 1, 2020
I HAVE BEEN SPENDING ALL MY TIME COMMUNICATING DIRECTLY WITH THE ADMINISTRATION TO PUSH OUR CASE FOR FLEXIBILITY!! THE PRESSURE IS MOUNTING AND THEY ARE FINALLY STARTING TO PAY ATTENTION TO OUR DEMANDS!!
Reached 100 supporters
May 1, 2020
April 30, 2020
WE ARE BLASTING TOWARD 250 SIGNATURES AND THE MOMENTUM IS ABSOLUTELY ELECTRIC!! KEEP THIS ENERGY SURGING SO WE CAN SHOW THE DECISION BOARD EXACTLY HOW MANY STUDENTS DEMAND FLEXIBILITY RIGHT NOW!!
22 Comments
I’m still in Europe but had to leave Belgium to go live with a family member in another country. Mobility is really difficult in these times so it would help me a lot to be able to take the exams online.
As a parent, I fully accept and understand the dissatisfaction among students against a total unfair planning of the following exams. As teaching was held online, exams could be the same. Definitely, the same exam method should apply to everybody, online or not.
I understand that this is a very unusual and hard situation so it is almost impossible to make decisions that are good for everyone. I personally get anxious about online exams. I don't know what to expect, since this exam type has not been introduced before. We have to deal with time limitations, possible technical problems and together with the usual exam pressure it would be extremely hard to perform as we could under normal circumstances. Therefore, I would like to request the faculty to reconsider the decisions that have been made regarding the examination process.
I don't like the fact that the professors aren't taking into account that some of us cant study locked up. I have been inside my room/apartment for 9 weeks, how do you expect me to take the same level of difficulty test I would if everything was normal and I was mentally healthy. (seriously for the last 3 weeks my migraines have became worse and my eyesight gone to sh*it because the only source of "entertainment " is my phone and laptop)
I find it very disappointing to see the lack of consideration coming from the staff of KUL by putting us through on-campus exams when it's clearly not the right time. All universities are doing online exams (which makes sense) and KU Leuven should be considerate enough towards their students and their health by doing it too.
Although I appreciate the efforts of KUL to make our exam schedule more flexible, it did not change much for me personally (2 exams just got moved to a later date). My concerns lies more on the fact that the exam content is not the same for students taking the exam at KUL and the exam online + since the exam duration is shorter, the exam becomes more difficult in the sense of less questions will be asked f.e. if you don't know how to fully solve 2 exercise questions but the exam now consists of 4 instead of 5 exercise questions, we got a higher risk of failing the exam.
it just seems more wise to not have exams and instead some form of project assessment.
No comment, just want easier exam
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I’m still in Europe but had to leave Belgium to go live with a family member in another country. Mobility is really difficult in these times so it would help me a lot to be able to take the exams online.