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“Take a look around you. Who is actually sitting in your lecture hall?”

Interview with lecturer Esther Schagen and student Joëlle Kat about collaborating on educational innovation
Seeing students as more than just students is, according to lecturer and educational advisor Esther Schagen and student Joëlle Kat, the secret to a successful educational programme. Look at that one student always sitting at the back of the lecture hall with his cap on, did you know he runs his own graphic design business? Can you imagine how his talents could shape the image of your programme, from the website to social media?

At the Department of Communication Science, such opportunities are recognized. Students and teachers work together in innovation teams, where students are treated as equal colleagues. “This provides a fresh, student point of view and keeps the academic curriculum up-to-date and relevant.”

Listen to the “customer”
An educational innovation team is a collaborative effort within which teachers and students work together to improve education. In the Department of Communication Science, three such teams were set up to fuel innovative teacher-led projects and further develop the academic and methodological learning pathways. In these teams, students stand shoulder to shoulder with professors, department heads, and education professionals. Thus, they’re true colleagues. Esther Schagen highlights that this collaboration “is an adventure for both sides, but that’s what makes it exciting.”

“If you really want your education to thrive, you must take the opinions and perspectives of everyone involved into account.” 

Esther, with her background in the commercial sector, explains how she learned that you can never sell a product without first listening carefully to the customer. One of these “customers” is student Joëlle Kat. She is part of the communication team and is (partially) responsible for the social media, the Open Day, and the website. Along with her team, she launched the Medialogica project, designing and teaching lessons for secondary schools to offer a sneak peek into the academic world. “By tapping into the student perspective, the lessons instantly become more engaging and attract more new students to Vrije Universiteit Amsterdam,” says Joëlle.

Criticism? Hired!
A key step in collaborating with students is getting to know them as more than just students. “By talking about their backgrounds, hobbies, and interests, you get to know them and their strengths,” says Esther. “Pay close attention to the critical ones. I once hired a student just because he gave me criticism on my lessons.” Together, they improved the course. Plus, she makes it a point to bring a student to important meetings or interviews.

Of course, it’s not always smooth sailing. Esther notes that as a teacher, you sometimes need to take charge and be strict. Subsequently, the student colleagues can work independently: “Thus, it’s important to remember the hierarchy and realise that student colleagues will sometimes also perform traditional student assistant tasks. Flexibility is key. For instance, flooding them with meetings during exam week isn’t exactly motivating,” Esther adds.

Portrait photo of lecturer Esther Schagen and student Joëlle Kat.

Kicking it with students
Esther and Joëlle strongly encourage other programmes to bring on student colleagues as well. According to Esther, it is not only educational but also very valuable: “As a teacher, you even get new ideas from it.” Joëlle, who has always had an interest in education, is also happy with the opportunity to contribute at VU Amsterdam. She gets a lot of energy from supporting students, hoping that it helps them feel more at home at VU Amsterdam.

“The start-up process isn't always easy, but the payoff is worth it twice over. When students get involved, it's more fun, and it just makes education better."

Esther also emphasises that it allows for social cohesion between educational professionals and students, “and that puts you two steps ahead in the learning process.” This leads to better education and fun initiatives like the annual Jan Kleinnijenhuis Cup, a soccer match between teachers and students, with alumni eagerly joining in.

So, teachers, do you already know who’s in your lecture hall?
The Department of Communication Science strives to be a programme where it is natural for students to do more than just attend classes, but where their suggestions are heard, and where they collaborate as equal partners with educational professionals. For student Joëlle, this approach has made her feel like more than just “one of many students.” She feels truly seen and heard, and she believes this approach could give VU Amsterdam an additional advantage over other universities.

Finally, Esther advises all teachers: “Do it, take a look around you, who’s actually sitting in my lecture hall? Ask them. And then you'll see so much added value.”

"Sharing opinions, sharing experiences. Sharing curiosity, sharing outcomes. Sharing responsibility, sharing joy." - Team Students as Partners

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