With the increasing presence of artificial intelligence in education such as ChatGPT, the FSR would like to explore the potential of striking a balance between the maintenance of academic integrity while maximizing the use of AI. The objective is to use AI tools such as ChatGPT to its full potential without the compromise of the value and standards of academics offered at UvA.

With the internationalization bill coming into fruition, the FSR EB wants to make sure that international students aren’t left behind in the Dutch job market. As of right now, the University offers non-dutch students the following two courses: Dutch Language Skills 1A and Dutch Language Skills 1B. The FSR EB believe that these options are quite limited and will look into whether these courses can be expanded.

The FSR recognizes that the mandatory attendance is an ongoing topic of discussion and would like to open conversation in order to achieve greater clarity. The FSR takes into account the inconvenience such mandates can cause to students with different priorities and would like to brainstorm ideas to integrate the file in a way that benefits students in the long run.

The FSR EB has been receiving a growing number of concerns regarding the inconsistent application of policies surrounding the recording of lectures. It is the firm belief of the FSR EB that all lectures should be systematically recorded, accompanied by clear audio, and made available to students on a weekly basis. The FSR EB is committed to ensuring that these expectations are clearly communicated to every lecturer, emphasizing the importance of adherence to these standards. By doing so, the FSR EB aims to foster a more equitable and accessible learning environment, where every student has reliable access to the educational materials they need to succeed.

At present, the only form of recognition for academically exceptional students at the faculty is the Cum Laude distinction which is awarded under extremely stringent conditions upon graduation. While this is an important and prestigious honor, there is a noticeable gap in acknowledging students’ academic achievements during their time at the university, particularly before graduation. In light of this, we propose the creation of a Dean’s List that is awarded to students at the end of each academic year, under the condition that they have passed all enlisted courses under their nominal duration (inclusive of resits) and have maintained an 8.0 GPA. This list will be publicly acknowledged through announcement on the university website and an annual recognition ceremony/distribution of certificates and the award will also be reflected on academic transcripts.

At present, the FSR recognizes that there are notable discrepancies between the two majors of BSc EBE. This applies to grading criteria, restrictions placed on minor choices, and more. The FSR wishes to work on this file to provide students with more clarity and close gaps between the majors on the method in which they are evaluated. The goal is to create a more fair and inclusive field for students despite the divergence in course material.

A concept introduced by our predecessors, we carry out movie nights (with free entry and snacks) once a month on campus. We feel that this is an affordable way for students to relax with their friends after a long week of academic workload. We also wish to collaborate with other FSRs occasionally.

Our immediate goal immediate will be to improve the communication with the students about the event on-going on campus through utilising newsletters, other digital platforms such as Uni-Life. Our objective is to emphasise the importance of enduring awareness of university culture. In order to do so, there has to be more clarity and structure regarding student events that take place on campus. We want to ensure that every student has quick access to concise information by centralising all information regarding events happening on the campus in one place.

Building on the success of the previous year council events such as  Sip and Paint and other events that gave students an opportunity to interact with their peers and get involved in university life outside of official study hours, we intend to carry forward these events while introducing new initiatives for even greater involvement.