Education

Facilities: essential or elective?

Many faculties have separate MSc common rooms, according to recent survey of MSc students. Several, however, do not. In this week’s integration story, we examine the differences resulting from two different types of facilities and faculty set-ups.

Many faculties have separate MSc common rooms, according to recent survey of MSc students. Several, however, do not. In this week’s integration story, we examine the differences resulting from two different types of facilities and faculty set-ups.

”Facilities? Yes, I like the facilities here. Electricity 24-hours a day is very good,” says Albert Akovuku, a Sepa (System Engineering, Policy Analysis and Management) student from Uganda, who has enjoyed the faculty of Technology, Policy and Management’s facilities during the 10 months he’s been here. There’s no special MSc room at his faculty, but he isn’t complaining. According to Akovuku, shared facilities won’t necessarily improve integration: ”You have two kinds of interaction % actual interaction, talking with someone and sharing life stories; and simply meeting someone, saying hello in the hallways. It feels uncomfortable to even say hi to Dutch students unless you’ve them met earlier at some course.”

Chemical Engineering does have special facilities for MSc students. Xiaonan Li and Penia Kresnowati, two MSc students who were interviewed in the Chemical Engineering room that was specifically set aside for them, enjoy having this room. ”It’s very handy for briefings and discussions that are only for the MSc students. We also sometimes go to the common computer room, but the Dutch students don’t seem to stay there as long. They have more other things to do. It doesn’t help integration to sit there.”

So, if it’s not the difference in rooms, then what is it? Shared classes seem to be a solution. ”During the shared Risk Management classes there’s an obvious division between MSc students, sitting in the front, and the regular Dutch students in the back. It’s in the smaller classes, in the Biotechnology building, that more mixing and integration is sometimes possible,” Li and Kresnowati observe.

Barbecue

Akovuku notices the same difference. He studies together with several Dutch MSc students. ”They adjust to the international class, instead of the class adjusting to them. They’re interested in other countries and not as reserved as the other Dutch students.” The elective courses, he says, are also mixed. ”But the Dutch have a larger reluctance to speak. They have to search for the words. Of course English isn’t our native language either, but you have to write a 2000-word essay in English about why you want to join this program, effectively committing yourself to communication in English.”

It does help when the Dutch take the first step towards integration. Vincent Lukkien, the current secretary of Technologisch Gezelschap, the Chemical Engineering study society, says that they make it a point to invite MSc students to social events. ”They nearly came to the end-of-year party!” he laughingly says. He was happy to see them earlier on in the evening at the faculty barbecue, though slightly disappointed that they didn’t stay for the party.

When asked whether they noticed this attention, Li and Kresnowati replied that they did. ”We sometimes go to the parties on Thursdays, and more lately to the barbeque for the whole faculty. They invite us, and though MSc students tend to stick together, it’s sometimes an opportunity to talk to Dutch students.” Integration from two sides does seem to be an answer, then. But the barrier remains. Li: ”Regular students made their friends three years before we came here; theyhave their lives and much to do outside the faculty. Integration is not essential to them anymore.”

”Facilities? Yes, I like the facilities here. Electricity 24-hours a day is very good,” says Albert Akovuku, a Sepa (System Engineering, Policy Analysis and Management) student from Uganda, who has enjoyed the faculty of Technology, Policy and Management’s facilities during the 10 months he’s been here. There’s no special MSc room at his faculty, but he isn’t complaining. According to Akovuku, shared facilities won’t necessarily improve integration: ”You have two kinds of interaction: actual interaction, talking with someone and sharing life stories; and simply meeting someone, saying hello in the hallways. It feels uncomfortable to even say hi to Dutch students unless you’ve them met earlier at some course.”



Chemical Engineering does have special facilities for MSc students. Xiaonan Li and Penia Kresnowati, two MSc students who were interviewed in the Chemical Engineering room that was specifically set aside for them, enjoy having this room. ”It’s very handy for briefings and discussions that are only for the MSc students. We also sometimes go to the common computer room, but the Dutch students don’t seem to stay there as long. They have more other things to do. It doesn’t help integration to sit there.”



So, if it’s not the difference in rooms, then what is it? Shared classes seem to be a solution. ”During the shared Risk Management classes there’s an obvious division between MSc students, sitting in the front, and the regular Dutch students in the back. It’s in the smaller classes, in the Biotechnology building, that more mixing and integration is sometimes possible,” Li and Kresnowati observe.



Barbecue



Akovuku notices the same difference. He studies together with several Dutch MSc students. ”They adjust to the international class, instead of the class adjusting to them. They’re interested in other countries and not as reserved as the other Dutch students.” The elective courses, he says, are also mixed. ”But the Dutch have a larger reluctance to speak. They have to search for the words. Of course English isn’t our native language either, but you have to write a 2000-word essay in English about why you want to join this program, effectively committing yourself to communication in English.”



It does help when the Dutch take the first step towards integration. Vincent Lukkien, the current secretary of Technologisch Gezelschap, the Chemical Engineering study society, says that they make it a point to invite MSc students to social events. ”They nearly came to the end-of-year party!” he laughingly says. He was happy to see them earlier on in the evening at the faculty barbecue, though slightly disappointed that they didn’t stay for the party.



When asked whether they noticed this attention, Li and Kresnowati replied that they did. ”We sometimes go to the parties on Thursdays, and more lately to the barbeque for the whole faculty. They invite us, and though MSc students tend to stick together, it’s sometimes an opportunity to talk to Dutch students.” Integration from two sides does seem to be an answer, then. But the barrier remains. Li: ”Regular students made their friends three years before we came here; theyhave their lives and much to do outside the faculty. Integration is not essential to them anymore.”

Editor Redactie

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