Robin Buijs succeeds Laura Broncz as assessor of FSW
Laura Boncz was a member of the faculty board last year as an assessor of the Faculty of Social Sciences. Robin Buijs will take over from September. In this article Laura looks back and you can meet Robin.
What is it that the assessor does?
The Faculty Board leads the faculty and manages the portfolios of education, research and organisation. The assessor is a student member of the Faculty Board and acts as a link with the students. They can contact the assessor for complaints, suggestions and ideas.
What did you think of your role as assessor, was it what you expected?
When I look back on the past two years, I can say with certainty that being an assessor has offered me much more than I expected. It was special to be so intensively involved in various activities and projects within the faculty and the university.
And what did you enjoy doing most?
There are too many valuable moments to list them all, but I would like to share some highlights. For example, I had the opportunity to participate in the working group on AI and Blended Education and the Art Committee of FSW. I was also involved in the development of the Student Plaza FSW, I was part of the project team responsible for the launch of the Social Code of Conduct at FSW, and I was allowed to judge for the Casimir Prize, an award for educational teams that are committed to innovation.
"It was like getting a look behind the scenes and discovering how much thought goes into issues that are often invisible to students"
Perhaps what I appreciated most was following processes from start to finish: from the initial brainstorming sessions to the final launch. An example of this is the integration of welfare and support facilities at a central location within our faculty. Improving accessibility and visibility for students and staff felt like a huge achievement and it was special to see this idea become reality.
In addition to these substantive successes, I have met many new, inspiring colleagues and gained in-depth insights into the challenges that our faculty and university are currently facing. It was like getting a look behind the scenes and discovering how much thought goes into issues that are often invisible to students. It was an extremely educational and valuable experience!
What challenges did you encounter? And what are you most proud of?
Early in my role as an assessor, I sometimes felt overwhelmed by all there was to learn. Every project was fascinating and I wanted to contribute and think along. Moreover, I was regularly invited to various initiatives, which made it tempting to be involved in everything. But I quickly learned that I had to use my time strategically to achieve my goals within the set timeframe. I got a better grip on this, especially in my second year. This year I focused more on college-level projects. Although these often have a longer lead time, they provide the space and time to explore more deeply and make a more sustainable impact.
What I am most proud of is that despite my busy schedule as an assessor, I was able to take my master's courses and submit my master's thesis. It was a challenge, but an achievement that I look back on with satisfaction and pride.
What would you advice the new assessor, Robin?
It is good to set goals in advance, but the best projects are often the ones that come your way spontaneously. Many files have been running for a long time or recur at certain times of the year. Anticipate this, but also remember: you don't have to know everything. Approach every project with an open mind and trust your unique assessor perspective.
Seek support from your fellow assessors and learn from the colleagues around you. Before you know it, the academic year is fully planned and has flown by. Who knows, you might like it so much that you'll stick with it for another year! 😉 I know all about it…
Meet the new assessor of FSW: Robin Buijs
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Watch the video on the original website orRobin will start as assessor of FSW on September 1. Do you have any questions for him, would you like to think about the educational assessment or do you have other ideas? Please feel free to speak to Robin when you run into him somewhere, or send an email to assessor@FSW.leidenuniv.nl.