Wetenschap - 26 september 1996

MSc study handbook contains mistakes

You can say that again," says Tini van Mensvoort: the Soil & Water programme director discovered that two specializations are listed incorrectly. Anne Koning, of the Department of Communication and Innovation Studies, knew there were mistakes in the Dutch study handbook and had hoped that at least the MSc version would be better. Unfortunately this was not the case: course numbers are wrong and, for example, the course participatory methods is mentioned correctly in the programme overview but left out of the list of courses for the department. Instead two subjects no longer given are listed. Her department sent a memo with the correct information to the programme directors.

Kees Eveleens, Crop Science programme director, feels there is a need for cross checking: We checked last year's information on the programmes, as all departments were asked to do. Now the programme information does not mesh with the subjects offered by the departments or with the timetables." Jan den Dulk of the standing Committee on Education (VCO) realizes that the handbook contains mistakes. He explains that the deadline for the handbook was delayed. Extra time was provided for departments to hand in changes because of the restructuring of the education last year. The resulting time pressure combined with staff shortages made it impossible for the VCO to double check all the information. Den Dulk advises MSc students to contact their programme directors to check information. The deadline for next year's handbook is January 6, 1997: ample time to check and double check.