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Hi, I am Kasper Bos, I have recently completed the third year of the Physiotherapy study at the HAN University of applied sciences in Nijmegen, the Netherlands. I would like to use this opportunity to show you, the reader, how students and teachers collaborate at the HAN. I am writing this article because I am thoroughly impressed with the learning community and the atmosphere at the HAN. I believe by sharing my experiences, it is possible to influence and inspire others.
At the HAN we do not function through a strict hierarchy between teachers and students. We see each other as equals, and refer to each other as colleagues. Students are seen as physiotherapists who need and are willing to develop their skills, such as knowledge, practical abilities and experience physio’s with a lack of knowledge, practical skills and experience. Teachers are colleagues who have developed these skills to a certain level, and have the ability to share knowledge of these skills with others. It is the teachers’ job to share these skills and it is the students’ job to take advantage of this knowledge and to gather as much information as possible from them.
The teachers do not think that they are superior to the students. We are all colleagues with one very important common interest: Physiotherapy.
So, what’s the difference between other universities?
In May this year I went to Nancy in France for the FNEK reformation weekend, I gave a presentation about the way we function at our school. Everybody was very surprised. I was told in France, teachers were ‘up there’, while students where ‘down there’. I am sure many of you can relate to this. At the HAN, the students have a lot of respect for the teachers, however the partnership between student and teacher is much more informal. You can reach out to a teacher at any time to ask him or her about a subject, a school procedure, a certain technique or even what they did during the weekend.
Due to the fact that everybody is treated equally, a very relaxed, learning community is established. This creates an atmosphere, which makes it easier for students to ask questions, and allows the teachers to adapt their classes to the need of the individual student. At the HAN University we use a model called Physiotherapy Students Performance Coaching (PSPC), this was set up by one of our teachers, Joost van Wijchen.
At the HAN University we have a special room where this PSPC concept is integrated. In this room students and teachers work and study together. Therefore if you have a question, you can ask this straight away (this is relevant for both the students and the teachers). This room is always available for students/teachers to study, however, there is onle rule (and one rule only):
‘’Everybody who accommodates the room is obliged to drop their own work to answer the questions of those who ask.’’
The PSPC concept has become an important part in creating a great atmosphere and fine learning community at our university. I think other universities should embrace this model and change the hierarchy between students and teachers to create such a learning community where students and teachers can collaborate and learn from each other.
Learning should be far more important than studying.
Kasper Bos
At the HAN we do not function through a strict hierarchy between teachers and students. We see each other as equals, and refer to each other as colleagues. Students are seen as physiotherapists who need and are willing to develop their skills, such as knowledge, practical abilities and experience physio’s with a lack of knowledge, practical skills and experience. Teachers are colleagues who have developed these skills to a certain level, and have the ability to share knowledge of these skills with others. It is the teachers’ job to share these skills and it is the students’ job to take advantage of this knowledge and to gather as much information as possible from them.
The teachers do not think that they are superior to the students. We are all colleagues with one very important common interest: Physiotherapy.
So, what’s the difference between other universities?
In May this year I went to Nancy in France for the FNEK reformation weekend, I gave a presentation about the way we function at our school. Everybody was very surprised. I was told in France, teachers were ‘up there’, while students where ‘down there’. I am sure many of you can relate to this. At the HAN, the students have a lot of respect for the teachers, however the partnership between student and teacher is much more informal. You can reach out to a teacher at any time to ask him or her about a subject, a school procedure, a certain technique or even what they did during the weekend.
Due to the fact that everybody is treated equally, a very relaxed, learning community is established. This creates an atmosphere, which makes it easier for students to ask questions, and allows the teachers to adapt their classes to the need of the individual student. At the HAN University we use a model called Physiotherapy Students Performance Coaching (PSPC), this was set up by one of our teachers, Joost van Wijchen.
At the HAN University we have a special room where this PSPC concept is integrated. In this room students and teachers work and study together. Therefore if you have a question, you can ask this straight away (this is relevant for both the students and the teachers). This room is always available for students/teachers to study, however, there is onle rule (and one rule only):
‘’Everybody who accommodates the room is obliged to drop their own work to answer the questions of those who ask.’’
The PSPC concept has become an important part in creating a great atmosphere and fine learning community at our university. I think other universities should embrace this model and change the hierarchy between students and teachers to create such a learning community where students and teachers can collaborate and learn from each other.
Learning should be far more important than studying.
Kasper Bos