Update Kernvisie: important milestones and the road ahead
We are pleased to provide an update on progress and recent developments related to the Kernvisie. Several milestones have been reached and major steps have been taken. Now, we can look ahead to the important Kernvisie implementation year 2024-2025. Some milestones:
First-year BA and menu of activating teaching methods
All first-year courses in the three legal bachelor’s programmes have now developed new, activating course structures. These are based on the Menu of activating teaching methods that Kernvisie’s Team 2 came up with. The course coordinators worked on these course structures during a project which required them to participate in various work and design sessions.
First Kernvisie measures launched
The first measures developed in the Kernvisie programme were launched in September 2024. These included an additional formative assessment in all three courses in the first teaching block.
Development and pilot of the new teaching format Atelier
Kernvisie’s Team 2 has developed a plan to introduce Atelier, an innovative teaching format that focuses on small-scale, cross-curricular education and activating teaching methods. In the bachelor’s programme, two additional teaching hours per week will be added in which the content of three courses will be discussed together throughout one block. Atelier contributes to raising the level of the bachelor’s programme and is thus an important step in the renewal of our legal education. Atelier will be launched in February 2025 during block three of the current academic year.
Realisation of compulsory matching module: going live on 1 January 2025
Kernvisie’s Team 3 has created an online matching module. From 1 January 2025, prospective students will be required to go through a compulsory online matching module when they enrol for the bachelor’s programmes in Law, Tax Law and Notarial Law. The module offers a clear picture of the degree programmes and asks the prospective students about their motivation and interests. It also stresses the importance of language and the time investment required. The aim of compulsory matching is to help students arrive at a more conscious choice for a study programme and for them to demonstrate some degree of commitment before they start in September.
New structure for Kernvisie project and learning tracks coordinators
Following the start of the new project organisation in November 2024, the teams focusing on student support and guidance, fifth semester electives and graduation will continue. The other teams have handed over their ‘end products’ to the new learning tracks coordinators who will now proceed towards the implementation stage of the Kernvisie. These coordinators and those responsible for the dossiers will work closely together with the main team and the chairs of the remaining teams within the ‘new-style’ Taskforce. This Taskforce will meet regularly to monitor and safeguard progress and cooperation between the various dossiers. Below, an overview is provided of the contacts for each dossier who recently started in their new role.
The road ahead
This important implementation year 2024-2025 will now focus on the further implementation of the plans at course level, within the departments and taking account of educational logistics. In addition, a broad vision of student participation within education is being worked on. This will also include measures in relation to assessments and exams and the workload of the staff. The preparations for this are almost complete and are expected to be submitted to the relevant bodies in January 2025. We are therefore pleased to tell you that the Kernvisie is on track for September 2025, when the first student cohort will begin their studies in the revamped legal bachelors’ degree programmes.
In the new calendar year, we look forward to continue building the bachelor’s programme of the future with you – an education for our students that is challenging, progressive and future-proof.
Do you have a question about the Kernivisie or its implementation? Feel free to contact the Kernvisie team by sending an email to kernvisie@law.leidenuniv.nl or contacting Michael Klos, m.klos@law.leidenuniv.nl.