Still not enough student places at Aarhus BSS
During the exam period there is increased pressure on the student places around the campus. So the students were critical of the decision to axe 40-50 student places at Aarhus BSS to make room for a career centre. The criticism had an effect and 55 new student places were created. Thanks say the students – now we’re back to status quo again.
There was annoyance and frustration among students at Fuglesangs Allé in Aarhus, when 40-50 student places on the fourth floor of the S building were axed to make room for a career centre. And the fact that this happened in November just before the exam period, when there is extra demand for the places, certainly did not help matters.
"It’s a problem that they did away with the student places in favour of administration. My class used them a lot. It was a really good place for group work and they were among the best student places anywhere," says economics student Sidsel Åris Petersen.
55 new places
Back in December, Eigil Jensen – head of building services at Aarhus BSS – promised to look into the possibility of replacing the missing student places. Now the department has succeeded in creating 55 new student places in the premises that previously housed the career centre.
"I think it was obvious to use the location for student places, and I think they’re attractive places centrally located by the main entrance."
These are temporary places, as was the case with the places that were axed in the S building.
"Having said that, it’s not the case that others are eager to take over the area," says Eigil Jensen, who is generally aware of the lack of student places. He also hopes to be able to create additional new places in the I building.
What I had hoped
Sidsel Åris Petersen has not yet had the opportunity to use the new student places.
"But I can see that several of my class has used them. I think it's great that the management has responded to the criticism and shown that they are focused on preserving the student places. That’s precisely what we were hoping to see when we criticised the original decision."
She doesn’t have a problem with the places not being in the S building and only being temporary.
"What’s important is that the management takes notice of the general lack of student places."
Status quo
At the Oecon Council, council members are also satisfied that the student places have been replaced. But according to Louise Munck Højgaard, who is one of the members of the Oecon Council and vice-chair of the programme board of studies at Economics and Management, that’s not enough in itself.
"It’s good that the places have been re-established. But we also lacked student places even before the places on the fourth floor of the S building were done away with. So now we’re back at status quo and the problem has not been addressed yet."
She acknowledges, however, that it is easier said than done to address the problem.
"There is a lot of pressure on the premises at Aarhus BSS and around Aarhus University in general. So we don’t have a ready proposal for a solution either. But it’s good to know that the management is aware of the problem. And all places are welcome."
Translated by Peter Lambourne