What are the activities of a Programme Committee at Leiden Law School?
The programme committees at Leiden Law School play an important role in staff and student participation. What are the activities of such commitee?
There are two types: the small, individual programme committees (OLC) and the Joint Programme Committee (GOLC). The GOLC met for the first time this academic year on 17 November. The meeting room was filled with students and staff representing all the degree programmes within our faculty. Below, we explain what a programme committee actually does, accompanied by photos and comments from the students and lecturers who attended the meeting.
'I’d like to give something back to the university and if something can be improved, I’d like to be a part of that.'
Student member master’s
Small programme committees: focus on a specific programme
The small programme committees are composed of students and staff from one specific degree programme. For bachelor’s programmes, at least one student member represents each year of the programme. For master’s programmes, at least two students are members of the committee. The Programme Director of the degree programme chairs the meetings.
These small committees discuss topics directly related to the programme, such as the annual report, course evaluations, curriculum structure, and quality assurance of the programme. They look more closely at what the programme needs to keep teaching up-to-date, coherent and of a high quality.
The GOLC: a joint vision on faculty-wide policy
All small programme committees are represented at the meetings of the Joint Programme Committee. Topics that affect the whole faculty are discussed at these meetings. For example, the Course and Examination Regulations (OER), policy on timetables and assessments, and other strategic or policy-related themes in the area of education.
'I have a disability myself, and for that reason I would also like to make sure the voices of students with disabilities are heard.'
Student member
How it works in practice
The first GOLC meeting of the 2025–2026 academic year got off to a strong start. The agenda featured two important topics: principles for the teaching and examination timetables, and a new faculty-wide policy on exam review and feedback.
The members of the GOLC were asked to contribute ideas for revisions to the policy on timetables, focusing on themes such as study feasibility, exam spreading, room capacity and workload for both students and lecturers. The input from the GOLC helps to make the policy on timetables both future-proof and workable.
'I think it’s important to be on the Programme Committee because we’ve started with our updated bachelor’s programme'
Lecturer
Policy on exam review sessions
The GOLC also provided valuable input in developing a new framework for the exam review process. This framework, drawn up in consultation with various stakeholders, describes how exam review and feedback sessions, follow-up discussions, and the handling of reassessment requests within the faculty are organised clearly and carefully.
This is a good example of how student and lecturer members in the GOLC actually influence educational practice and thus contribute to the quality and continuity of the education and teaching within the faculty.
Staff and student participation
Staff and student participation organs serve as bodies for consultation, information, communication and advice. They promote the welfare and interests of staff and students. A number of bodies at the University have the right to consent and advise, the Faculty Councils on faculty matters and the University Council on University matters, for instance. Other bodies with these powers are the Local Consultative Body, the Employee Councils and the Programme Committees