At WdKA

Student Welfare

To support the student wellbeing there are several places within the WdKA and RUAS.

Study Career Coaching

Your first point of information and support is your Study Career Coach (SCC). You get appointed one at the start of the year and your coach is connected to your major and is there to support you throughout your entire academic career at WdKA.

Your Study Career coach is the first person you turn to when you have questions related to your study progress. They are there for you to help you understand where you are at in your education and in relation to your personal development. If you have questions or are in a situation that influences your attendance and progress your first person to inform is your coach.

You do NOT have to share any personal information that you do not want to.  The conversations are confidential your wellbeing/health or other student’s health or wellbeing).

The role of the SCC is to support you in your (next) steps of learning and progressing in your education. Your SCC and the student counsellor can work closely together with you on agreeing on how your educational programme and progress will be shaped. Where health or personal situation affects your education, it is important to talk to both. For the student counsellor safeguards and advises your resilience and your coach knows the curriculum and systems.

If you run into problems or undesirable behavior with fellow students, with tutors or staff, find yourself in an uncomfortable situation that you cannot figure out, it is important to seek support and advice. This you do with your SCC, but if you want to talk to someone more neutral. This can be the student counsellor or Head of StudentWelfare WdKA.

They can advise you about further steps towards improving the situation or filing a complaint. You also have access to the confidential advisors  https://hint.hr.nl/nl/HR/english/international-student--ruas/my-study/my-student-assistence/confidential-counsellor/of RUAS, they can listen to you and advise you in further action.

Student Counsellor 

The student counsellor is an independent party who is present to support you if there are circumstances that affect your study. If you are experiencing special circumstances that are affecting your study progress you can turn to your student counsellor. Circumstances could be psychological or physical illness or disability, dyslexia, but also relationship or family problems, pregnancy, violence, home eviction threat, addiction, financial problems, concentration and motivation problems, fear of failure etc.

Positive exceptions are students taking part in top sport activities and those with an administrative position in a student association; these special circumstances can also be discussed with your student counsellor. By discussing your problems and through the advice given by your student counsellor, you can often find a solution for the problem yourself. It is also possible that more needs to be done. For instance, if you are studying with a disability, specific agreements can be made with your programme concerning the provisions that you will require to obtain your degree

There are also weekly walk-in consultations.

More information:

https://www.rotterdamuas.com/go/study-help/my-study/student-assistence/student-counsellor/

Office for Inclusivity (O4i) 

The Office for Inclusivity provides support to students who encounter difficulties or challenges in any issues related to equal opportunities and inclusivity – for example if you face othering or discrimination within the academy. You can go to the O4i for a listening ear in a confidential setting where you can share your experiences, express your concerns, or be advised on how to deal with a situation.

Every week, they organise online and offline walk-in hour.

International Affairs Office 

In your third year you can choose either to go on exchange or internship. Next to the information you can find on mywdka (exchanges) you can also go to the International Affairs Office. If you have practical questions about visa, insurances, housing, a.s.o you can contact International Affairs Office c.j.santjer@hr.nl

Code of conduct

All staff members and students of the WdKA (RUAS) are bound to the University’s code of conduct and integrity (‘Gedragscode omgangsvormen en integriteit’). All staff members and students are thus expected to observe the social norms prevailing within the WdKA , which stem from the University’s fundamental principles as stipulated in the University’s statutes. All staff members and students are also expected to observe generally accepted norms of socially appropriate behaviour.

Internship

The education programme of the WdKA includes an internship in the form of a work period in a professional situation. The internship period is a temporary placement in which you, as a future professional designer and artist, will become acquainted with the professional practice, including the scope and range of work activities and various practical aspects of the profession. During the internship, you learn to work independently as well as in a team; to look beyond the boundaries of your own discipline; and establish, benefit from and maintain contacts within the professional field.

Read more

Exchange (study abroad)

Studying abroad will allow you to experience different cultures and perspectives, including new traditions and customs and meeting new people. Fully embracing this new culture is a chance to step out of your comfort zone and experience unfamiliar situations.

In Spring of your 3rd year you can choose either to do an exchange or and (international) internship.

Minor outside WdKA

Follow a minor at another university of applied science with KIES OP MAAT