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Part 1: Brainstorm on topics to improve course content and examination prep classes

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Part 1: Brainstorm on topics to improve course content and examination prep classes

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Part 2: Adding tasks and to do's + planning to be able to reach our goal

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Part 2: Adding tasks and to do's + planning to be able to reach our goal

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Part 3: Brainstorm on how to improve Marketing of prep courses

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Part 3: Brainstorm on how to improve Marketing of prep courses

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Course content

Saxion's Preparatory Courses adopt the innovative approach of English for Academic Purposes (EAP). EAP is grounded in research and developed for international students who need to adapt to new ways of studying and teaching within a different culture. EAP helps you to develop the English and study skills you need to succeed in your academic career. Academic language and study skills are integrated in a programme that helps students progress step by step to meet the learning outcomes.

The foundation of English for Academic Purposes is cultural awareness and autonomy. Through this course, you will become familiar with your new cultural context in the university and in the Netherlands. You will also start to take charge of your own learning by reflecting on your learning needs and structuring your own learning process.

The Preparatory Courses follow an intensive schedule of varied activities such as lecture-based input, practice sessions, applied skills sessions, projects, elective courses and tutorials. The course contents focus on topics from different fields such as language, ethics, business, culture or global health. At the start of the course, you will also participate in a workshop on Intercultural Awareness and Dutch culture. As you progress in your studies, you will gain more control over your studies for example by choosing your own topics for assignments.

Rather than giving students one exam at the end of their course period, we use a system of continuous assessments. This means that you will check your skills regularly through tests and assignments so that you can track your own progress. The course consists of around 20 contact hours a week and classes are scheduled from Mondays to Fridays. Students are expected to engage in self-study for another 20 hours a week.

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Preparatory semester | Study programmes | Saxion

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Saxion's Preparatory Courses adopt the innovative approach of English for Academic Purposes (EAP). EAP is grounded in research and developed for international students who need to adapt to new ways of studying and teaching within a different culture. EAP helps you to develop the English and study skills you need to succeed in your academic career.

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Part 4: What do we need / how do we want to be facilitated to work on this besides teaching our classes

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Part 4: What do we need / how do we want to be facilitated to work on this besides teaching our classes

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Consider dividing the programme into Academic Skills (only) and English levels (1 or 2)

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Consider dividing the programme into Academic Skills (only) and English levels (1 or 2)

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The University of Maastricht  (and others) offer a foundation programme that differentiates between just needing academic skills (for example, our students who come from English speaking African countries or the Omani population that has high level skills) and students whose English is lower.  https://www.maastrichtuniversity.nl/education/pre-bachelors

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To help international students meet the admission requirements for a specific bachelor's degree, UM offers a yearlong Foundation Programme. The Foundation Programme will provide intensive training in academic skills, English language skills and on subjects relevant to a chosen bachelor's programme. This training will make you eligible for admission to the bachelor's programme once successfully completed. You will also participate in social and cultural events that will help you make new friends and adjust to life in Maastricht.

The Foundation Programme trains for the following UM bachelor's programmes:

What is a colloquium doctum?

Certain bachelor's programmes give you the opportunity to complete a colloquium doctum procedure if you don't have the necessary educational requirements or diploma. This procedure usually involves one or more examinations on specific pre-university subjects relevant to the bachelor's programme. These examinations test for the required skills and suitability of a student for a specific bachelor's programme.

More information about the colloquium doctum procedure

Depending on your bachelor's degree programme, the procedure and application dates differ. Please refer to your specific bachelor's programme requirements here:

You can register for a colloquium doctum if:
you do not possess a diploma that makes you eligible for enrollment in a bachelor's programme
you are 21 years or older at the time of enrollment

If you apply for a study programme at UM, your prior education will be evaluated to determine whether you can be admitted to the programme. In addition, some programmes have further admission requirements, such as adequate prior knowledge of certain subjects. You will need to rectify any 'subject deficiencies' before you can start with your study programme. You can do this by sitting additional exams for the relevant subjects.

The following bachelor's programmes offer a specific subject deficiency process:

Every August, admitted students have the opportunity to enroll in Pre-Academic Training courses, which provide you academic and language preparation to ensure a smooth transition into your academic career and life in Maastricht. Course content will offer you everything from mathematics preparation to a general introduction to the city.
More information about the Pre-Academic Training

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To help international students meet the admission requirements for a specific bachelor's degree, UM offers a yearlong Foundation Programme. The Foundation Programme will provide intensive training in academic skills, English language skills and on subjects relevant to a chosen bachelor's programme. This training will make you eligible for admission to the bachelor's programme once successfully completed.

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-not teachers
-personal touch and continuous support?

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-integrating into Dutch culture and society
-once a week/fortnight

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Work towards a curriculum / Standardize materials / Have a clear course rationale

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Work towards a curriculum / Standardize materials / Have a clear course rationale

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-social events with Saxion students?
-guest lectures/workshops from Saxion students

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We will remain (no matter what we do) a sort of 2nd or 3rd choice for most students looking to improve English. We are not a university and we are not in a native English speaking country.  However, we could differentiate ourselves within this market by offering something of a "niche" and marketing that better.  Maybe that is a pronunciation programme, maybe that is more of a European culture classes or more of a business approach.

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Brief Summary of discussion PART 1. How can we implement these thoughts (part 2)

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Brief Summary of discussion PART 1. How can we implement these thoughts (part 2)

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-Market things better we already do in prep
+Lara - Ernest dive into social events already present. Structure it, etc

-Experiencing European/Dutch culture
University life, topics (sustainability centre City Hall)
-Have students from IBS present first years Business Case. -How they apporach it.
-John guest lecturer Intercultural communication
-Info on Saxion BA en Master.
+Lara - Dayenne dive in afternoon modules to spice things up with idea's above

-We need the numbers. Marketing is key. We need a proper website. Visit agents. Need video/social media/tiktok Scholarships
+Ernest: Meeting Marketing-IAA-IO Gary joins. We need to promote Saxion and secundary LS

-We need TOEIC to attract new studentsgroups/countries (not limited to Saxion).
+Ernest-Remko

-1 year program prep focus on English. Prep sem. more focussed on academic skills not English.
+Future idea if we have more and better students English for prep sem (after Marketing)

-Asian students need more pronounciation lessons. Workshops?
-Go into special needs (Vietnamese: speaking, etc)
-Design 4 week electives: Pronounciation, etc.
-not 1 teacher 1 class, but switch teachers frequently.
-We need to create a curriculum on the basis of Pathways. Standardise that part. free up the afternoons for the needs bit. Not guided by a book. Intake needed few weeks after arrival and then class division?
+Gary-Juliia. curr design (with help Educational Specialists)
+Gary, Juliia, Lara, Dayenne: Think of 4 wk electives you would like to teach (given your background, experiences etc)

-Teachers too busy with helping housing,money issues, etc Role Filipe / Int Office? First week. Good onboarding for students in separate session, adress home sickness, what to eat, where to get it, etc. Social bonding, peers keeping them on board. Mentoring. Use alumni video to help new students.
+Ernest-Felipe

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know the numbers!

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pronunciation
academic writing
presentation skills
European business skills

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Get our program known to the Dutch embassies of the countries of our target market 

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Get our program known to the Dutch embassies of the countries of our target market 

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Deventer has a sister city in Romania - maybe we could explore routes like that - existing links and expand those links to market Saxion

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Show students in short videos what it's like to live here and what they could learn just to get Saxion's name out there. Use existing students who speak different languages to make content in a variety of languages

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bachelor students do pilot presentations in our classroom

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bachelor students do pilot presentations in our classroom

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Have Dutch/German students who are also working on their English present in our classroom to expose our students to different content and give the students in other programmes and chance to practice their presentations and field questions. more of a mix of prep students and current bachelor students and a benefit to both groups language wise / academic skills wise