We completed the first phase of our relocation programme in early 2016. This means that the temporary locations are now fully furnished, and the first of our permanent locations, Heidelberglaan 7, has been put into operation. We evaluated the new situation in February 2016 in consultation with the Employees’ and Students’ Council (HSR). We asked our employees about their impressions of the new learning and working environment in the temporary and permanent locations at HU University of Applied Sciences Utrecht. These locations are serving as a pilot for the new space allocation concept. The results of the evaluation were published at the end of March and distributed throughout the institution. The advisory committee met to discuss the evaluation on 21 April. This committee consists of representatives from the various participatory bodies at the different locations, directors and managers of operations, staff and students, along with representatives from the institutes and research centres. More than thirty employees and students were present at the meeting.
Pros and cons
Programme director Diane de Kruijf opened the meeting and welcomed those in attendance. Harm Drost, director of the faculties of Healthcare, Communication & Journalism and Economics & Management, then took the floor. As an individual with intimate knowledge of all locations, he was ideally suited to presenting the results of the evaluation. In his introduction, he mentioned the negative feelings expressed by many employees, and indicated that he takes their opinions very seriously. He also focused extensively on the many positive aspects of our new buildings and facilities. The meeting attendees then split up into groups to consider solutions to the various remaining issues. The groups later reconvened in a plenary session to share their ideas. Diane de Kruijf summarized the improvements that can be implemented in the short term, and discussed other points that are certainly relevant, but that will take a more extensive mutual effort to resolve.
Quick wins
In the short term, we will address the lack of a feeling of privacy by applying film to the windows of various rooms and work areas. We will also inventory the shortage of lockers, and install new ones. Additionally, we are scheduling extra maintenance work to check whether the various technical installations (such as lighting and the climate control systems) are working properly, for these systems seem to be poorly adjusted in some locations. The mixed use of spaces by teaching staff and students is another point of concern. We have agreed to examine this problem at the institute level, and to devise appropriate solutions together with the institutes and the individuals affected.