Learn about the Atelier classes in the bachelor’s Law programme on 28 October
Two information sessions will be held on 28 October where colleagues can learn all about the Atelier teaching format. We spoke to Atelier Coordinator Kristof Gombeer about the Atelier pilot, its evaluation, and the plans for its implementation.
Atelier classes now form an integral part of the renewed bachelor's programme in Law as of this academic year. They offer a small-scale, cross-curricular teaching format that focuses on developing skills and interdisciplinarity. We spoke to Atelier Coordinator and Assistant Professor Kristof Gombeer about how the Atelier teaching format developed and the future plans.
Why are Atelier classes being introduced in our bachelor’s Law programme?
One of the goals of the renewed Kernvisie curriculum is to improve the analytical and academic level of the curriculum with a focus on critical reflection and more in-depth learning. We aim to achieve this through small-scale contact sessions, offering skills development, interdisciplinary education, and cross-curricular collaboration. To achieve these goals, Atelier has been set up as an innovative, small-scale teaching format as part of the bachelor's programme in Law.
How did the Atelier pilot go?
The Atelier pilot was held in block 3 of the 2024-2025 academic year, to prepare for its implementation in the new Kernvisie curriculum. Pilot Atelier classes were scheduled in three courses: Inleiding Europees recht (Introduction to European Law), Inleiding bestuursrecht (Introduction to Administrative Law), and Grondslagen van het recht (Foundations of the Law). Students could attend six small-scale classes lasting two hours each, with 16 participants in each group. Attendance was voluntary and participants were rewarded by means of a bonus system: active participation and the completion of a response paper, a group presentation, and a debate on set propositions, gave students a 0.5 bonus point for each course. The Atelier classes were developed by all departments involved in the teaching. The topics addressed in the classroom focused on environmental issues which were studied from the perspectives of the different three courses.
What did we learn from the pilot?
The evaluation of the pilot, carried out by ICLON, showed that the Atelier classes were seen as a valuable addition to our teaching methods. The small-scale setting allowed for interaction, collaboration and more personal attention which helped to motivate students and actively engage them in the learning process. The Atelier classes also proved to be effective in encouraging critical reflection and identifying correlations between the courses, and also an ideal way to help develop skills. Students particularly appreciated the opportunity to practise their verbal skills. The study load was considered doable, partly since the Atelier classes built further on familiar knowledge and the assignments could more or less be prepared and completed during the classes.
Devising and coordinating the pilot within a short space of time did require considerable effort from the course coordinators involved and close cooperation with colleagues from the OIC, ICT&O, the timetable coordinators and the secretarial departments, among others. Implementing the Atelier teaching format will, of course, involve certain practical challenges in each teaching block. In my position as the Atelier Coordinator, I can help the course coordinators deal with these challenges.
How will the Atelier classes be implemented in the new curriculum?
The Atelier classes will form an integral part of the bachelor’s programme in Law. There will be a phased introduction in the curriculum: in teaching blocks 3 and 4 of the 1st year of the programme from 2025-2026, in all teaching blocks of the 2nd year of the programme from 2026-2027, and finally in teaching block 3 of the 3rd year of the programme 2027-2028.
How will the new Atelier classes be set up in practice?
The Atelier classes will focus on the Kernvisie objectives: small-scale, cross-curricular education, aimed at developing skills and fostering interdisciplinarity. In the new format, the Atelier Weeks will take place within the regular teaching moments, for example in weeks 4 and 5 or in weeks 6 and 7 of each teaching block. Students attend small-scale classes (around 16 students in each group) that correspond to the learning objectives of their courses. The new set-up is different from the pilot model which had six separate meetings. Each lecturer will now teach two Atelier classes per block, and students will attend three sessions instead of six, reducing the workload for teaching staff and the study load for students. Because the Atelier classes take place within regular teaching hours, the timetable remains clear and the pressure on capacity at the KOG is limited. For first-year students, as is the case for all first-year courses, participation in Atelier classes will be compulsory. However in the 2nd and 3rd years, the Atelier classes could be linked to an assignment focusing on skills, or a bonus point system.
Would you like to learn more about Atelier classes? Come along on 28 October! Visit the information desks in room B0.16, meet the Atelier Coordinator and teaching staff involved in the pilot. Find out how the Atelier teaching format will help to shape the education offered at our faculty in the coming years. The first information session is from 10.00 to 12.00, with a second session in the afternoon from 14.00 to 16.00.