THE DYSFUNCTION OF THE FACULTY OF ARTS AT THE UNIVERSITY OF PRISTINA

 

We’ve fallen in this trap because the artist should be valued on his creativity and not only from his class attendance. Because it’s never considered on how many artists the market needs. Because no checks are done on the quality of the professor and the quality of the learning process implementation. At the Faculty of Arts students only receive homework and diplomas. The study values in the Faculty of Arts isn’t even recognized from the Ministry of Education itself, who has recently decided to exclude us from the student scholarship scheme. So, please exclude us from the state!

Illustration: Argjira Kukaj

 

Injustices and problems that routinely happen at the Faculty of Arts must have an impact on the artists’ creativity. This creativity should be channeled with a purpose for change, for a fundamental change, even! Artists should be free to express their critical opinion.

But, because our voice isn’t heard, our rights as students aren’t respected and the fear of free speech, I wish to stay anonymous.

For many of us, the beginning of our studies was a period filled with inspiration and new emotions and experiences. All of us students were convinced that an unforgettable journey awaited us. We had a lot of hope that things would work the way we thought they would, the way it should in an educational institution. Now our expectations laugh at us. The faculty of arts should create proper artists. It should create fearless artists, artists who are on the cutting edge. It seems like we’re stuck, there’s no progress. Our mentors should be communicative, motivational and professional. The professor’s role is to research together with the student the endless sources of information. The contrary happens, it’s required of the student to take tasks for which they don’t have the proper knowledge and information. It’s us, the students who research and learn without our mentors’ help. So, it’s important for the achievements of a professor and his experience on the subject or field to be taken into consideration. The beginning of the academic year is really possible for everyone.

No rule exists and students don’t have the elementary information.

They aren’t even notified on their rights as students. And when an answer may be asked for, the secretariat is the last place where you can get informed on the happenings in the Faculty of Arts. The subject syllabus is quite poor. There is no description on optional subjects so that the student can be more decisive on whether the subject is the right one for him. In case of discontent, it’s impossible for changes to be made so that the most necessary subjects are chosen. The process of professors’ tasking is very long.

Sometime the semester ends and students still aren’t notified on the subject and professor. In such cases, students are obliged to repeat a whole semester. And if classes aren’t repeated, signature lists for student attendance exist. So, the professors bring a large number of lists and the class lasts as much as the signing of the lists lasts. We also have such subjects where class is held from the students since professors don’t stay in class most of the time.

The lecture schedule is created based on the wishes and possibilities of a professor. Students must wait for the next lecture for hours. Exactly for this reason, students should have access to university classes so that in their free time they can create, learn or work. Classes always stay closed when the professors aren’t present. The most equipped class in the faculty has an open environment to work and come together with the faculty artists so that different activities can be created. In this class the printer and six iMac computers are also found which are never used during the lecture. The student exhibition for ending the school year is held in faculty classes which are closed the very next day. Funds must be won and big investments must be made in favor of the students at the Faculty of arts. Student expenses are staggering. Students are asked for expensive materials to work and complete the given tasks. Elementary tools aren’t found for classes held, so we, more than anyone else, need the student scholarship. We’ve fallen in this trap because the artist should be valued on his creativity and not only from his class attendance. Because it’s never considered on how many artists the market needs. Because no checks are done on the quality of the professor and the quality of the learning process implementation. At the Faculty of Arts students only receive homework and diplomas. The study values in the Faculty of Arts isn’t even recognized from the Ministry of Education itself, who has recently decided to exclude us from the student scholarship scheme. So, please exclude us from the state!

 

Demands:

Inclusion in winning student scholarships.

Creating spaces for work outside the curriculum.

The detailed informing for optional classes.

Regular classes.

Modernizing the syllabus.

Face to face meetings at least once a week with professors/assistants for professional subjects.

 

 

The author has decided to remain anonymous.