The Central Works Council (COR) defends the interests of all employees and does so through constant consultation with the Executive Board (CvB) through advice, consent, unsolicited opinions and by participating in many committees. But the COR also defends employees' interests outside those appropriate paths. Three examples from the past month alone:

Labour Inspectorate

On 7 June, the Dutch Labour Inspectorate visited the UvA to discuss the topics of Work Stress through Workload Prevention and Reduction and Social Safety. In a separate conversation with the COR and the University Committee Local Consultation, we as COR indicated that the decentralised implementation of HR is not always congruent with central policy. Furthermore, we argued mainly for a realistic task load. On the topic of social safety, we advocated training for managers in preventing, recognising and discussing social safety.

ChatGPT

Ever since the arrival of ChatGPT (and successors), the COR has been warning the CvB that the impact of ChatGPT on the UvA, employees, education and research is huge and should not be underestimated.

Since its inception, the Teaching & Learning Centre (TLC) has organised workshops and developed manuals and instructions. Examination boards have adapted many of their procedures accordingly. Programmes and especially many teachers have adapted their teaching, accelerated and substantially. While the necessary solutions have thus emerged, the problem remains that globally, no real answer has yet emerged on how universities should deal with ChatGPT, either as an opportunity or a threat.

The COR has continuously stressed that dealing with ChatGPT should not be left to decentralised initiatives alone and therefore also asked for central policy from the UvA. Partly at the COR's request, the meeting ChatGPT and education at the UvA: a lecture and discussion with rector magnificus Peter-Paul Verbeek took place on 8 June. This was followed by an extensive discussion round to discuss all concerns, wishes and considerations. The afternoon reinforced the CvB's sense of urgency, as well as revealing a number of directions for future policy.

Supervisory Board UvA

In its semi-annual meeting with the UvA's Supervisory Board, the COR discussed ChatGPT mainly to emphasise the above arguments, as well as to ask for funding. Not only for the future, but also to compensate all staff who had to completely adjust their teaching in the run-up to last second semester.

In the Joint Assembly (COR and Central Student Council), the COR also argued for this additional funding when discussing the 2024 Framework Letter.

In the new academic year, the COR will continue to work on these issues and for now, the COR wishes everyone a well-deserved holiday.