Karel de Grote Hogeschool (KDG)

A major compulsory course was scheduled in direct conflict with my internship period, despite counselor being aware of this. My correction request was ignored for months. This constitutes, technically, administrative negligence, a denial of the right to proper academic planning, and an obstruction of study progress.

I had already acquired 40% of a French course with an official grade, yet was forced to repeat the component. This violates recognition of prior learning (EVC), proportionality, and the principle of no double evaluation, using despotic internal rules argument in breach of higher education law.

A request to substitute a language elective with a more relevant academic elective was rejected without assessment or proper justification. This contradicts student-centred learning, academic freedom, and Bologna principles.

Despite social anxiety, autism-like traits, circumstantial socio-economic constraints, age stigma, and repeated rejection in applications, the institution refused any alternative to a mandatory internship. Under Belgian, EU, and UN law, refusing reasonable accommodation equals discrimination.

The institution unknowingly stored 47 GB of highly sensitive personal data without consent or notice. This breaches GDPR principles of transparency, consent, and data protection.

After a study grant was delayed for many months, I followed advice to request an advance from the college, only to be blocked by excessive administrative demands. This worsened a force majeure situation (which was not recognized as such) and directly affected my ability to continue study and study with focus.

A legitimate request for accommodation for a major group assignment (50% of the grade) received no response. Silence in such cases is a denial of due process and fair assessment.

Taken together, these cases show a denial of student rights, discrimination, unfair treatment, disregard for higher law, abuse of authority/office, and failure to protect disadvantaged students.

A full disclosure of the cases can be found here: https://drive.google.com/file/d/1IrFQsa0b9jKcRFckFMdKctF36Dfu7m4Z/view?usp=drive_link

As a student at KdG College, my experience with the administration/ombuds has been quite disappointing. I presented several issues that were either ignored or vaguely dismissed without real consideration or emphasis, even though I communicated respectfully and based my requests/complaints on academic and legal grounds and regulations.

One issue was a scheduling (mistake) where one of my major electives was placed in the wrong semester, overlapping with my internship period. Despite requesting correction of this (error), no one ever responded. I also asked to transfer part of my previous French exam grade, since I had already passed the written part, but this was vaguely rejected without any real explanation by ombuds and Exam Board.

Later, I requested to replace the French elective with another subject that fits better with my professional/academic goals. I already speak four languages, so I felt it was unnecessary to force me to repeat a language course that doesn’t add value to my studies or future. Again, the request was despotically dismissed without any flexibility.

Finally, I asked for an internship exemption because of personal and socio-economic issues I have been dealing with that make it difficult for me to function optimally in social or professional environments due to interpersonal barriers. I provided thorough explanation of my situation using strong legal grand and references, but the ombuds responded quite inconsiderately and vaguely, in very brief words, showing a lack of understanding or empathy. I did not even receive a reply when I contacted the direction about this.

Overall, I felt like I was not being taken seriously, as if talking to a wall with the ombuds, and indiscriminated (as someone with a non-European last name), and ignored. Instead of helping students overcome sincere obstacles, the college seems more focused on despotically sticking to its rules than on supporting students’ future success.

As a student at KdG College, my experience with the administration/ombuds has been quite disappointing. I presented several issues that were either ignored or vaguely dismissed without real consideration or emphasis, even though I communicated respectfully and based my requests/complaints on academic and legal grounds and regulations.

One issue was a scheduling (mistake) where one of my major electives was placed in the wrong semester, overlapping with my internship period. Despite requesting correction of this (error), no one ever responded. I also asked to transfer part of my previous French exam grade, since I had already passed the written part, but this was vaguely rejected without any real explanation by ombuds and Exam Board.

Later, I requested to replace the French elective with another subject that fits better with my professional/academic goals. I already speak four languages, so I felt it was unnecessary to force me to repeat a language course that doesn’t add value to my studies or future. Again, the request was despotically dismissed without any flexibility.

Finally, I asked for an internship exemption because of personal and socio-economic issues I have been dealing with that make it difficult for me to function optimally in social or professional environments due to interpersonal barriers. I provided thorough explanation of my situation using strong legal grand and references, but the ombuds responded quite inconsiderately and vaguely, in very brief words, showing a lack of understanding or empathy. I did not even receive a reply when I contacted the direction about this.

Overall, I felt like I was not being taken seriously, as if talking to a wall with the ombuds, and indiscriminated (as someone with a non-European last name), and ignored. Instead of helping students overcome sincere obstacles, the college seems more focused on despotically sticking to its rules than on supporting students’ future success.

The courses are given at an advanced level.