This is the conclusion of the National Student Trade Union (LSVb) after taking stock at nine universities. 'Students have problems not only at computer sciences, but also at other programmes', LSVb-president Sofie Joosse says. The student trade union announced the results on the eve of the international RSI-day, 28 February.
Last year an RSI-complaints week, organised by the LSVb, made clear that many students suffer from pain in their shoulders, neck or arms. That week students also complained about bad working conditions, broken chairs, and non-adjustable tables.
The union compiled the complaints in a black paper. Higher education was, according to the LSVb, not doing enough about prevention. Educational programmes even encourage the use of lap top computers: the ultimate 'RSI timebomb' for students. Universities and 'hogescholen' shoud pay more attention to the risks of neck complaints, the LSVb opines.
But there are still at least seven universities which encourage the use of lap tops. At the University of Twente students are expected to make more use of their lap tops and a number of programmes in Leiden, Utrecht and Maastricht entice students with attractive lap top projects. Only the universities of Amsterdam, Groningen and Wageningen do not work with the lap computers.
The student trade union was shocked by the current situation. 'Despite the many complaints that we received last year, the situation at the universities is still depressing', Joosse says.
Especially students studying in older buildings have to use very bad work stations, usually in spaces where humanities and social sciences are taught. Mainly in spaces for practical work old chairs and discarded tables are used. The student cannot sit in the right way and is therefore more susceptible to RSI.
Bad information by universities is another cause for the complaints. Many students do not know what the right attitude is to sit at a computer. The posters and mouse mats with RSI-prevention tips get a cursory look, after which the students sag back into their chairs to get comfortable at their computers.
Only Wageningen University gets a pat on the back from the LSVb. 'The working conditions are not exactly what they should be, but the university did take measures', Joosse states. 'They installed RSI-prevention software on each computer and provide a lot of information to students.'
