Students are key members of the community, not just addressees of courses, and their perspective on the kind of learning they want should be gathered — some come for a degree, some are passionate about research, some simply want attractive courses. Involving them in designing a course or a whole learning path helps them reach the goal they arrived with. Despite the risk that less ambitious students seek the easiest route, beyond the core courses of a discipline students should be able to choose at least 30-50% of their courses, following a coherent path while taking co-responsibility for their career — supported by advising units. Laidler favours liberal, open programs that don’t confine all ECTS credits to one field, offering interdisciplinary, skills-focused courses so that mature students shape their own path and earn a degree that truly reflects their competences.