diff --git a/app/assets/javascripts/components/search/dropdown_filter.ts b/app/assets/javascripts/components/search/dropdown_filter.ts
index 3499a1959a..b73aacf8e9 100644
--- a/app/assets/javascripts/components/search/dropdown_filter.ts
+++ b/app/assets/javascripts/components/search/dropdown_filter.ts
@@ -19,7 +19,6 @@ import { DodonaElement } from "components/meta/dodona_element";
  * @prop {string} type - The type of the filter collection, used to determine the dropdown button text
  * @prop {string} param - the searchQuery param to be used for this filter
  * @prop {boolean} multi - whether one or more labels can be selected at the same time
- * @prop {(l: Label) => string} paramVal - a function that extracts the value that should be used in a searchQuery for a selected label
  * @prop {[Label]} labels - all labels that could potentially be selected
  */
 @customElement("d-dropdown-filter")
@@ -97,7 +96,6 @@ export class DropdownFilters extends DodonaElement {
                 <d-dropdown-filter
                     .labels=${c.data}
                     .color=${c.color}
-                    .paramVal=${c.paramVal}
                     .param=${c.param}
                     .multi=${c.multi}
                     .type=${type}
diff --git a/app/assets/javascripts/components/search/filter_collection_element.ts b/app/assets/javascripts/components/search/filter_collection_element.ts
index 4e34077db5..8d832075c8 100644
--- a/app/assets/javascripts/components/search/filter_collection_element.ts
+++ b/app/assets/javascripts/components/search/filter_collection_element.ts
@@ -8,7 +8,6 @@ export type FilterCollection = {
     data: Label[],
     multi: boolean,
     color: AccentColor,
-    paramVal: (l: Label) => string,
     param: string
 };
 
@@ -27,8 +26,6 @@ export class FilterCollectionElement extends DodonaElement {
     param: string;
     @property({ type: Boolean })
     multi: boolean;
-    @property()
-    paramVal: (l: Label) => string;
     @property({ type: Array })
     labels: Array<Label> = [];
 
@@ -48,24 +45,20 @@ export class FilterCollectionElement extends DodonaElement {
         super.update(changedProperties);
     }
 
-    private str(label: Label): string {
-        return this.paramVal(label).toString();
-    }
-
     private get multiSelected(): string[] {
         return searchQueryState.arrayQueryParams.get(this.param) || [];
     }
 
     private multiUnSelect(label: Label): void {
-        searchQueryState.arrayQueryParams.set(this.param, this.multiSelected.filter(s => s !== this.str(label)));
+        searchQueryState.arrayQueryParams.set(this.param, this.multiSelected.filter(s => s !== label.id));
     }
 
     private multiIsSelected(label: Label): boolean {
-        return this.multiSelected.includes(this.str(label));
+        return this.multiSelected.includes(label.id);
     }
 
     private multiSelect(label: Label): void {
-        searchQueryState.arrayQueryParams.set(this.param, [...this.multiSelected, this.str(label)]);
+        searchQueryState.arrayQueryParams.set(this.param, [...this.multiSelected, label.id]);
     }
 
     private singleUnSelect(label: Label): void {
@@ -73,11 +66,11 @@ export class FilterCollectionElement extends DodonaElement {
     }
 
     private singleSelect(label: Label): void {
-        searchQueryState.queryParams.set(this.param, this.str(label));
+        searchQueryState.queryParams.set(this.param, label.id);
     }
 
     private singleIsSelected(label: Label): boolean {
-        return searchQueryState.queryParams.get(this.param) === this.str(label);
+        return searchQueryState.queryParams.get(this.param) === label.id;
     }
 
     isSelected = this.singleIsSelected;
diff --git a/app/assets/javascripts/components/search/filter_tabs.ts b/app/assets/javascripts/components/search/filter_tabs.ts
index bf63f0e978..b6bc4523f3 100644
--- a/app/assets/javascripts/components/search/filter_tabs.ts
+++ b/app/assets/javascripts/components/search/filter_tabs.ts
@@ -19,8 +19,6 @@ export class FilterTabs extends watchMixin(FilterCollectionElement) {
     multi = false;
     @property()
     param = "tab";
-    @property()
-    paramVal = (label: Label): string => label.id.toString();
     @property({ type: Array })
     labels: TabInfo[];
 
diff --git a/app/assets/javascripts/components/search/search_field.ts b/app/assets/javascripts/components/search/search_field.ts
index 71f8ff62ef..28773a4737 100644
--- a/app/assets/javascripts/components/search/search_field.ts
+++ b/app/assets/javascripts/components/search/search_field.ts
@@ -3,7 +3,7 @@ import { html, TemplateResult } from "lit";
 import { createDelayer } from "utilities";
 import { unsafeHTML } from "lit/directives/unsafe-html.js";
 import { ref } from "lit/directives/ref.js";
-import { FilterCollectionElement, Label } from "components/search/filter_collection_element";
+import { FilterCollection, FilterCollectionElement, Label } from "components/search/filter_collection_element";
 import { searchQueryState } from "state/SearchQuery";
 import { search } from "search";
 import { DodonaElement } from "components/meta/dodona_element";
@@ -83,7 +83,7 @@ export class SearchField extends DodonaElement {
     @property({ type: Boolean })
     eager: boolean;
     @property( { type: Array })
-    filterCollections: Record<string, { data: Label[], multi: boolean, paramVal: (l: Label) => string, param: string }>;
+    filterCollections: Record<string, FilterCollection>;
 
     @property({ state: true })
     filter?: string = "";
@@ -171,7 +171,6 @@ export class SearchField extends DodonaElement {
                         .labels=${c.data}
                         .type=${type}
                         .filter=${this.filter}
-                        .paramVal=${c.paramVal}
                         .param=${c.param}
                         .multi=${c.multi}
                         .index=${i}
diff --git a/app/assets/javascripts/components/search/search_token.ts b/app/assets/javascripts/components/search/search_token.ts
index 184550dd9e..734223ebeb 100644
--- a/app/assets/javascripts/components/search/search_token.ts
+++ b/app/assets/javascripts/components/search/search_token.ts
@@ -66,7 +66,6 @@ export class SearchTokens extends DodonaElement {
                 <d-search-token
                     .labels=${c.data}
                     .color=${c.color}
-                    .paramVal=${c.paramVal}
                     .param=${c.param}
                     .multi=${c.multi}
                 >
diff --git a/app/assets/javascripts/components/search/standalone-dropdown-filter.ts b/app/assets/javascripts/components/search/standalone-dropdown-filter.ts
index ed95745cf4..d014f0b1e3 100644
--- a/app/assets/javascripts/components/search/standalone-dropdown-filter.ts
+++ b/app/assets/javascripts/components/search/standalone-dropdown-filter.ts
@@ -17,15 +17,13 @@ import { watchMixin } from "components/meta/watch_mixin";
 export class StandaloneDropdownFilter extends watchMixin(FilterCollectionElement) {
     @property()
     multi = false;
-    @property()
-    paramVal = (label: Label): string => label.id.toString();
     @property({ type: String })
     default;
 
     watch = {
         default: () => {
             if (this.getSelectedLabels().length === 0) {
-                this.select(this.labels.find(label => this.paramVal(label) === this.default));
+                this.select(this.labels.find(label => label.id === this.default));
             }
         }
     };
diff --git a/app/views/layouts/_searchbar.html.erb b/app/views/layouts/_searchbar.html.erb
index 7f1ade7397..513ecec442 100644
--- a/app/views/layouts/_searchbar.html.erb
+++ b/app/views/layouts/_searchbar.html.erb
@@ -33,159 +33,122 @@
         <% if local_assigns.fetch :labels, false %>
         filterCollections["labels"] = {
             param: "labels",
-            paramVal: function(l) { return l.name.toString(); },
             multi: true,
-            data: <%= raw render template: 'labels/index', formats: :json %>,
+            data: <%= raw @labels.map { |l| {id: l.name.to_s, name: l.name.to_s}}.to_json %>,
             color: "purple"
         };
         <% end %>
         <% if local_assigns.fetch :programming_languages, false %>
         filterCollections["programming_languages"] = {
             param: "programming_language",
-            paramVal: function(p) { return p.name.toString(); },
             multi: false,
-            data: <%= raw render template: 'programming_languages/index', formats: :json %>,
+            data: <%= raw @programming_languages.map { |l| {id: l.name.to_s, name: l.name.to_s}}.to_json %>,
             color: "red",
         };
         <% end %>
         <% if local_assigns.fetch :repositories, false %>
         filterCollections["repositories"] = {
             param: "repository_id",
-            paramVal: function(r) { return r.id.toString(); },
             multi: false,
-            data: <%= raw render template: 'repositories/index', formats: :json %>,
+            data: <%= raw @repositories.map { |l| {id: l.id.to_s, name: l.name.to_s}}.to_json %>,
             color: "blue-gray",
         };
         <% end %>
         <% if local_assigns.fetch(:institutions, []).length > 1 %>
         filterCollections["institutions"] = {
             param: "institution_id",
-            paramVal: function(i) { return i.id.toString(); },
             multi: false,
-            data: <%= raw local_assigns.fetch(:institutions, []).map{|i| {id: i.id, name: i.name}}.to_json %>,
+            data: <%= raw local_assigns.fetch(:institutions, []).map{|i| {id: i.id.to_s, name: i.name.to_s}}.to_json %>,
             color: "pink",
         };
         <% end %>
         <% if local_assigns.fetch :course_labels, false %>
         filterCollections["course_labels"] = {
             param: "course_labels",
-            paramVal: function (cl) {
-                return cl.name.toString();
-            },
             multi: true,
-            data: <%= raw local_assigns.fetch(:course_labels, []).map{|cl| {id: cl.id, name: cl.name}}.to_json %>,
+            data: <%= raw local_assigns.fetch(:course_labels, []).map{|cl| {id: cl.name.to_s, name: cl.name.to_s}}.to_json %>,
             color: "orange",
         };
         <% end %>
         <% if local_assigns.fetch :statuses, false %>
         filterCollections["statuses"] = {
             param: "status",
-            paramVal: function (s) {
-                return s.id.toString();
-            },
             multi: false,
-            data: <%= raw local_assigns.fetch(:statuses, []).map{|s| {id: s, name: Submission.human_enum_name(:status, s)}}.to_json %>,
+            data: <%= raw local_assigns.fetch(:statuses, []).map{|s| {id: s.to_s, name: Submission.human_enum_name(:status, s)}}.to_json %>,
             color: "indigo",
         };
         <% end %>
         <% if local_assigns.fetch :question_states, false %>
         filterCollections["question_states"] = {
             param: "question_state",
-            paramVal: function (s) {
-                return s.id.toString();
-            },
             multi: false,
-            data: <%= raw local_assigns.fetch(:question_states, []).map{|s| {id: s, name: Question.human_enum_name(:question_state, s)}}.to_json %>,
+            data: <%= raw local_assigns.fetch(:question_states, []).map{|s| {id: s.to_s, name: Question.human_enum_name(:question_state, s)}}.to_json %>,
             color: "indigo",
         };
         <% end %>
         <% if local_assigns.fetch :event_types, false %>
         filterCollections["event_types"] = {
             param: "type",
-            paramVal: function (s) {
-                return s.id.toString();
-            },
             multi: false,
-            data: <%= raw local_assigns.fetch(:event_types, []).map{|s| {id: s, name: Event.human_enum_name(:event_type, s)}}.to_json %>,
+            data: <%= raw local_assigns.fetch(:event_types, []).map{|s| {id: s.to_s, name: Event.human_enum_name(:event_type, s)}}.to_json %>,
             color: "deep-purple",
         };
         <% end %>
         <% if local_assigns.fetch :activity_types, false %>
         filterCollections["activity_types"] = {
             param: "type",
-            paramVal: function (s) {
-                return s.id.toString();
-            },
             multi: false,
-            data: <%= raw local_assigns.fetch(:activity_types, []).map{|s| {id: s.name, name: s.model_name.human}}.to_json %>,
+            data: <%= raw local_assigns.fetch(:activity_types, []).map{|s| {id: s.name.to_s, name: s.model_name.human}}.to_json %>,
             color: "deep-purple",
         };
         <% end %>
         <% if local_assigns.fetch :description_languages, false %>
         filterCollections["description_languages"] = {
             param: "description_languages",
-            paramVal: function (lang) {
-                return lang.id.toString();
-            },
             multi: true,
-            data: <%= raw local_assigns.fetch(:description_languages, []).map{|l| {id: l, name: t("js.#{l}")}}.to_json %>,
+            data: <%= raw local_assigns.fetch(:description_languages, []).map{|l| {id: l.to_s, name: t("js.#{l}")}}.to_json %>,
             color: "orange",
         };
         <% end %>
         <% if local_assigns.fetch :judges, false %>
         filterCollections["judges"] = {
             param: "judge_id",
-            paramVal: function(judge) {
-                return judge.id.toString();
-            },
             multi: false,
-            data: <%= raw local_assigns.fetch(:judges, []).map{|judge| {id: judge.id, name: "#{judge.name}-judge"}}.to_json %>,
+            data: <%= raw local_assigns.fetch(:judges, []).map{|judge| {id: judge.id.to_s, name: "#{judge.name}-judge"}}.to_json %>,
             color: "red",
         }
         <% end %>
         <% if local_assigns.fetch :courses, false %>
         filterCollections["courses"] = {
             param: "course_id",
-            paramVal: function(course) {
-                return course.id.toString();
-            },
             multi: false,
-            data: <%= raw local_assigns.fetch(:courses, []).map{|course| {id: course.id, name: "#{course.name} (#{course.formatted_year})"}}.to_json %>,
+            data: <%= raw local_assigns.fetch(:courses, []).map{|course| {id: course.id.to_s, name: "#{course.name} (#{course.formatted_year})"}}.to_json %>,
             color: "orange"
         };
         <% end %>
         <% if local_assigns.fetch :exercises, false %>
         filterCollections["exercises"] = {
           param: "exercise_id",
-          paramVal: function(exercise) {
-            return exercise.id.toString();
-          },
           multi: false,
-          data: <%= raw local_assigns.fetch(:exercises, []).map{|exercise| {id: exercise.id, name: exercise.name}}.to_json %>,
+          data: <%= raw local_assigns.fetch(:exercises, []).map{|exercise| {id: exercise.id.to_s, name: exercise.name}}.to_json %>,
           color: "blue-gray"
         };
         <% end %>
         <% if local_assigns.fetch :popularity, false %>
             filterCollections["popularity"] = {
               param: "popularity",
-              paramVal: function (s) {
-                return s.id.toString();
-              },
               multi: true,
-              data: <%= raw local_assigns.fetch(:popularity, []).map{|s| {id: s, name: Activity.human_enum_name(:popularity, s)}}.to_json %>,
+              data: <%= raw local_assigns.fetch(:popularity, []).map{|s| {id: s.to_s, name: Activity.human_enum_name(:popularity, s)}}.to_json %>,
               color: "pink",
             };
         <% end %>
       <% if local_assigns.fetch :draft, false %>
         filterCollections["draft"] = {
           param: "draft",
-          paramVal: function (s) {
-            return s.id.toString();
-          },
           multi: false,
           data: [
-            {id: true, name: "<%= t("activities.index.filters.draft") %>"},
-            {id: false, name: "<%= t("activities.index.filters.not_draft") %>"}
+            {id: "true", name: "<%= t("activities.index.filters.draft") %>"},
+            {id: "false", name: "<%= t("activities.index.filters.not_draft") %>"}
           ],
           color: "indigo",
         };