Five reasons to stand for the university elections
The university elections are coming up. If you’d like to represent the interests of students and staff in the coming year, register as a candidate on 14 or 15 April. Here are five good reasons why.
1. Influence decisions
The representative bodies are the place where you can say what you think of university policies. You participate in discussions about and advise on important topics such as budgets, and you help decide on matters such as teaching policy, exam regulations, study guidance and student and staff facilities. And you’re always first to hear about important developments. In fact, everything that affects students and staff is discussed at the table. In recent years, the representative bodies contributed to: scrapping the binding study recommendation in the second year, halting the annual agreements for PhD candidates and postdocs, providing affordable menstruation products for students, a pilot scheme in which students without exam registration can still participate, and appointing an ombuds officer for staff.
2. Representing your fellow students or colleagues
As a representative, you flag concerns in your department, degree programme or faculty. You ensure that university leaders think about and respond to your fellow students or colleagues’ problems or ideas, so that everyone's voices are heard. The participation bodies allow university leaders to talk directly with students and staff, which is important because they are more removed from what is happening at the university.
3. Develop as a person
The participation bodies are a great personal development opportunity. You’ll improve your meeting, negotiation, discussion, collaboration and policy-assessment skills, and will find out more about managing a large public organisation. You don’t have to have an opinion on everything from the get-go or have in-depth knowledge of university affairs. You’ll learn that along the way.
4. Build a network
Being a representative helps you build a strong professional network. You’ll meet students, lecturers and managers from a wide range of faculties and programmes, as well as other representatives. On our annual Representative Training Day, you’ll learn more about your role and will meet your fellow representatives. The University Council, faculty councils and staff councils also have a buddy system that connects representatives and enables them to exchange ideas.
5. Improve the university
As a representative, rather than standing on the sidelines, you can effect real change and make a difference. You’ll actively improve our teaching, facilities and work and study environment. Put simply, if there’s something you think could be improved at our university, register as a candidate and help achieve that.
Candidates wanted for these councils
The university elections will be held this year from 18 to 21 May. You can register as a candidate on 14 or 15 April.
As a staff member, you can stand as a candidate for the University Council. There are also mid-term elections for the Archaeology, and Social and Behavioural Sciences faculty councils, as well as the SEA, Administration and Central Services and ICLON staff councils.
Students can stand as a candidate for the University Council, all faculty councils and the LUMC Student Council.