The Political Chair of SOFv represents the interests of students and study associations in particular as a member of the USC. It is useful to know how the USC works in order to be able to follow what it is about. The purpose of these pages is to provide insight into the structure and working methods of the employee representation at a central level and in particular of the USC.
What does the USC do?
The University Student Council (USC), in collaboration with the Works Council (OR), contributes to the policy of Radboud University Nijmegen at a central level. The Student Council represents the interests of students through meetings with the Executive Board and discussions with policy officers and other influential organisations at the university.
The University Student Council represents the interests of students in various fields. Within the Joint Assembly, the Student Council discusses important policy documents with the Executive Board. In addition, the student council participates in various consultations and maintains contact with other participation bodies. The student council also continuously shows its own initiative by writing policy memorandums and participating in working groups and sounding board groups.
More information about university participation can be found at www.ru.nl/usr or www.numederekenschap.nl.
Who is on the University Student Council?
The University Student Council in Nijmegen has a special structure compared to other cities. In addition to the eight elected members of the student parties, six appointed members from various umbrella organizations also sit on the council. Elections are held every year for the eight elected members. These members come from the student factions AKKUraatd and asap. The six other members are appointed by six different umbrella organisations. The umbrella members represent the interests of a specific target group in the student community.
The USC outside the GVs
In addition to the cycle of the Joint Assembly, the USR is also involved in its own initiatives. The working methods can be divided into working groups and sounding board groups. The working groups have been set up with a specific goal in mind, when this goal is achieved the working group will be dissolved. Some of the topics within the working groups are: student well-being, internationalisation, sustainability and career orientation. Sounding board groups, on the other hand, run throughout the year. These are groups in which the members continuously contribute ideas to the university’s policy. In addition, the PR committee is involved in all kinds of promotion through social media, the website or the university magazines. Finally, the activities committee organizes a number of activities during the year, such as Radboud by Night and the participation gala.
The USC in the GVs
The University Student Council (USC) and the Works Council (OR) form the Joint Assembly (GV). The Works Council represents the interests of employees at Radboud University. The council consists of twenty elected members, supplemented by four members on behalf of the UMC council, associated with the university hospital. The USR and the Works Council influence the central policy of the university. This policy is implemented on behalf of the Executive Board (CvB). This administrative body consists of three persons, namely a chair, a rector magnificus and a vice-chair.
The Joint Assembly consists of eight cycles in which certain policies are discussed in each cycle. The various documents are subdivided into a number of standing committees, namely Education, Research and Social Services (OOM), Personnel, Students and Campus (PSC), Safety, Health, Welfare and Environment (VGWM), Finance, Investments and New Construction (FIN ) and IT. The policy documents are finally discussed jointly during the Preparatory Joint Meeting (VGV) and subsequently with the Executive Board in the so-called Consultation Joint Meeting (VGV). During the Closing Joint Meeting (AGV), the USC and the Works Council issue their final advice on the various agenda items and, if necessary, a vote is taken on specific agenda items.
