What are the Student Representatives?

Every Programme in the Netherlands has to have an Education Programme Committee, mostly referred to as EPC. In this committee, representatives of students and staff meet regularly to discuss courses and curriculum. If a significant change to a study programme is made, the EPC has to approve of this change, or it can reject the change and recommend a different approach. The EPC also has the right to information, meaning that it can request any information from the university that it needs to do its job. 

At FASoS the EPC also consults with course- and programme coordinators and gives feedback about courses and the curriculum. The Student Representatives include three EPCs with 3 student members each: European Studies, Digital Society, and Arts & Culture. Global Studies has their own EPC, but its members are not part of the Student Representatives, because it is a cross-Faculty body.

The Education Management Team (OMT) is a platform for discussing and evaluating faculty-wide policies affecting all BA programmes, such as attendance rules, exam feedback, and course registration. It includes Directors and Vice-Directors of Studies from all BA programmes, a Study Adviser, the Chair of the Student Affairs Office, the Associate Dean of Education, and the OMT secretary, alongside one student representative from each BA programme.

In monthly meetings, the OMT addresses broad faculty issues, fostering discussion and collaboration to find solutions. While the OMT holds no formal decision-making power, it offers Student Representatives a valuable opportunity to share perspectives, influence decisions, and engage directly with faculty leadership.

We are a consultation body composed of elected representatives from students and staff, who act as intermediaries between different programmes, departments, and the Faculty Board. Our elections are conducted annually (for students) or biannually (for staff). Our sole responsibilities include giving consent and/or advice on faculty regulations and policies concerning education, research, and finance, as well as student and staff affairs. These are discussed at Faculty Council meetings that happen once every six weeks and are open to the public to ensure transparency. Our main goal is to ensure all voices at FASoS are heard, empowered, and reflected in the decision-making process of our faculty. 

The library committee is a dedicated group responsible for overseeing and guiding the development and management of library resources  and services. The committee works together to ensure that the library meets the evolving needs of its academic community. Key responsibilities include reviewing how resources are selected, providing input on how the collection budget is allocated, and suggesting services or materials that support teaching, learning, and research needs. The library committee often plays a crucial role in gathering feedback from the community, promoting an inclusive and well-resourced environment that enhances the academic experience for all users.

The Student Representative on the FASoS Complaints Committee reviews and assesses official complaints filed against the faculty and its staff. Upon receiving the case details, the student examines them under faculty and university guidelines, providing an informed student perspective during discussions, where they are the only student present. This role requires strict confidentiality – making sure that no information about cases, individuals involved, or outcomes is shared with others. Through this committee, the Student Representative ensures that student perspectives are taken into account and that everyone’s concerns are heard and addressed fairly.

If you feel like you have been wronged and want to take action, you may consider reporting undesirable behaviour or filing a complaint. 

As in every faculty across every university in The Netherlands, our faculty too has a student member on the board. It is this student’s job to advise the deans of this faculty on every matter that they discuss. They meet once every two weeks, and discuss issues ranging from the GenAI policy to the ongoing Internationalisation in Balance Law. This student member also meets with the humanities student advisors across all the universities in The Netherlands. You can always reach out to the relevant student with any student concerns and issues via their email, which can be found in the FASoS organization section of the UM website. 

Education covers all things related to education at FASoS, members of this working group have organised events like the Education Fair and have consulted with the Faculty Working Group on artificial intelligence (AI) to develop the Generative AI (GenAI) policy. With the help of an incredible team, we try to work on projects that are not only informative but also fun. The Education Working Group tries to plan these projects according to the needs and wishes of the students, resulting in diverse outcomes. The process of getting these needs and wishes into actions, starts with heavy brainstorming, laying down possibilities, looking for the needed materials, advertising the project and then of course presenting it in front of the students that are interested. This year we will try to do as much as we can to make sure students see their different needs reflected in our projects. 

The Employability working group consists of seven members from both Bachelor and Master programmes, some of whom count with extensive professional experience. The working group is dedicated to supporting FaSoS students in having a smooth transition into the professional world. We offer workshops to help students develop essential career skills, build confidence throughout the job search process, from composing a CV and writing a motivation letter to preparing for interviews, and address any employability-related questions.This year we aim to offer our support by connecting with contacts across FaSoS and beyond, including Career Services, alumni, and corporate partners, and by organising events to provide a broad range of resources to our fellow students.

The Student Representatives (SR) Board is composed of four members who work together to support and manage the Student Representatives at our faculty. The board includes a President, Vice President, Secretary, and a General Board Member. Together, they handle the organisation’s day-to-day management, make sure there is effective communication within the team, coordinate the working groups, and create a safe environment for all members.

The working group Diversity, Inclusivity, Accessibility, and Sustainability (DIAS) is responsible for a broad spectrum of issues that occur within the faculty working to improve student’s educational experiences. We focus on issues ranging from accessibility of the available facilities in our faculty to support for international students, the safety of the students in lectures and tutorials, and the sustainability of the faculty. We are closely connected to and often meet with the faculty facilities manager. Our job is to form a link between the students and the staff that deals with these subjects. We have previously worked on projects such as the period products in the bathrooms, and the “Are you Okay?” QR codes, a CPD on addressing inappropriate behaviour in PBL, expanding resources offered in the introduction days and so much more. This year we aim to have new projects such as adding plants to the tutorial rooms, awareness week where we spread awareness on various topics related to social justice, a story sharing & CPD workshop on accessibility & neurodivergence, and many more. Our goal is to improve students’ experiences by creating a safer, more diverse, inclusive, accessible, and sustainable FASoS.

The Marketing and Communication Working Group is a team of six members dedicated to promoting faculty activities, strengthening student engagement, and enhancing the visibility of the Faculty of Arts and Social Sciences (FASoS). We manage social media accounts, sponsor events, and support graphic design projects to keep students informed and involved. Our responsibilities include facilitating effective communication between the Student Representatives (SR), faculty members, and the broader student community. Our team collaborates closely with the FASoS Marketing and Communications Office, aligning our initiatives with the faculty’s overall strategy. We are also often involved in organising key events, such as the annual gala and faculty-wide gatherings. In addition,  we also organise our own events, from social gatherings to informational sessions that enrich the student experience, such as the Warm up Wednesday Event or the Winter Market. These events provide opportunities for students to connect and network within the faculty and with other faculties. We contribute regularly to the FASoS website and FASoS weekly newsletter, ensuring that important updates and highlights are shared consistently.