Difficult searches for new boards and committees and cancelled events such as the Batavierenrace... Activism at the UT has seen better years. The exact causes of this had not yet been investigated.
A survey by the University Innovation Fellows (UIF) and the Student Union should provide that insight. 'We also saw the number of applications to become a University Innovation Fellow dwindle rapidly,' says Fran Karlovic, one of the initiators on behalf of UIF. 'We quickly concluded that this is a broader problem. And this topic is also a priority of the Student Union, which is why we joined forces.'
250 respondents
Within two days, the counter for the survey has already reached 250 respondents. Questions focus, among other things, on what would hinder or motivate students to actively engage in associations or other organizations within the UT.
Karlovic does not want to anticipate the results yet. 'The broad trend I see is that everyone is fishing in the same small pond of active students,' he observes. 'We need to expand that pond. I'll be finishing my studies soon. When I came to study here it felt so alive and vibrant, it's like I'm leaving the UT in a worse condition.'
Think tank
After the survey results are known, the initiators will hold a think tank with the respondents in the DesignLab on 26 November. 'First of all, to share the results, so that everyone can discuss possible solutions from the same level of knowledge,' says Karlovic. 'A rising tide lifts all the boats, as the saying goes. I think everyone benefits from a quick reversal of this downward trend in student engagement.'
