‘I want to get as much as possible out of my time as a student’
At the beginning of a new academic year, new boards of student parties SAM and Front are geared up to defend student interests in the University Council, the university’s participation body. An excellent moment to introduce the two presidents, Paula Schrijver (Front) and Veronique Coenen (SAM). Why did they opt to take up this managerial position? What drives them? What issues are they going to spearhead in the coming year?
by Annemeike Tan
Meet the presidents
Paula Schrijver is 21 years old and is in the third year of her Psychology Bachelor’s program. ‘I first did a year of pedagogy at a university of applied sciences, but I soon realized I preferred to study Psychology at a research university. Via a sorority friend at student rowing association Vidar, I came into contact with Front. She was on the board last year and she got me interested in student participation. That’s how I became involved.’
Veronique Coenen (22) has just bagged her B.LL and wants to use this board year to think about the Master’s program she wants to do next year. Veronique was first introduced to SAM during TOP Week, when her ‘TOP mama’ was about to start a board year at SAM. ‘Although it immediately appealed to me, as a first-year student, I still felt too insecure to become active right away. I needed a little more time to find my bearings. In my third year, I became a part-time board member at study association Magister, and then it was no longer such a big step to board membership at SAM.’
What do you find interesting about participation?
The importance and joy of participation has been imbibed in Paula from an early age. Both her parents were members of the Maastricht University Council. ‘I think it's wonderful to have your voice heard in this way as a student.’
Veronique adds: ‘I find it interesting to be involved in the big decisions that the university takes and to signal the issues that we as students come up against. The Executive Board is not always aware of problems among students and it is up to us to point them out. Helping students, that is my most important motivation.’
Helping students, that is my most important motivation
Do personal motives also play a role in opting for a board membership position?
Veronique:
‘It also plays a role. I was quick to complete my Bachelor’s. In addition, I took some extra courses as part of Tilburg Law School’s Top Class and I was an active member of Magister. I am now taking a step back as regards my studies, but I think that this board year will teach me a lot about myself and that this will help me in the future.’
Paula states that her Vidar sorority only has motivated and passionate members. That has stimulated her to become active outside her studies, too. ‘I want to get as much as possible out of my time as a student. So I have chosen to do a board year and preferably an internship as well. That is not only useful but good fun, too!’
What kind of president do you want to be?
Paula:
‘From an early age, I have wanted to be in contact with people. I want to discover what people are really thinking, to keep asking questions, to ruminate, to ponder why things are as they are. I have always enjoyed that. And that is how I see my role as Front’s president. I am very curious, I am keen to know the details. From age 3 to age 18, I did gymnastics quite fanatically. That taught me perseverance and perfectionism: if I choose to do something, then I really go for it and do it as well as I can.’
I want to discover what people are really thinking
Veronique wants to focus on finding solutions. ‘You are there to help students, to improve the quality of the teaching for students. If students come to us with problems, we must try to solve them. In addition, I want to be steadfast. After all, you are sitting down with the Executive Board. That is quite impressive the first time. If you come up with a vision that is different from the Executive Board’s, you have to do your very best to get them to see it your way.’
You are both the type of student that the university likes to see: ‘the enterprising student’, motivated and with a pro-active attitude. What is SAM’s and Front’s take on this?
Paula:
‘Front stands for the active student, the student who goes the extra mile. It does not matter whether that is at a sports association, a study association, or a student association. We think it is important that a student gets as much out of this time as possible. Your time as a student is unique. It will never come back, so you need to use your time well.’
Veronique confirms that this is important for SAM, too, and explains how she sees the enterprising student: ‘I think an entrepreneurial attitude is very important. Having the courage to ask questions, to speak your mind, to take initiative. I often hear that Tilburg students have a lot of knowledge but that they are diffident compared to students from universities in the west of the country. They are afraid to speak up. Students are worried that they’ll do something wrong, whereas you can learn a lot from your mistakes. Personal growth comes with messing up. The university should communicate that it is OK to make mistakes.’
Another element that the university wants to teach its students is social responsibility. What is your view on this?
Veronique sees an important role for the university when it comes to instilling a sense of responsibility in students. ‘Students today will have important positions in society one day. Soft skills like personal leadership are extremely important in this context.’ The university needs to prepare students for a society that is in constant flux. ‘Today’s first-year students begin their education in the middle of the corona crisis. In a few years’ time, when they enter the job market, the world will probably be a completely different place. As a student, you need to learn to deal with these changes. You also need to know what your position in that society is, what you can do for others.’
The university needs to prepare students for a society that is in constant flux
Paula also thinks the element of social responsibility is very important, but also indicates that she does see this reflected in her own program. ‘I realize that this is very difficult. Psychology is a program with many students. The larger the student population, the more impersonal things become. But at moments that we work together in smaller groups, you can see there is more room for interaction. Then we can reflect on the question of ‘How does this work in practice? What does this mean for other people?’ Then you get more of a dialog rather than one-way traffic.’ For Front, interaction in lectures is an important issue that they want to put on the agenda. ‘Especially now that most lectures are taught online, we must not lose sight of this aspect.’
If you could be the Rector for one day, what would you get done first?
There is silence before a hesitant answer is suggested. Paula wants to make sure that the freshmen, despite the limitations imposed by the corona crisis, will be able to get to know Tilburg and discover what a nice place it is. They must be able to go to classes on the campus and have the possibility to study in the library until late at night. ‘I would like to see the first-year students to have as much of a university community feeling as possible.’
First-year students should have as much of a university community feeling as possible
Veronique wants to work to improve the quality of education. She would like the curricula to be more in line with the wishes of the job market. ‘I’m thinking, for instance, of tutorials with a guest speaker who works at a company or organization. Let him or her explain practical problems, so that students, based on their theoretical knowledge, can search for solutions.’
Do you have tips for the new first-year students?
Paula has lots of ideas. ‘I was a bit anxious in my first year. It was all so big and overwhelming! And if you have chosen a popular program, you just hope you are lucky enough to end up in a nice group of people whom you can connect with. I regret that I did not become active member of something as a freshman. I would recommend new students to become a member of an association so that you really become connected with other students and with the university. You can become a member of all kinds of committees that are not only fun but also instructive. That is my tip: become active and do not be afraid. I also found it all very scary to get to know new people, but it makes your time as student so much more fun.’
Become active and do not be afraid
Veronique realizes that things are different for today’s freshmen now that the situation is so different from when she started her first year. They get to spend more time at home and need to undertake more to actively participate. ‘My advice would be: do not allow the situation to get on top of you. It may be very chill sometimes to watch lectures in your pajamas in bed, and please do so now and then, but also seize the opportunities that present themselves. Also in corona times, there are many opportunities to realize your ambitions. And should you run into problems or if you have a flashing, innovative idea? Get in touch with us!