Behind the Numbers
Although it is a college student union and does not represent as many students as some top university student unions in this index, the Studentenraad Erasmushogeschool Brussel is quite successful. The union has a well-balanced range of services, coupled with successful representation, which has helped it achieve second place in the 2024 edition of the Index.
The Studentenraad Erasmushogeschool Brussel offers psychological assistance, advice on academic matters, sporadic food assistance and legal assistance. The association organizes events for students and is active on social media.
The Studentenraad Erasmushogeschool Brussel is a member of the Vlaamse Vereniging Studenten (Flemish Student Union). The Union has extensive representation possibilities. There is a student council for each faculty of the university. There is also a mixed student-faculty council that works on policies concerning student facilities, such as financial support, mental well-being, sports, culture, restaurants, mobility, housing and student participation. The bylaws, rules of participation, and election procedures are available on the website. The Union is also involved in off-campus initiatives; however, it does not carry out advocacy campaigns on its own, relying instead on the initiatives of the VVS.
The Tweaks
The Student Union’s page on the college website could greatly benefit from improved clarity. Key improvements could include making links to rules and regulations more easily accessible and incorporating a clear schematic or diagram that illustrates the structure of the union.
It would also be valuable to actively promote recent projects and initiatives undertaken by the union, showcasing its accomplishments and impact on student life. Furthermore, the page should clearly outline the range of services offered by the union, providing students with an overview of how the union can support them. While the Union does the best it can given its resources, it can increase visibility and transparency so that students can better understand what their Union does for them.
