Behind the Numbers

Student participation at the University of Leuven-Limburg underwent a reform process between 2018 and 2020, with the end result being dubbed ‘Student Participation 2.0’. Has it worked? Although we do not have data before 2018, the results as of 2024 are encouraging. The Studentenraad UCLL Leuven provides basic services to its students and has effective representation.

In terms of services, the Union provides regular mediation assistance, consistent counseling support, an active social media presence, and the organization of extracurricular activities. It is a basic package, and not bad for a college-based student union.

The Studentenraad UCLL Leuven is a member of the Vlaamse Vereniging Studenten (Flemish Student Union). The union represents the interests of students at various levels within the institution and actively works to address student concerns through campaigns and initiatives aimed at improving student life and facilities. The public intranet site has diagrams showing the restructuring that took place as part of the Student Participation 2.0 reform.

The Tweaks

A lot of information about the work of the UCLL Leuven Student Council is hidden in the intranet. It would be useful to present the Union’s initiatives to the public, either on the UCLL website or by creating a separate website for the General Student Council. There should also be more information on social media about the Union’s achievements and plans for the future. A lack of services beyond the organization of extracurricular activities may be due to a lack of funding, but the possibility of providing rudimentary food or psychological support should still be explored.