Behind the Numbers

The Studentenraad KU Leuven stands out for its interest in its history. A detailed description of the events of the last 10 years on the website is rather unusual for a student union, but in the case of KU Leuven it can be attributed to the recent creation of the union in 2013 as a result of a “multi-campus” model introduced at KU Leuven. Since then, the Studentenraad KU Leuven has achieved many victories for its students.

The Studentenraad KU Leuven is light on services for students. They offer advice to students on academic matters, provide occasional legal assistance, and the Union regularly organizes extracurricular activities. The Union is active on many social media platforms such as Facebook, Instagram, Twitter and LinkedIn. The Union provides financial support to student clubs on the KU Leuven campus.

The Union does an excellent job of representing its students. As of 2024, the  Studentenraad KU Leuven is a member of the Vlaamse Vereniging Studenten (Flemish Student Union), having left and rejoined it in recent years. The Union’s website contains documents detailing the Union’s bylaws, positions, annual reports, and other activities. The Union effectively uses its structural power, as evidenced by its track record. In particular, students can participate in the election of the rector of a university, a rarity not only in Belgium but in Europe as a whole. Another distinctive feature of the Studentenraad KU Leuven is the existence of the International Students’ Assembly, where international students can give their feedback and voice their concerns. The Union also organizes advocacy campaigns, but does not participate in the governance of any of the communities in which KU Leuven campuses are located.

The Tweaks

The Studentenraad KU Leuven is in a challenging position due to the multi-campus model of the university. It has to represent not only the students on the main campus in Leuven, but also those studying on the various satellite campuses. The geographical distribution of the students would make it very difficult to provide uniform services. Nevertheless, some services can be provided online, such as tutoring or psychological support.

Although the Union has adopted a bilingual policy starting in the 2024-24 academic year, the rules and regulations and annual reports are still not available in English. While back-translating all annual reports would be a difficult task, the rules and regulations should be available in English for greater accessibility.