This is exactly why study associations—including Mercurius, Comenius, Pegasus, Saphati, VSPA, Bloom, SEC, Machiavelli, and Casa—have teamed up with Student Assessor Aybüke Özbakir and Dean Christa Boer to boost their visibility. They met in early November in the welcoming atmosphere of the common room to discuss ideas.

From introductions to brainstorming

The meeting began with an introduction between the association presidents, Aybüke, and Christa. Later, other board members joined, focusing on one key question: How can we ensure students discover associations not just during introduction week, but throughout the academic year?

Idea: an annual fair

One promising idea was organising an annual fair where students can connect with associations in an informal, accessible way. This plan will be further developed in upcoming meetings, along with more casual gatherings to strengthen collaboration.

The association presidents, Aybüke, and Christa are excited about this concrete partnership between the faculty and its students.

What does a student assessor do?

During the meeting, Aybüke explained her role: ‘As student assessor, I represent the student perspective in discussions with the dean and education directors, drawing from my own experience as a student. I stay in touch with study associations, the Faculty Student Council, student ombudspersons, and assessors from other faculties. I also work on projects like fostering a student community to connect students across programs.’

Got ideas?

The enthusiasm at this meeting is a promising start for the future. Do you have ideas to make study associations even more visible? Or want to join the discussion? Share your thoughts at the next session or contact Student Assessor Aybüke at studentassessor-fmg@uva.nlExternal link!