Erasmus MC is more than just Medicine – and that should be reflected in the council too

For years, only medical students were part of the Joint Assembly, the faculty council of the Erasmus MC. Students from Clinical Technology, for example, have never been part of the council. Only two Nanobiology students have been elected so far. Tessa Hartog (21) is one of them. She hopes that next year, all Erasmus MC programmes will be represented in the council. Her message: “Put yourself forward.”

The regulations had to be adjusted, but in 2023-2024, Bastiaan van Dijk became the first Nanobiology student to join the student faction of the Joint Assembly (Gemeeschappelijke Vergadering or GV) at the Erasmus MC. In his search for Nanobiology students interested in student representation, he found Tessa, who was then active in the Student Council in Delft. Students in Clinical Technology and Nanobiology take courses in both Delft and Rotterdam. Now, Tessa hopes to bring all Erasmus MC programmes into the GV at the same time.

“Student participation isn’t exactly seen as hip by most students – I know that’s how many people feel about it”, she says. “But I really enjoy it. The discussions, the input we have – you learn so much about the Erasmus MC. No one realises just how many decisions the board makes.” Tessa finds that her perspective sometimes differs from her fellow council members. “I don’t know if that’s because I study Nanobiology or simply because I’m a different person. But I often find myself saying: ‘Why is that normal? It’s different in Delft.’ For example, in Delft, study delays are much more common than in Medicine because students tend to be involved in more extracurricular activities. Since students in Delft can decide when to take certain courses, they are more likely to fall behind in their studies.”

Different perspectives, interesting discussions

Students can candidate themselves for the GV, the University Council, and faculty councils until 12.00 noon on Monday 31 March. Voting will take place from 9 to 16 April. “Do you have an opinion about how things are run in your programme or faculty?” Tessa advises: “Put yourself forward.” Or do you want to learn more about decision-making and governance? Or both? “Just sign up. You’ll naturally get to know everyone there – I didn’t know anyone when I started either.” Her call also applies to Medicine students because, as she puts it, it’s crucial to have a diverse range of perspectives in the council.

“Soon, I’ll be sending out a survey to students from CT (Clinical Technology) and Nano(biology)”, Tessa says. The research master’s programmes (also called ‘rema’ by students) are based at Erasmus MC. “I’ll be asking whether they feel like Erasmus MC students and why or why not. I know that most of them don’t – for instance, most live in Delft. That’s not necessarily a problem, but if we can do something to improve that sense of connection, why not?”

In a year marked by major issues such as the announced budget cuts and government plans to reduce the number of international students, Tessa has noticed growing unease among international students. “Nano and the rema-programmes are international studies – those students are afraid they won’t be able to complete their degrees. We’ve raised this concern in the council. A reassuring and informative email for those students hasn’t been sent out yet, though it has been drafted. The next GV meeting is on Thursday, so we can bring it up again then.”