In 2024, the Eurekaweek incurred a loss of 80,000 euros, compared to 17,000 euros the previous year. According to the Executive Board, these losses were primarily due to a declining number of participants and increased prices in the events sector, particularly the cost of renting Ahoy for the opening and the Cantus. Also, as the week seems to be losing popularity, the Executive Board wishes to reorganise the week, thus shortening it to three days this year.
Little confidence
The council is concerned that students will not get to know each other well and that the associations involved in the shortened programme will have fewer opportunities to recruit members, potentially leading to a decline in size.
Therefore, the members have requested in a letter to the Executive Board to explore the possibility of extending the Eurekaweek to five days, at least after the upcoming edition. Vice-chair of the Executive Board Ellen van Schoten has already expressed little confidence in this during the council meeting, considering the budget cuts facing the university.
Main sponsor dealt a blow
A ‘blacklist’ reportedly containing at least two companies with which there have been poor experiences in the past is said to hinder the Eurekaweek in securing better deals with event locations, writes the council. A spokesperson for the university denies the existence of such a blacklist. There is, however, one event company with which the university no longer wishes to collaborate, namely The Party Group, the parent company of the well-known café De Beurs.
De Beurs was the main sponsor of the Eurekaweek until 2016. According to a spokesperson for The Party Group, the company transferred 80,000 euros in sponsorship funds up to that year. However, after an incident where the café owner struck a Eurekaweek board member, that relationship ended.
Payment machines
This incident involved a conflict over the payment machines for wristbands. “For years, the system would fail every time it was at its busiest”, the spokesperson for the hospitality company recalls. “So, that year our owner had already prepared his own payment machines for the Night of the Songs. When the system failed again, he didn’t close the bar, as one normally would, but set up his own machines on the bar. A committee member then came to demand an explanation, as this would prevent the Eurekaweek from receiving a margin on the turnover. Naturally, the owner wanted to account for that, and he tried to explain, but the discussion escalated completely. In the heat of the argument, the owner then hit him with his hand. Subsequently, the company was ‘blacklisted’ by the university.”
For 2024, hope for collaboration between The Party Group and the Eurekaweek seemed to emerge again, according to the spokesperson. “There was already a comprehensive plan we had developed together, but then we were told they had chosen a different location. The Eurekaweek also rejected a marketing budget of 15,000 euros.”
According to the university spokesperson, The Party Group’s account is incorrect. She claims that there has only been a sales pitch that was not followed up. She also states that the incident in 2016 unfolded differently, ‘but for the safety of those involved, we will not comment further’.
Re-evaluating
Companies, such as The Party Group, may be re-evaluated by the University Council after a few years, even if there have been poor experiences in the past. “Some organisations have been on the blacklist for years, which is not fair, as they may have significantly adjusted their organisation or working methods, and may now align more closely with the core values of EUR”, the council writes to the Executive Board.
The council also questions why the expensive Ahoy is still rented for the opening party and the Cantus. “In the past, the Cantus was always held in the Van der Goot building, which offers a feasible and affordable alternative.” Additionally, council members suggest that the Eurekaweek management could learn from other university cities where longer introduction weeks are still organised.
Advantages
A spokesperson for the university confirms that they are looking at ways to organise the Eurekaweek ‘differently in light of the budget cuts, without compromising the three core objectives of the introduction week (getting to know the university, the city, and each other)’. “Financial aspects play a role here, but are certainly not the only reason. Furthermore, we see benefits in more ‘on-campus activities’ during the Eurekaweek to enhance our students’ engagement with our campus.”
