Student organisations: Create your own meditation room

Student organisations believe there are still too few meditation rooms in education. They are calling on students to lobby their university or university of applied sciences themselves and are offering practical tips.

The ‘Meditation Room Toolkit’ helps students start a conversation with university administrators about creating more meditation rooms. It includes a sample letter to administrators and arguments students can use to counter possible objections from their institution.

The toolkit was published online last week by the Dutch Student Union, together with organisations such as the Dutch National Student Association, JOB MBO, LAKS and Ieder(in), which represents the interests of students with disabilities.

Welcome

According to the organisations, meditation rooms are crucial for student wellbeing. They offer a place to pray, meditate or simply relax in a low-stimulus environment. They also promote inclusivity: “By providing a meditation room, educational institutions send the message that students from minority groups are welcome and allowed to be themselves.”

The Islamic student association MSA Nederland also contributed to the toolkit. While it believes it is important for students to take action, it also argues that ‘the real responsibility lies with the administrators to take care of their pupils and students’.

Controversial

Last year, student organisations presented a manifesto to the House of Representatives, but then education minister Robbert Dijkgraaf did not want to make meditation rooms mandatory: “It is not up to the government to take a leading role in the discussion about whether or not to introduce or require meditation rooms.”

Universities of applied sciences and universities can now decide for themselves whether to create a meditation room. Many institutions already have them, but their use as prayer rooms can be controversial.

At Erasmus University, there is a meditation room in the G building, but that building will close at the end of 2025. It is not yet known where the meditation room will be relocated.