{"id":157132,"date":"2023-07-04T12:14:03","date_gmt":"2023-07-04T10:14:03","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.erasmusmagazine.nl\/en\/?p=157132"},"modified":"2026-01-20T09:58:27","modified_gmt":"2026-01-20T08:58:27","slug":"annual-15-million-euro-grant-for-sticky-campus-gender-neutral-toilets-and-meditation-rooms","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.erasmusmagazine.nl\/en\/2023\/07\/04\/annual-15-million-euro-grant-for-sticky-campus-gender-neutral-toilets-and-meditation-rooms\/","title":{"rendered":"Annual 15 million euro grant for \u2018sticky campus\u2019, gender-neutral toilets and meditation rooms"},"content":{"rendered":"

Research universities and universities of applied sciences have reached agreements with student organisations ISO and LSVb on gender-neutral toilets, meditation rooms, better information provision and a \u2018sticky campus\u2019. The Ministry of Education, Culture and Science is allocating 15 million euros to improve student well-being.<\/p>

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\n\t\n\n<\/svg>\n<\/span>\n\tImage by:<\/span>\n\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\tElzeline Kooy<\/a>\t\t\t\t\t<\/span>\n\t<\/p>\n<\/figcaption><\/figure>

The mental well-being of students still leaves much to be desired. Almost half are struggling with mental health problems, according to<\/a> the Trimbos Institute, and Statistics Netherlands has also noted an increase<\/a> in mental health problems.<\/p>\n

In the summer of 2022, Minister Dijkgraaf agreed with research universities and universities of applied sciences to prioritise student well-being. He is making 15\u00a0million euros available for it annually. Institutions must spend the money on four themes. Another condition is that they coordinate their policies with the Dutch National Student Association ISO and the Dutch Student Union LSVb.<\/p>\n

Sticky campus<\/h2>

That has now happened: this morning saw the publication<\/a> of the National Framework for Student Well-being. With regard to the theme of \u2018a sense of belonging\u2019, it has been agreed that institutions will foster an inclusive study environment, with facilities such as meditation rooms and gender-neutral toilets, in the hope that more students will feel at home during their studies.<\/p>\n

Another tool is the \u2018sticky campus\u2019: a place where students like to come even when they don\u2019t have classes. This requires informal teaching spaces, \u2018where students can meet for various activities, such as eating together, studying, working together and having fun\u2019.<\/p>\n

Pizza sessions<\/h2>

Furthermore, it is important that students are actively involved in ideas to improve their well-being. This can be done through employee participation, but also through informal sessions (\u2018pizza sessions\u2019).<\/p>\n

Needless to say, institutions have promised to take preventive measures against stress. They want to inform first-year students properly about what to expect and what facilities are available to them. In doing so, they will pay particular attention to students without highly educated parents and students with disabilities.<\/p>\n

Lecturers and student counsellors who need it will receive training to identify any problems that students might have and refer them to a counsellor or psychologist. Lastly, institutions will step up their cooperation with GPs, addiction services and mental health institutions.<\/p>\n

From pillar to post<\/h2>

ISO president Demi Janssen welcomes the agreements and hopes that research universities and universities of applied sciences will tackle the problem at its core. \u201cStudents experiencing mental health problems are still often sent from pillar to post. It\u2019s good that help is being offered, but it\u2019s only useful if students can find that help.\u201d<\/p>\n

Is 15\u00a0million euros a year enough for all the institutions to realise all their plans? \u201cYou obviously need resources to get things done, but it\u2019s even more important that institutions are willing to really engage with students on this.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\t

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