{"id":80107,"date":"2017-08-23T16:24:57","date_gmt":"2017-08-23T14:24:57","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.erasmusmagazine.nl\/en\/?p=80107"},"modified":"2025-12-19T11:22:50","modified_gmt":"2025-12-19T10:22:50","slug":"betrek-internationale-studenten-op-hun-manier","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.erasmusmagazine.nl\/en\/2017\/08\/23\/betrek-internationale-studenten-op-hun-manier\/","title":{"rendered":"\u2018Involve international students in their way\u2019"},"content":{"rendered":"
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Henriette Claus (former chairwoman RVSV) <\/span><\/p>

\n\t\n\n<\/svg>\n<\/span>\n\tImage by:<\/span>\n\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\tTim Ficheroux<\/a>\t\t\t\t\t<\/span>\n\t<\/p>\n<\/figcaption><\/figure>

\u201cWhat an idiotic non-debate!\u201d, fumes Ewout Ketelaars, former president of the RSC (now RSC-RVSV). This proves to be one of the few moments of excitement during Tuesday\u2019s Chairpersons Debate in the aula in Eurekaweek. Ten Rotterdam study and student associations attracted new students and debated internationalisation, career prospects and the association character.<\/p>\n

Ketelaars isn\u2019t keen on the idea that associations should make their Dutch core values more flexible to open themselves up to international students. \u201cWe are now debating whether we should reduce one to increase the other. Make it and-and. Involve international students in the association in their own way, then everyone\u2019s happy and you don\u2019t need to discuss whether it\u2019s necessary to flexibilise the Dutch core values.\u201d<\/p>\n

Dutch core values<\/h3>

All the chairpersons want to offer international students a warm welcome to their association, but they have different opinions about what \u2018the Dutch core values\u2019 mean. Preses Milan Lips from SSR Rotterdam includes hazing in the term. To the disapproval of Tobias Hoogteijling from FAECTOR: \u201cWhen I hear the word \u2018Dutch core values\u2019, I think of much more fundamental things like freedom, equality and care for each other.\u201d<\/p>\n

As an added gimmick, the audience can use their smartphones to vote on the statements. The results are displayed on the screen, but they don\u2019t really generate any further discussion.<\/p>\n

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The audience had a clear opinion about the third statement of the debate: A multidisciplinary background of students is only to be found at a student association.<\/span><\/p>

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\u2018We just call the post a chairperson\u2019<\/h3>

There were remarkably few differences in opinion about the statement that membership of a study association leads to better career prospects than a social club. According to most chairpersons, it doesn\u2019t make much difference and it mainly comes down to individual students. Only Hoogteijling insists that 70 percent of the econometrics students get a job thanks to the career events organised by study association FAECTOR.<\/p>\n

The fiercest pinpricks are inflicted outside the debate itself, during the introduction of the associations. \u201cI\u2019d already heard about the 55th anniversary of the JFR, but this year we\u2019re celebrating our centenary, which will be a far bigger festivity,\u201d snarls Lips. Sander de Groot counters by mocking the standard terms used in several associations \u2018preses\u2019 and \u2018president\u2019. \u201cWe just call the post \u2018chairperson\u2019, simple.\u201d<\/p>\n

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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\tTim Ficheroux<\/a>\t\t\t\t\t<\/span>\n\t<\/p>\n<\/figcaption><\/figure>

\u2018I'd expected more action\u2019<\/h3>

Not every member of the audience is satisfied with the event. \u201cI\u2019d expected more action involving fierce debates with the microphone being hurled to the ground,\u201d says new Health Care Studies student Lucas Boekkamp (18). \u201cThe differences between the associations weren\u2019t clear. After three minutes, I\u2019d forgotten who was who. Perhaps they ought to have name plates next time.\u201d<\/p>\n

New history student Luuk Rensen (17) was happy though. \u201cThe debate was very informative. Particularly about the Dutch core values, which are important at a time of globalisation and internationalisation. This has really helped me decide on the associations to choose. Being able to vote also made me feel involved.\u201d<\/p>\n

More Eureka Week<\/h2>