Student representation in Antwerp Belgium Artesis Plantijn University

Student representation in Antwerp (Belgium) Artesis Plantijn University College Elise Beeckmans & Dries Meerts student council Anika Hendrickx policy advisor on student engagement

Facts and figures • • Artesis Plantijn University College Fusion of Artesis and Plantijn in 2013 • 11. 000 students • • • 24 vocational courses 8 art programmes (Royal Academy and Royal Conservatoire) 7 campuses across Antwerp • Only investing in student engagement since 2015 • • • Asked to do this presentation last night at 8 PM Non-native English speakers Please be kind

Interactivity, yay! • We start with a short survey • Go to kahoot. it and sign in with the code on the screen

Evolution throughout the years • Student elections – 2013: 11 % – 2015: 34 % – 2017 and 2018: > 40 % (Belgian record for years) • Student reps – – 2013: 23 2015: 42 2017: 52 2018: 84 • 2018 – – – 84 student reps – 30 student reps in Schools of Arts 50 have had training (IRL) Almost 60% female Almost 25% first year students Great diversity (gender, religion, socio-economical, ethnic background, age, . . . )

Some basic realisations • Big investment in digitalisation of administration • Evening students can use free parking • Renovated student space on one of the campuses • Longer opening hours for the student restaurants • Exam schedule published 4 months before actual exams

Working with sparqs Little legislation Institutional student council through elections SPARQS • 2016: • • • Workshop for student reps Presentation to board of directors Workshop with board members and student reps Attended sparqs training in Dundee 2017 • Attended sparqs conference • Strategic planning for student engagement and start engagement project • 2018 • Attended RAISE-conference • Simultaneously, other student reps to sparqs training • Kickstart engagement project

Student engagement project 5 student reps work for the student support office on this project (paid) Together with policy advisor • Basic workshops and materials – – – having productive meetings working as a team role of student rep how to write a proposal communication and negotiation • Presentation and informal drink for students interested in applying • The AP student rep handbook • Town hall meetings about specific subjects • Promoting participation in other training/workshops/conferences – Intercultural communication – Student support – Deep Democracy • Teambuilding

Student engagement project Making sure the students know the student reps • Facebook page with ‘student rep of the week’ • ‘Who is who’ of student reps on the e-learning platform • Anonymous feedback and suggestion form online • • Mailbox and telephone for student council Office and meeting space for student council • Promotion material: – Posters – Short interview montage of student reps • First start up activity to improve social integration: – Boardgame night open for all students