University Student Council (USR)

Last updated on 7 November 2024

The University Student Council (USR) is engaged with the quality and accessibility of education and VU policy that affects students.

_{Names of councillors in photo, from left to right. Top row: Sanne Valkink, Tom Korporaal, Annas Ardiansyah, Morgan Deneubourg and Jesse Jansen. Bottom row: Marise Visser, Yusuf Yokuş, Rabia Alarslan, Laura Oorschot, Marko Daraboš and Simon Westhoff.}

Participation can be divided into two systems: a shared and an undivided system. In a shared system, there are two councils: a staff council and a student council. In an undivided system, there is one council with representatives of both employees and students together. The system used by a university is both decentralised and centralised. Vrije Universiteit Amsterdam has a shared system that includes the Staff Council (OR) and the University Student Council (USR).

The USR regularly consults with the Executive Board (CvB). The council has important consenting and advisory powers in the fields of strategic policy, organisation, governance, financial support for students and the Student Charter. These rights ensure that students' voices are always heard within the organisation when important decisions are taken. Members of the council also try to influence university's policy in various ways by consulting with employees and giving their independent advice.

Who are the council members and what do they do?
Each councillor is active within several portfolios and each portfolio is part of a particular committee. Coordinators can only be active in one committee at a time. Other members are active in a maximum of two committees at the same time.
The University Student Council (USR) has three committees: Education & Research, Organisation & Finance and Communication.
For 2024-2025, the USR council members are:
- Annas Ardiansyah (Chair), usr.annas.ardiansyah@vu.nl
- Marko Daraboš (Vice Chair), usr.marko.darabos@vu.nl
- Tom Korporaal (Education & Research Coordinator), usr.tom.korporaal@vu.nl
- Sanne Valkink (Organisation & Finance Coordinator), usr.sanne.valkink@vu.nl
- Morgan Deneubourg (Communication Coordinator), usr.morgan.deneubourg@vu.nl
- Rabia Alarslan (General Councillor and Treasurer), usr.rabia.alarslan@vu.nl
- Jesse Jansen (General Councillor), usr.jesse.jansen@vu.nl
- Marise Visser (General Councillor), usr.marise.visser@vu.nl
- Yusuf Yokuş (General Councillor), usr.yusuf.yokus@vu.nl
- Laura Oorschot (General Councillor), usr.laura.oorschot@vu.nl
- Simon Westhoff (General Councillor), usr.simon.westhoff@vu.nl
Education & Research Committee
- Tom Korporaal (Education & Research Coordinator)
- Annas Ardiansyah (Chair)
- Jesse Jansen (General Councillor)
- Marise Visser (General Councillor)
- Yusuf Yokuş (General Councillor)
- Laura Oorschot (General Councillor)
- Simon Westhoff (General Councillor)
Organisation & Finance Committee
- Sanne Valkink (Organisation & Finance Coordinator)
- Marko Daraboš (Vice Chair)
- Rabia Alarslan (General Councillor and Treasurer)
- Jesse Jansen (General Councillor)
- Laura Oorschot (General Councillor)
Communication Committee
- Morgan Deneubourg (Communication Coordinator)
- Annas Ardiansyah (Chair)
- Marko Daraboš (Vice Chair)
- Rabia Alarslan (General Councillor and Treasurer)
- Marise Visser (General Councillor)
- Yusuf Yokuş (General Councillor)
- Simon Westhoff (General Councillor)

Joint Assembly (GV) Staff Council & USR

Members of the Staff Council (OR) and the University Student Council (USR) sit together in the Joint Assembly (GV). As a result, the USR is always involved in the important decisions taken at VU. The tasks and powers of the GV can be found in the University Joint Assembly Regulations and include advisory rights on the annual university budget, the annual report and accounts and the right of consent on the institutional plan (multi-year policy plan), the VU Executive Regulations and the Education Quality Plan. The Joint Assembly talks with the CvB during the Joint Consultation Meeting (GVO).
USR-CvB meetings

Once a month, the University Student Council (USR) meets with the Executive Board (CvB).
Meeting dates USR-CvB meetings
Tuesday 22 October 2024, 15:00 - 16:30
Monday 16 December 2024, 15:00 - 17:00
Thursday 23 January 2025, 14:00 - 16:00
Monday 3 March 2025, 14:00 - 16:00
Monday 26 May 2025, 14:00 - 16:00
Tuesday 1 July 2025, 14:00 - 16:00
Public USR meetings

Vergaderdata publieke USR vergaderingen
Vrijdag 4 oktober 2024, 12:30 – 13:45 uur
The University Student Council (USR) holds public USR meetings where students can join and give their opinions on advice that will be sent by the USR to the Executive Board. The council also continuously asks students for their opinions in the Student Forum (a meeting where every student can be a member and take initiatives), the Presidium (a meeting with the USR and all faculty student councils) and the UVO (a meeting with the USR and association boards of VU Amsterdam). Finally, students can always provide input via email or via Instagram, Facebook or LinkedIn.
Meeting dates public USR meetings
Friday 4 October 2024, 12:30 - 13:45

Faculty Student Councils (FSR)

The Faculty Student Council (FSR) is the link between students and the Faculty Board. As the highest participation body for students within their faculty, it has a say in the decisions that are taken at and about the faculty. It is important that the FSR knows what is going on among students and what the bottlenecks and problems are. In case you have a question, problem or any ideas or suggestions, let us know!

Elections are held annually for members of the University Student Council (USR) and the Faculty Student Councils (FSR). As a VU Amsterdam student, you can vote for the candidates of your choice. This is done by electronic voting. You can vote twice: for a candidate for the USR and for a candidate for the FSR of your faculty.

Read all about the elections