University Council staff voting guide
From 12 to 14 May, there are elections for the representative councils. Staff vote in the elections for their own faculty's or service department council if there are elections, and for the university council. Read about the main standpoints of the two staff parties in this voting guide. Who will you vote for?
Sustainability
What do the parties think of sustainability?
VLAM
- takes sustainability in the broad meaning of the word: not just climate, nature and energy, but sustainable work relations also ask for more attention and investments!
- believes sustainability is important to, and therefore the responsibility of, everyone at the university.
- wants the effects of sustainability policy to be measured and communicated transparently, in terms of costs as well as the gains which can be achieved by means of sustainability.
- has submitted a memorandum in which we call on the Executive Board to come to an ambitious policy on climate-friendly long-distance travels by staff members.
Utrecht University looks back on a long history, occupies itself with the issues of today and still has a long future ahead. This is why sustainability – which also includes preparing for what the future will bring, and carefully handling scarce resources – is of big importance to us.
UPP
- thinks the university should focus on high-impact decisions and not get lost in sustainability details.
- thinks the university should take the lead in promoting sustainability education for students, faculties and staff.
Diversity and inclusion
What are the parties' views on diversity and inclusion?
VLAM
- believes there should be more attention for staff members with labour or non-labour disabilities or vulnerabilities, psychological or otherwise.
- supports a safe and inclusive working and learning environment.
- believes the added value of diversity and inclusion should play a bigger role within the university.
Utrecht University is in the centre of our society. It therefore has to be accessible and open to everyone who devotes himself/herself/themselves to the mission and vision of our university with his/her/their work, or wants to study here seriously and inquiringly.
UPP
- thinks university should pay more attention to (gender) inclusivity and better ensure it is a welcoming and social place for all (people with disabilities, parents, all genders, etc.).
- favours a pilot with gender quotas.
- advocates for funded anti-racism policies that address institutional racism.
Staff wellfare
What do the parties consider important around staff welfare?
VLAM
- sees leading in good faith as an important condition for staff well-being.
- supports steady jobs for structural work and thus speaks out in favour of broader possibilities to permanently hire lecturers without research profiles or with smaller research profiles.
- believes: decentral where this is possible (ownership of your work and rewarding initiative), central where it should be (such as administrative affairs, student arrangements, university ambitions).
- speaks out in favour of a clear framework for work in the office and at home.
- values good and clear procedures in order to report complaints/problems (protecting the messenger and the accused),
- devotes itself to making work pressure manageable to staff members.
Work pressure and social safety are currently key concepts which receive much attention within Utrecht University. It is and remains important that staff members feel at home and safe; that they are appreciated and seen; and that they do not experience unnecessary high work pressure.
UPP
- thinks the university should ensure that a PhD or postdoc psychologist is available at short notice for one-to-one sessions for those who need them (the waiting lists are currently too long).
- thinks the university should remain self-critical about why there are so many problems among early-career scientists.
- fights for fewer temporary contracts, reducing the workload of PhD students, ending structural unpaid overtime, among other things.
- fought for the mental well-being of PhD candidates - better guidance, improved access to mental healthcare and better support for the timely completion of their PhD tracks.
- thinks the university should pay more attention to postdoc-career trainings since there is no solid organization at this moment.
Education
What do the parties stand for when it comes to education?
VLAM
- wants to maintain a critical view on the implementation of the education organisation. Some programmes and projects are needlessly complex and require too much time from our staff members. Efficiency within the education organisation is important, but we want to safeguard the quality of education most of all.
- speaks out in favour of having the degree programmes themselves compile the curriculums of the respective degree programmes.
- wants to protect education from the expected austerity measures regarding universities as good as possible.
Utrecht University is a broad university with its motto being: sharing science, shaping tomorrow. Besides education, research is the second important pillar of the university. Via high-quality education and with the help of qualified lecturers, we educate our students.
UPP
- believes it is important that everyone is given sufficient time and resources to teach (in addition to research duties).
- calls for more attention for overburdened teachers because the quality of teaching is at stake.
- calls for recognition of PhD and postdoc efforts in education.
Recognition and Rewards
How do the parties feel about Recognitions and Rewards?
VLAM
- supports the recognising and rewarding of all UU-colleagues' work, not just for colleagues in academic positions, but also for colleagues in supporting positions.
- supports the plans of the Executive Board for the TRIPLE Model and critically observes the practical implementation of this model on faculty and department levels.
- has attention for the negative consequences of the closing of inner-city reception desks and has called on the Executive Board to limit the outsourcing of support staff.
To all staff members of Utrecht University, it is important that their work is seen and appreciated. For this purpose, important steps have been taken in the past years. We gladly follow the Executive Board in the concrete implementation of plans and correct where necessary.
UPP
- thinks researchers should feel free to take well-earned time off.
- is in favour of more focus on rewarding and appreciating tasks and skills that were previously overlooked. The university faces a challenge when it comes to 'Rewarding' in the context of Recognition and Rewards.
Internationalisation
How do the parties feel about internationalisation?
VLAM
- supports internationalisation in research and exchange of students with collaborating universities.
- recognises that because of the absence of a European agreement on cost sharing of degree programmes, an open and honest discussion on the funding of international students should be held.
- believes English-language education raises the quality of research and education, and has added value.
We see internationalisation as a mostly positive aspect in education and research which adds value and skills for our staff members and students.
UPP
- believes the university should nurture collaboration with scientists worldwide and the mixing of cultures.
- thinks policy should encourage early-stage researchers to participate in exchange programmes, support them financially and logistically, and facilitate transfer credits.
- calls for an English-language user-friendly environment within the university.