As a group, we advocate for education where the student comes first. HU University of Applied Sciences should be a place where you can develop yourself whether that’s within your studies or alongside them. After all, your student years are the time to discover who you are and to grow, not only academically but also personally.
As students, we understand better than anyone the challenges that come with studying and how hectic student life can be. That’s why we place a strong focus on student wellbeing. In recent years, important steps have already been taken, such as the introduction of a reporting point for students.
From 2026 to 2028, we aim to further strengthen students’ mental, social, and physical wellbeing. We do this by focusing on the following areas:
Student Wellbeing
Student wellbeing is central to everything we do in participation. We critically assess every policy proposal and consider how it impacts student wellbeing. From there, we provide concrete recommendations to improve it.
We also advocate for affordable and healthy food on campus, stronger social safety within HU, and a shift in focus from study success to student success.
A Healthy Learning Environment
We believe a healthy learning environment is the foundation for both student and staff wellbeing and performance. A key part of this is access to healthy food. However, at HU food courts, healthier options like fresh sandwiches or fruit are often expensive.
Students don’t always have the financial flexibility to pay high prices for a simple, healthy lunch, and the current offering falls short.
That’s why we advocate for healthier and more affordable food options at HU, so all students, regardless of background or income, have access to nutritious meals.
Social Safety
We are committed to improving social safety within HU. Every student and staff member should feel safe and at home.
While individuals play a role, HU itself can still make improvements. One example is the visibility of confidential advisors. Ideally, such services are never needed, but if they are, students and staff must know how and where to access them.
Currently, awareness is low and information is hard to find. We also advocate for greater diversity among confidential advisors, so everyone can choose someone they feel comfortable with.
Safety should be ensured throughout the entire campus not just in classrooms, but also in cafés and social spaces. A safe environment is essential for both learning and personal development.
Student Success
In the past, study success earning credits and achieving good grades was the main goal. Today, we focus on student success.
This means looking at the full student experience: wellbeing, personal development, preparation for life after graduation, and of course completing your degree.
Quality of Studying
We believe students should face as few barriers as possible in their studies. These barriers can include confusing digital systems or a lack of quiet study spaces.
Quality of studying also means feeling at home within the university.
Better Digital Learning Environment and Communication
Students constantly switch between systems like Canvas, Gradework, Osiris, and MyHU. This makes it unclear where to find information, not just for students, but for staff as well.
Because information is spread across many systems and channels, communication is often unclear or doesn’t reach students at all. As a result, students may miss out on support, opportunities, or even their rights.
In some cases, this leads to unnecessary dropout. At the same time, students who want to get involved struggle to find the right people or opportunities.
We aim to simplify the digital landscape and communication flows, making it easier for everyone to navigate HU’s systems.
Accessible Education
Too often, capable students fail to complete their studies due to barriers within the system.
Accessible education means every student can study at HU without facing disproportionate obstacles.
Think of broken escalators or lifts, unclear processes for requesting extra time, or being sent from one place to another without answers. For many students, these challenges can become overwhelming, and in some cases lead to dropout.
Accessibility includes:
- clear digital systems
- usable and accessible facilities
- awareness of available support
HU aims to be an inclusive institution where diverse student perspectives are valued regardless of gender, identity, background, ability, neurodiversity, age, or financial situation.
We believe more attention is needed for diverse student needs, including:
- more and better quiet spaces
- functioning facilities like lifts
- improved visibility of support services
Spaces for Students to Connect
We believe everyone should feel at home at HU. That goes beyond the classroom.
HU should be a vibrant environment, not just a place to earn credits, but to have a meaningful student experience. We advocate for more spaces where students can study, connect, and be themselves.
Being Active Alongside Your Studies
We strongly support being active outside your studies, through participation councils, student organizations, or initiatives.
This contributes not only to personal development but also to the atmosphere at HU.
We aim to encourage participation by building a shared community (yes, we know 😄) and improving collaboration between different bodies.
We also want to make participation more accessible, because all the abbreviations and complex terminology can be a barrier.
Additionally, we support the continued existence of study associations and science cafés, as they play an important role in student life.
HU Amersfoort: The Forgotten Child
We believe in equality and exchange between students. Students learn from each other, but those in Amersfoort seem to have fewer opportunities, simply due to location.
Every HU student deserves equal treatment and should feel equally part of HU.
Unlike Utrecht locations, Amersfoort lacks a central, vibrant meeting space. Interaction between locations is limited, and Amersfoort is often overlooked.
We believe Amersfoort deserves greater recognition and better facilities to improve both student success and wellbeing.
Investing in Participation
This is simple: if HU values educational quality, student input is essential.
Participation bodies, especially programme committees (G)OCs, play a key role, but currently receive insufficient compensation for their efforts.
We advocate for fair compensation so they can perform their role effectively.
International Students
International students play a vital role in enriching HU with diverse perspectives and experiences. They contribute to a dynamic learning environment.
We actively represent their interests in the University Council and work to ensure they receive the support they need, including:
- academic support
- cultural integration
- practical resources
Our goal is to create an inclusive environment where all students can thrive and contribute to HU’s success.