Our group aims to promote accessible, high-quality, and fair education. But how did this vision and the group itself come into being?
Our group aims to promote accessible, high-quality, and fair education. But how did this vision and the group itself come into being?
It all started in the summer of 2016. During a casual get-together, Richard Gertsen and Martijn Grul realized that they both wanted to improve education at HU University of Applied Sciences. They believed this could only be achieved with a healthy counterbalance or even some friction within the participation system. Not just having a say, but also being critical was something they considered essential.
Having previously met through participation at the secondary vocational education level (MBO), the two understood better than anyone that the current education system is not nearly as accessible as it is often made out to be. Through this background, Richard gained extensive experience in participation, while Martijn developed strong skills in campaigning.
This is how “Fractie Vlijmscherp” was founded: a critical group with a bold, sometimes slightly provocative character. A visual identity was created to reflect this vision. The scissors symbolize cutting through bureaucracy and staying sharp during meetings. The guiding principle has always been to put the interests of students first.
In the two years that followed, Vlijmscherp increasingly positioned itself as an expert on a variety of topics. The group took a firm stance on multiple issues, consistently emphasizing the importance of student involvement.