Utrecht University: Merel Dekker appointed student assessor of the Executive Board
As of 1 September, the Executive Board of Utrecht University has appointed a student assessor for the first time in its history. Medicine student Merel Dekker (1997) will fulfil the role. “My task is clear: I will bring the student perspective to the board’s decisions.”
Merel Dekker
Improving decision making
The Executive Board is pleased with the arrival of Merel Dekker. “I think that the input of a student can improve decision-making,” says President of the Executive Board Anton Pijpers. “We agreed in the strategic plan that we would look for new ways to better involve the community in our policies. This is an example of how we want to put that into practice”. Rector Magnificus Henk Kummeling: “The faculties have had assessors for some time. As dean, they were very useful to me. Merel seems to me a very good asset.”
Unanimous nomination
Dekker was appointed on the recommendation of an appointment advisory committee consisting of the Rector Magnificus, the director of Student Affairs Education & Research, a representative of the student section of the University Council, a faculty student assessor and the chair of VIDIUS. The appointment advisory committee unanimously and enthusiastically nominated Dekker.
We agreed in the strategic plan that we would look for new ways to better involve the community in our policies. This is an example of how we want to put that into practice.
Anton Pijpers onderaan trap
Prof. dr. Anton Pijpers
Bridging function
She herself says about her appointment: “I am very much looking forward to the coming year. I was already allowed to join a EB meeting and there was a pleasant atmosphere. Because I was a student-assessor at the Faculty of Medicine in the academic year 2019-2020, I already know more or less what to expect and what the role could entail. I have also experienced what it is like to have a ‘bridging function’ between the board and the employee and student representation. I am looking forward to representing the students in the EB in the coming academic year and to build on this important new position.”
I am looking forward to representing the students in the EB in the coming academic year and to build on this important new position.
Responsibilities
Merel Dekker will participate in the weekly meetings of the Executive Board and other meetings relevant to policy development at the university level, such as the bilateral consultations with faculty boards, and the consultations of the Executive Board with deans. Her focus will be on education and student-related issues. In order to be well informed, she will maintain close contact with students and in particular the student assistants in the faculties, the student organisations and the students in the University Council.