University Council Blog John C.M. van Wel

Let’s see participation at work!

Erasmus University Rotterdam, a community based upon the Erasmian Values. These values are defined as: Engaged with Society, World Citizenship, Connecting, Open-Minded and Entrepreneurial. A community where minds matter. This is why the Erasmian Values became one of the main pillars of our new EUR strategy 2024. This is where the Erasmus University Rotterdam stands for. And I, as an Erasmian myself for more than thirty-six years think these values need to be well supported by our participatory bodies. To really being able to participate in these ideas I stand for a more open dialog and a modern approach concerning a less business-like leadership approach within our University, which gives in my opinion more freedom in being co-creative as a participation community. In this perspective, one of my main goals is to create a participation HUB for all participatory bodies under the motto: ‘Stepping-up Participation'.

A meeting place, both virtually (Web and Social media) and physically (Participation Meeting Centre) to interact with the participatory bodies at our Campus.

A few examples to emphasize the advantages of such a HUB:

1. Stay in contact about important policy topics there is being worked upon within the entire Erasmus community.
2. Joining or following debates.
3. To be able to follow important meetings (physically and via streaming) like e.g., the consultation meeting between the Executive Board and the University Council.

Towards sustainable employability!

In the ongoing COVID-19 situation we take special care of our students and staff, because of our rapidly changed way of studying, working, and living by taking short-term measurements. The current situation has put even a greater strain on all our students and staff than before COVID-19. In the long run, we must find new solutions in the way we work and function by finding a new balance between work and private. Therefore, new policies concerning sustainable employability must be developed to guarantee the quality of our curricula and research. Sustainable employability includes the physical and mental health and, his or her vitality or life force, knowledge and skills, talents, and mentality. That is why this subject has my special interest and attention. My motto is: Sustainable employability is reflected in many dossiers, workflows, and task-forces in which the University Council participates. By our own initiatives from the Council and by working closely with policymakers to improve the situation surrounding this theme, without losing sight of our controlling role as Council I believe this way of working will lead to an improvement of the welfare situation for both students and employees.

Integral social safety, monitoring wellbeing, action plan psychological and physical work Pressure and Policy on blended working are a few examples of dossiers we are constantly working on as a council.

‘As a council member, I want to dedicate myself to strengthening participation and more sustainable employability!

John C.M. van Wel.

‘Always look for happiness in work!’