Co-governance at the RUG
As a student at the University of Groningen (RUG), you have legally enshrined rights to participate in discussions and decisions about the organization, policy, and quality of your university. This participation: co-governance, is an established right to ensure that the university administration takes students' interests into account.
The RUG gas a undivided co-governance system: students and staff members sit together on the same councils at all levels. Co-governance in higher education (RUG, Hanze) is divided into bodies at the central, decentralized, and programme levels.
| Niveau | Body | Focus | Composition (undivided) |
|---|---|---|---|
|
Centralized |
University Council (UR/Uraad) |
University-wide policy (budget, strategic policy, accommodation). The UR consults with the Executive Board (CvB). |
12 students and 12 staff members. |
|
Decentralized |
Faculty Council (FR) |
Policy at faculty level (faculty budget, regulations). The FR consults with the Faculty Board. |
Often 9 students and 9 staff members (may vary by faculty). |
|
Programme |
Programme Committee (OC) |
The quality and structure of the program (Education and Examination Regulations (OER), evaluation of teaching). The OC consults with the programme director. |
Students and teachers (often 6 students and 6 teachers). The OC is always undivided. |
Centralized level: the University Council
| Component | Details |
|---|---|
|
Composition |
The UR consists of 24 members: 12 students and 12 staff members. |
|
Authority |
Concerns institution-wide policy that affects the entire University of Groningen. |
|
Tasks |
Monitors the Executive Board, and discusses and advises on topics such as strategic policy (Institutional Plan), the budget, and general student affairs such as the Student Charter and housing. |
|
Working Method |
The council works through committees (usually Education & Research, and Administration & Resources) that thoroughly prepare policy documents for plenary consultation with the Executive Board. |
Decentralized level: the Faculty Council
| Component | Details |
|---|---|
|
Composition |
The composition varies per faculty, but is always evenly distributed: an equal number of students and staff members. Often this is 9 students and 9 staff members. |
|
Consultation partner |
Deals with policy that specifically concerns the faculty, such as the faculty budget, the decentralized part of the OER, and the organization of the faculty. |
|
Tasks |
Monitors the Executive Board, and discusses and advises on topics such as strategic policy (Institutional Plan), the budget, and general student affairs such as the Student Charter and housing. |
|
Additional body |
Some faculties have a Student Assessor on the Faculty Board; a student with an advisory vote at board level. (Please note: the assessor is a board member, not an elected student representative). |
Programme level: the Programme Committees
| Component | Details |
|---|---|
|
Composition |
Half of its members are students and half are teachers from the program. By law, the OC is always undivided. |
|
Consultation partner |
The programme director. |
|
Authority |
The OC has the right of approval regarding the Education and Examination Regulations (OER). The OER contains all the rules regarding the content, assessment, and planning of your programme. |
|
Tasks |
Evaluates the quality of education, discusses the feasibility and workload of the program, and advises the programme director on improvements. |
Your rights: participation, advice, and information
| Right | Explanation |
|---|---|
|
Right of consent |
The Executive Board or Faculty Board cannot take any decisions without the approval of the council. This is the most important right. |
|
Right of consultation |
The board must ask the council for advice on proposed decisions. In the event of negative advice, the board may still take the decision, but must state in writing and motivate reasons why. |
|
Right to information |
The council is entitled to all documents and information necessary to perform its duties properly. |
|
Right of initiative |
Council members may submit proposals and place items on the agenda. This enables them to create proactive policies, rather than merely reacting to administrative plans. |
Did you know?
- The student decides on expenses? The University Council has theright of consent on the budget. This means that without the agreement of the students and staff members, the university cannot just spend money.
- The GSb supports candidates who wish to sit on the faculty council? Our union provides training, backup and substantive knowledge.