Participation bodies | Participation at the UT

Which participation councils do we have at the UT?

Different levels within the UT have their own form of representation. From the democratically elected organisational wide – and best known - University Council to the Programme Committees of which each study have their own representatives. In every one of these bodies, you could have a different area of influence.

Organisation chart participation

Participation at organisation level

University Council

The yearly chosen University Council (UC) represents students and staff throughout the university and discusses regularly with the Executive Board. It is the central participation body of the UT and consists of 18 members: nine staff members and nine students. The UC has a say in the policy of the UT at the central level.

The UC has three permanent committees that discuss topics in detail:

Primary processes: Committee Education, Research, Students
The university operations: Committee Finance, Personnel, Business Operations
Long term policy: Committee Strategy and Internationalization

Find out more about the University Council
Read Hamza’s story on being part of the UC

Local Consultation (generally known as The OPUT)

At the UT, four Labour Unions are united in the Consultative Body for Personnel Affairs of the University of Twente (in Dutch abbreviated to the OPUT). Within the Local Consultation the OPUT-members consult with the Executive Board about topics that affect UT employees such as working conditions, safety, social plan, diversity, or vitality. They ensure that the Collective Labour Agreement for Dutch Universities is implemented at the UT.

Find out more about the OPUT
At the University of Twente, there is also an interest group for PhD students. They are organised in the P-NUT

Participation in faculties

Faculty Councils

All five faculties have a representative body in which both staff and students are represented. The council can issue a solicited or an unsolicited advice to the Faculty Board. As a member of this council, you will encounter strategic topics and policies, budgets, and long-term plans together with the dean and the Faculty Board. Whether you are staff member or student your insight is critical to the Faculty Council.

Faculty Councils
In the Faculty Council (FC) both staff and students are represented. The council can issue advice to the Faculty Board on all matters affecting the faculty or its staff or students. The role of the Faculty Council is similar to that of the University Council but then on faculty level.
Overview of Faculty subjects
In this Council you will discuss for instance the faculty regulations, the faculty policy plan, the Education and Examination Regulations (which also include the teaching programmes), faculty budgets, the educational policy, housing and services policy and information policy. The personnel section of the council has specific advice rights according personnel matters. If more than one faculty is involved in a decision, such as a major reorganization, the right of participation is with the University Council.
Five UT Faculty Councils

Read about the faculty council
Read Frederiks story.

Participation in Service councils

Service councils

The interests of the employees of the central services are represented in Service Councils. This participation body only consists of staff members. Besides discussing the yearly calendar with fixed topics and supporting the head(s) of the Service Department, as a Service Council you ensure you know what is going on within your service Department. Consider yourself as an ambassador of your colleagues.

Service Councils
The main goal of the Service Council is to contribute to the optimal functioning of the Service Department and to represent the wellbeing and interests of the staff.
Six UT Service Councils
Each Service Department or group of departments has a Service Council. Service departments with similar work duties - such as policy service departments - can consider a joint Service Council. For example, the interests of the employees of the department General Affairs (GA) are represented by the University Council.
The six Service Councils on a list:
- CES Service Council
- CFM Service Council (INTRANET)
- FIN/HR/SP Service Council
- LISA Service Council
- M&C Service Council
- SBD Service Council

Participation in programmes

Programmes Committees

Every study programme or group of programmes has a Program Committee. As a program committee member, you consult regularly with the Program Director. Together with colleagues and students you ensure the quality of education of your study program.

Lear more about the Programme Committee
Discover how Johanneke ten Broeke experienced her time on the Program Committee

Programme Committees
In the programme committee students and lecturers advice the Program Director on promoting and ensuring the quality of the education of their programme. The most important input are evaluations on courses or educational level.
The Programme Committee has the right of consent with regard to some parts of the Education and Examination Regulations (EER) of the programme and the right to advise on other parts of the EER. In addition, they annually assess the implementation of the EER. The Programme Committee also has the right to submit a solicited or an unsolicited advice to the Programme Director and the Faculty Board on all matters relating to education in the study programme.