
4 minute read
Learn more about the OS board
from The CaT 39-2
Organisation of Study Associations, or Overleg Studieverenigingen (OS) in Dutch, is the umbrella association for all study associations. We represent the study associations towards higher organisations, for example, the Student Union and the municipality. However, we mainly focus on issues all study associations are dealing with and help the different associations and their boards integrate with each other. The latter can be both in a more serious way, like meetings in which we discuss educational subjects or policy making, or in fun ways like drinks with all the current board members and a gala for (former) board members. Furthermore, we are quite busy with the distribution of grants over different committees and students.
Within OS we have three different kinds of functions. Friso is the chairman; the leader of the pack as Maarten calls it. Furthermore, we have a secretary-treasurer, combining the two tasks as both of these roles are somewhat smaller compared to a study association. The third kind of function, of which we have four, is the faculty representative, which represents a certain faculty. This year, Maarten is the representative for S&T (formerly TNW). This means we not only have two board members from the S&T faculty, but also two from the previous Alembic board.
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Each board member has various committees and responsibilities to keep him/herself busy. We are involved in the Kick-In and with the study trips of the study associations. As mentioned before, we distribute grants, have meetings for educational and external affairs and we host discussion sessions on various topics including CoViD-19 policy and measures. This year we are also working on a new book contract for all the associations but also meet with various people working at the university concerning EROs, student news and have regular contact with the Student Union concerning all kinds of topics.
As an OS board member you need to know your way around the University, which organisations to talk to about what and how all the different associations work. Friso has already put more effort into learning all the study associations last year and had a lot more contact with higher organs. But this isn’t a requirement as Maarten has proven himself that being in the position gets you up to speed soon enough. In the OS you get introduced to a lot of people you can contact for any kinds of issues and you will pick up soon enough on how the university actually works and how the different organs relate to each other. Now still, we sometimes do not know where to go, as some areas remain vague, and in that case it is mostly a matter of confidence. It is better to contact the wrong organ confidently, than to wait around for a better fit to appear magically and get nothing done in the meantime.
Each OS board member has been in a study association board, so each board member will have quite some experience in how things work at OS. When six experienced board members come together, it is also important that they are able to work together, so the potency we showed as a group had quite some influence on whether we were chosen and this will also be of importance when we will be selecting our successors.
Why did we choose to do a board year at OS?
First of all, we really enjoyed our board year at Alembic and wanted to continue putting effort in helping our students. But besides the chemical engineers, we now have the amazing opportunity to help all students, often via their study associations. A thing Maarten really enjoyed last year was working on problems that were bigger than just one association and those are the main issues you can work on at OS.
For Friso it was more about wanting to connect more study associations with each other since not every study association realises that they are dealing with similar problems. Besides this, Friso also noticed during his time working for CES that a lot of instances at the UT don’t know what study associations do and how they can help each other.
Besides this, we have a lot more freedom at OS, which we really enjoy. At OS we still have GMAs, statutes and a HR, but nothing is set as strict, which leaves us with more space to deal with issues the way we want to. This results in the responsibility being a lot bigger and so far, we are loving it.
We did not intend to do another board year together, but we did know that the odds were very likely when applying and wouldn’t mind at all if it became a reality. We have worked together quite a lot in the past years in various committees, project groups and even two board years (of which one might have not been real). In these years we both really enjoyed working together and each other’s company. After our board year at Alembic we knew what we could expect from the other, which really benefits our teamwork.
What have been our best experiences so far?
For Maarten it is the influence we have on CoViD measures on the university. In collaboration with the Student Union we started doing CoViD input sessions with all the study associations on the day of a press conference. In these discussion sessions we discuss how new measures and relaxations should, in our opinion, be applied to the students and the study associations. We have noticed that our opinions are actually heard and often all of our suggestions are applied to the university. It has not really been the most fun to do, but to notice that you are actually making a difference at the university, is very rewarding and has been my best experience so far.
For Friso it is seeing people from different associations being able to work together so well. Even though we knew each other a little bit from before doing our OS board year together (us aside), it is still quite hard to make everybody work together on the same level since everybody is used to a different way of doing things. Besides this, a big part is the influence that we have on the policy of the UT, especially when it comes to corona as Maarten mentioned.
In the end almost everything during this year is something to remember and it all is a great experience. Working together for another year is also great fun in the end and we really enjoy it. OS itself is very interesting and awesome to do and we would advise everyone to do a board year at OS (after doing one at Alembic of course).