UvASociaal
UvA Sociaal is one of the oldest parties at the University of Amsterdam, founded in 2005 with the ambition to establish, in theory and practice, an open university that is democratic and inclusive. UvA Social advocates for an accessible, inclusive, and democratic university with a special emphasis on sustainability and autonomy for both teachers and students. Our 4 pillars are diversity, accessibility, sustainability and the quality of education. We consider it crucial that every student feels at home at the University of Amsterdam, irrespective of race, sexual orientation, gender, culture or disabilities. We believe that focusing on only one marginalised group is not enough, we must consider all students and their place at the university. We stand for an inclusive and diverse university, not only in terms of people but also in knowledge.
What we stand for:
A more diverse and inclusive university
Increased attention to sustainability at the university
A more accessible university
Greater autonomy for teachers and students
Protection of the quality of education in the face of budget cuts.
Click on any motion below to see the parties explination
All lectures should be available online for everyone
Fully agree
Accessibility is one of our four main values at UvASociaal. Providing online access to lectures is beneficial for all students, including those with disabilities and busy schedules.
The UvA should offer free menstrual products at each campus
Fully agree
UvASociaal believes offering free menstrual products on campus is important for student well-being and removing barriers to education. Students should not have to worry about having access to necessary menstrual products while on campus.
As a way to curb the growth of the university, Dutch language courses should be a mandatory part of all programs
Disagree
The university should stop the prioritisation of students from outside the EU in regard to the university provided student housing
Disagree
There should be mandatory attendance for tutorials
Fully disagree
Non-mandatory tutorial attendance creates greater flexibility in learning, allowing students to manage their responsibilities autonomously. We believe the university should focus more on ensuring the tutorials are meaningful and engaging so more students attend voluntarily.
The UvA should address problems such as systemic overwork and bad working conditions among its teachers by giving out more permanent contracts
Fully agree
The executive board of the university should be elected through an open election by the students and worker’s body
Agree
Student & Workers Councils should have the final say in policy decisions
Agree
All food options should be plant based by default
Agree
We believe it is important for the university to accommodate diverse dietary preferences and provide nutritious and satisfying meals for its students. Defaulting to plant based food options promotes environmental sustainability and a lower ecological impact. While the default options are plant based, there can still be non plant-based options available.
The UvA should give more training to the teaching assistants
Fully agree
The University must prioritise active diversity policies, including decolonization
Fully agree
UvAsociaal believes it to be very important that every student feels at home at the University of Amsterdam, irrespective of race, sexual orientation, gender, culture or disabilities. We are satisfied with the report of the Diversity commission because of the emphasis they put on intersectionality. Intersectionality in policy forming at the UvA implies that in thinking about diversity at the university we need to consider intersecting social identities that relate to their own system of oppression, domination or discriminations. We believe that focusing on only one marginalised group is not enough, we have to consider all students and their place at the university. We stand for an inclusive and diverse university, not only in people but also in knowledge.
More investment is needed in interdisciplinary education (providing students with more than just one perspective on a particular subject, such as is done in honours, PPLE or IIS programs)
Agree
All board members of study associations should receive equal financial support from the University
Disagree
UvASociaal believes providing all board members of study associations with equal financial support may not always be fair due to various factors such as roles within the association and differing levels of time commitment.
The Binding Study Advice (BSA) should be abolished
Agree
The current BSA places a lot of unnecessary pressure on students, negatively impacting their mental health and study progress. Some students may fail to meet the BSA due to reasons that are beyond their control. We believe students should receive more personalized non-binding study advice, catered to their specific situation.
Calling the police is an appropriate response by the university to deal with student protests and demonstrations
Fully disagree
The university needs to respect its students' rights to freedom of expression and peaceful demonstrations. Involving the police has shown to exacerbate tensions and leads to further unrest and conflict. We believe students should feel safe and heard at their university.
The UvA should cut ties with fossil fuel companies like Shell
Fully agree
Programs should have the sole responsibility in deciding whether they teach in Dutch or in English
Neutral
Admission to programs with a limited student capacity should be based on selection procedure rather than random selection through a lottery system
Neutral
The canteen should be deprivatized
Fully agree
Currently, the food at the canteen is priced too high, which makes it less accessible for students and staff, particularly those on tight budgets. UvASociaal has continuously supported the Antikantine project and believes that deprivatization of the canteen may lead to improvements in affordability, sustainability, and overall student satisfaction.
Having a physical accessibility university that provides equitable education for it’s students is a priority for the University
Fully agree
Accessibility is one of our four main principles. By prioritizing physical accessibility, the university can ensure all students have an equal opportunity to participate fully on campus and succeed academically.
The UvA should invest in more accessibility for students with functional limitations as well as sensitivity towards these students
Fully agree
UvAsociaal places a high value on accessibility, encompassing various aspects such as physical accommodations to facilitate mobility, providing assistive technologies for academic support, and offering personalized support. Additionally, promoting understanding and empathy among faculty, staff, and students is essential to create an inclusive environment where all individuals feel respected and supported in their academic journey.
Students wishing to take honours courses should be able to do so based on their motivation, regardless of their grades
Neutral
The university should be allowed to limit the number of international students
Disagree
Restricting the number of international students goes against the development of a global learning environment that benefits from diverse perspectives and experiences. The university should instead implement policies that help international students integrate better with the dutch students, promoting academic and cultural success for both.
It is the government’s responsibility to provide mental health support for students. Therefore, the university should not spend extra resources on this
Fully disagree
While we do believe that it is the government's responsibility to provide mental health support for everyone, universities must also prioritize the mental well-being of its students and provide adequate resources.
The Numerus Fixus should be used to stopthe growth of the university
Disagree
Student councils should support occupations as a legitimate means of protest at the university
Agree
The UvA should involve students in long term plans for study spaces and teaching facilities according to the expected changes in student population
Agree
The university lacks sufficient readily accessible gender-neutral toilets
Agree
We believe access to sufficient readily accessible gender-neutral toilets are important in ensuring inclusivity and diversity. The university should accommodate the needs of all students, including those that may not feel comfortable using traditional gender-specific toilets.
Academic freedom is the most important value to uphold for a university
Agree