Together we can make a difference

LVS (Lijst Vooruitstrevende Studenten/ List of Progressive Students) is a so-called co- participation party. This means that we are active in the co-participation organs of Leiden University, being the seven Faculty Councils and the University Council through our councillors (currently 13). LVS currently has approximately 110 members. LVS is run by the Board. In 2022-2023 LVS’s chairperson is Jeroen Umbgrove. Thus, in terms of structure, LVS is comparable to study associations or student associations. However, LVS has a clear goal: making the university a better place!

LVS: the party for every student

LVS is the only party for every single student. Every student, we think, should have the right to have influence on university policy. LVS is a diverse and inclusive party: every student is invited to join! The people within LVS are professional, enthusiastic people with a great spirit to do the right thing. Everyone within LVS is heartily invited to contribute to our goals the way they want. Together, we try to improve our university.

OUR BOARD MEMBERS

OUR PARTY

LVS is made of different committees and groups who work together. The Board supports those groups and helps them organise activities or meetings. These are the groups that together make up our party:

Council Members

Policy Committee

Social Media Team

Recruitment Committee

Translation Committee

FAQ

We’re here to answer all your question! Check out the FAQ below. Don’t hesitate to contact us or shoot us a message!

What is co-participation?

Students are represented within many decision-making processes in every university in the Netherlands. This usually happens through councils, these are allowed to give advice and participate in decision-making processes. That happens on several levels, at Leiden Uni this is happens at a central, faculty and institute/programme level. At the central level, the university council advises the executive board, the faculty council advises the faculty board and the programme committee advises the institute/programme board. Representatives on all levels are chosen through elections every year, for the faculty and university councils this involves student parties. As a student party, LVS makes the candidate lists and supports their candidates in the councils.

How can I help?

There are many ways you can help improve the university. As a start, through our WhatsApp groups you can share your experiences and ideas for the university. Council members can pick those ideas up and share them within their council and with their faculty board or with the executive board. If you want to be more involved, you can join the policy committee, translation committee or the social media team. The policy committee is a great way to support the council members in their work by advising them, and you get to work on the party program! If you’re really committed, you can apply to candidacy for the elections every year! During the elections we need all the help we can get, so you can also join the campaign and try to get students to vote.

What does LVS stand for?

In short: LVS stands for Lijst Vooruitstrevende Studenten. Which means the party for progressive students. We stand for inclusivity, and we believe that every student should be represented somehow in co-participation. We know that there isn’t just one type of student, so we work hard to make our candidate lists as diverse as possible. Diverse when it comes to study programmes, but of course also gender, ethnicity, religion and nationality. To be able to do so, we have a policy committee that focuses on a diverse range of topics: from inclusivity to sustainability and internationalisation.

How do I become a member?

Fill in the contact form here, and the board will get into contact with you. They’ll send you a membership form!

Why should I choose LVS?

Because we make it happen! Other parties might talk about similar issues, but we are ready to do the work. Our candidates represent a diversity of Leiden University students that you won’t find anywhere else. Our 110+ members come from all the seven faculties, which makes it possible for us to play close attention to the experiences and needs of the students we represent. We’re committed to changing the university for the better, and we welcome all the help we can get! Together we can make a difference through co-participation, whether it is directly through the councils or indirectly through our policy committee.

Do I have to be an active member?

No, you contribute the time and energy that you have. Active members are very much welcome, but we feel that everyone should be welcome, regardless of how much time they have for LVS. You can still share your opinions in the WhatsApp groups, or check-in from time to time at the General Assemblies.

How much does membership cost?

€10,- a year.

What can I do as a member of LVS?

Anything you like! We have several options, you can become a member of the policy committee, the translation committee, the social media team or apply for candidacy for the faculty/university council. You can also apply to become a board member!

How do I become a council member?

You can apply from November until April. You have to let the board know you are interested in becoming a candidate during the elections. They will get into contact with you and discuss your availability during the elections and during the council year.

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