Ferenc Jongejan (independent candidate): ‘The well-being of employees is important, but not the goal of the university’

Former elite athlete and independent candidate for the university council Ferenc Jongejan wants Tilburg University to better adapt to a rapidly changing world. He advocates for a future-proof university that pays attention to sustainability, efficiency, and well-being.

What needs to change at Tilburg University?

‘I think it is especially important that we look at how we become and remain future-proof. A lot is happening in the world, both politically and socially, and that also demands something from the university. A university is by nature a fairly rigid organization, but it must be able to move along with what is happening outside.

‘That is where I mainly see room in terms of efficiency and flexibility. Students increasingly ask for flexibility in how they can organize their studies: when they take courses, how they learn, and how they combine their studies with other things. As a university, you have to respond to that. Making education more flexible is complicated, I realize that, but I do think it is possible and that we should be thinking in that direction.

‘I don’t yet know exactly what that should look like in concrete terms, but I do want to be an advocate for it. Ultimately, it is about ensuring that as a university we not only work efficiently, but also better align with how students learn and develop today.

‘And I think it has a broader effect: the business world is placing less and less value solely on a diploma, and more on people who have developed more broadly. So if you design education in a more flexible and broader way, you also prepare students better for the labor market.’

What is already going well?

‘I think we have very good education in terms of quality. I also think that we are very good at facilitating students in the support they need.’

Why are you running as an independent candidate?

‘I couldn’t fully identify with any of the other parties, so I started thinking: what do I think myself?

‘Ultimately, I think the biggest difference lies in focus. For example, I also consider the well-being of employees extremely important, but it should not be the goal of the university. My focus is on making the university more efficient and broadly applying the campus vision. If you organize everything properly, well-being will be the result.

‘In addition, I want to look at each issue individually to determine what the best choice is; that is the party line of Sustain by flexibility, my one-person party.’

Why should employees vote for you?

‘I bring an elite sports mentality to the university. And I think I have a strong story and am willing to work hard for it. Where all the pillars for a successful campus come together. A sustainable, efficient, effective campus where students and staff enjoy being.

‘And I want to assess everything that comes to the table in the university council against those points. I think that makes me quite unique compared to the other parties.’

How will you campaign on your own?

‘Campaigning on my own is complicated; I of course also still have my job as Dual Career Officer. I mainly hope to make my ideas as clear as possible and that people read Univers. It would be great if people read the different interviews, compare the stories, and make a choice based on content.’

_Advertentie.