The AUC Student Council takes care of the student representation to the AUC Board, the management, DUWO, and other external parties, such as the UvA and VU. The elections for the Student Council take place every year at the end of the second semester.

Instead of individual candidates, the Student Council Elections work with lists. This means that you will have to find and team up with people who want to achieve similar things in the Student Council. After having formed a list, you can start drafting a Policy Plan to show to the students of AUC what you stand for and why they should vote for your list. Prior to the elections, there will be a campaign period in which you can promote your party in any way you would like to. The elections then take two days, in which all AUC students may cast an anonymous vote for a list. Exactly how votes are allocated is explained in the “Explanation Voting System” document under the Procedures tab.

Timeline of the 2017 Elections

The Election Committee is responsible for fair elections for the next student council. They are faculty members. The Election Committee consists of:

Emma Cohen de Lara (Chair)

Roland Luttens (Member)

Bob Kardolus (Secretary)

Find here an explanation of the voting system by the Election Committee (PDF). File: Explanation Voting System

Sofija Stefanović

Co-chair

Being part of the Student Council has been both challenging and rewarding in many different ways. I ran with the goal of narrowing the gap between the Council and students, which led both to practical efforts and internal dialogues on how we understand notions such as representation, inclusiveness or agency. These discussions made me rethink and critically assess my own opinions, and have been one of the most valuable learning experiences I’ve had at AUC. I consider it vital for students to appreciate the power of our own agency in shaping our experiences, and hope I’ve contributed to this realization for at least some of you.

Finally, I’ve had the privilege of holding office with incredible people, who each contributed to the Council with their own qualities, and together formed a stimulating and supportive environment to work in. I can’t thank them enough for being my family for the year!

Ellen Ackroyd

Co-chair

Being the co-Chair of AUC’s Student Council has been an enriching experience and has allowed me to gain and improve skills such a communication and organisation. From rendering the Student Council more visible, to reanimating Focus Groups to carrying out new ideas and projects, there was never a dull moment as co-Chair. I have loved listening to new ideas, sharing thoughts and getting involved in constructive discussions particularly concerning the topic of diversity. It has made me all the more appreciative of existing initiatives and has enabled me to become actively involved in structuring my own education. I will definitely miss being part of the Student Council but am excited to see what the new members bring to the AUCommunity!

Sarah Stapel

Secretary

Being part of the AUC student council for almost a year has truly been a whole new experience. From learning how to communicate on various levels to improved time management, I can safely say I feel more ‘grown’ than in the beginning. It has been an exciting opportunity to develop new student initiatives and to better understand the internal structures of AUC. The student council has such an important task in representing a community and initiating change, making it a great honour to be a part of. If you want to learn how to communicate, to negotiate, and to make the student voice heard run for the student council!

Fatiya Munkaila

External Communications

Being part of the Student Council has been an educational and fun experience. I have learned a lot about effective communication, making the most of meetings, writing proposals, setting up working groups, and scheduling powernaps. It has been amazing to talk to students about their ideas, concerns, and projects. The Student Council’s connection to students, faculty members, management, and staff makes for a unique experience that encourages you to be critical of your education and work together to improve it. Every day has been a reminder that the people I interacted with — however busy, tired, or in need of yet another cup of coffee — were genuinely trying to make the most of the AUC community. 10/10 would recommend.

Rayan V-Dog Vugdalic

Internal Communications

During the past year, I bettered my ability to conduct meetings and present ideas in various settings and with various stakeholders: students, teachers, management, business representatives etc. I also worked on my communication skills, both textual and visual, and tried to enhance the visibility of the student council. My organizational skills and my ability to work well and quickly were two assets that I had to further develop, considering I chose not to take less courses. It is however a possibility since being a SC members counts as your internship. Finally, I got to interact with the AUC community in a much deeper way; not just through going to class and social events, but by participating in the shaping of the institution at various levels. Although the workload is significant, all these factors made my year in the SC a great experience!