Participation Day 2025

The University of Groningen appreciates the efforts of all members of the co-participation councils. To put participation in the limelight, we are celebrating Participation Day again at the UG this year!

Participation strengthens the democratic foundation of the institution and promotes a culture of cooperation and shared responsibility, which ultimately contributes to a more equitable and effective decision-making process. To promote this process and to support its participation members, the UG organizes a day full of educational workshops and the opportunity to meet other council members of the UG so that knowledge and skills can be exchanged.

Participation adds value for both students and staff. Participatory bodies promote a sense of ownership and commitment among staff because they have a direct role in shaping policies and initiatives.

Workshops

Workshop: Basic Co-Participation

This workshop is for all co-participation members at universities who want to know exactly what their legal rights, duties and responsibilities are.

Workshop: Effective Meetings

Want to meet more efficiently and reduce meeting time? Learn how to separate primary and secondary issues? Conclude the meeting with clear decisions? Then choose the effective meetings workshop!

Workshop: How do I survive my board?

This training is meant for council members who know what to do, but keep hitting a wall with their Faculty Boards or Service Management Boards who seem to talk their way out of anything. In this workshop, we’ll first take a look at various styles of communication between board members and councils. We will also look at the degree of cooperation and assertiveness, or the amount of leeway that both parties grant one another. After that, we’ll look at the various layers in your meetings, and discuss sabotage behaviour from the deep democracy principle.

Workshop: Multilingualism & Participation

Do you want to learn Dutch? Or do you know someone who is trying to? Try the receptive Dutch course for meetings and administration.

Workshop: Reorganizations and organizational changes

If major changes are implemented in the organization, the role of co-participation bodies is very important. This training answers the most important questions that co-participation members often have in such cases.

Programme Participation Day (2 October 2025)

Every participant can join one workshop in the morning and one in the afternoon.

You will soon be able to register for the workshops via this page.