YoungRUG: the community for young UG support staff

Looking to expand your network, grow professionally, and connect with like-minded colleagues at UG? YoungRUG is the community for young support staff!

How it all started

YoungRUG began as a bottom up initiative in 2016 when a few colleagues saw the need for a network for young support staff and teachers. The first networking event attracted 41 enthusiastic colleagues. Encouraged by the positive response, a proposal was developed, based on the experience of similar networks like YoungUvA and Young@EUR, and gained approval from the Board of the University in August 2016.

Since then, YoungRUG has been committed to facilitating networking, professional development, and institutional knowledge sharing for young professional (support) staff within the UG. The organization aims to foster an open and dynamic environment to encourage active participation and create a strong and diverse community. Next to that, YoungRUG acts as an advisory and sparring partner to (upper) management on topics related and important to young professionals.

YoungRUG events

YoungRUG believes that professional and social events are essential for the growth and well-being of young support staff at the UG. 

"YoungRUG events offer a great opportunity for young staff to meet each other, exchange experiences, and expand their professional networks," says Sindi, an active member at YoungRUG. "Events like workshops and networking sessions give young professionals the chance to develop their skills further and connect with colleagues from other faculties and services. They can not only learn from others but also gain valuable insights into their career paths and opportunities within the UG."

Apart from professional events, YoungRUG also focuses on organizing social events that bring young staff together in an informal setting. "Events like drinks or fun activities are a perfect setting for colleagues to get to know each other better," explains Sindi. "As someone who joined YoungRUG a few months ago, I quickly realized how important it is to have a community where you can connect. It’s not just about attending events, it’s about feeling supported, sharing experiences, and having a real say in improving our workplace.”

YoungRUG working groups

"At YoungRUG, we do more than just organize events. We actively work on structural improvements that benefit young support professionals at the UG," says Klaas, chair of YoungRUG. "Through our working groups, we address important topics like career perspectives and accessibility of information, ensuring that young support staff have the resources they need to grow."

One of these initiatives is the 'Improving Accessibility of Information' working group, which aims to make essential information on topics like leave arrangements, reintegration after illness, and career transitions more transparent. "We see that many young professionals struggle to find clear information about their rights and opportunities," Klaas explains. "By structuring and centralizing this information, we want to make it easier for colleagues to find information about the arrangements they are entitled to.”

Another working group is career development. YoungRUG has been working closely with HR to map out career paths, promote inter-faculty mobility, and introduce practical tools like a UFO-profile tool to help professionals explore career opportunities.

Get involved!

Are you a young UG employee? Did the experiences of the active members above spark your interest? Then join any of our events and discover what YoungRUG can offer to you.

Are you a manager or supervisor? Then please encourage your young members of support staff to participate in YoungRUG’s activities.