IDEA

Meet IDEA. This is the faculty association of the Tilburg School of Social and Behavioral Sciences. Officially, it is a foundation, so they do not have members. However, that doesn't mean that nothing is being organized. This young association hosts multiple formal and informal events. The IDEA board is often engaged in interacting with various parties. This isn't surprising, as their goal is to improve the professionalism of the faculty. They have made good progress in this regard, but there is still much work to be done, as they admit themselves. You can find out more about this association in the article!

Who am I and what is my role in IDEA?

"Hey, my name is Anna Telder, and I'm 22 years old. I come from Eindhoven, and I've been living in Tilburg for almost three years now. Last summer, I became the president of the faculty association IDEA. As the president, I am responsible for the overall functioning of the association, I am the point of contact, and I participate in various meetings with other faculties and associations. All in all, it's a diverse and incredibly fun role! I'm very extroverted and love to stay busy organizing things. I enjoy coming up with new plans and working together with people to implement them. That's exactly what I've been able to do this year!"

What is IDEA at its core?

"IDEA is the faculty association of the Tilburg School of Social and Behavioral Sciences, representing over 4500 students from the entire faculty! We were established as a foundation in the academic year 2018-2019, which means we don't have direct members. Our goal is to enhance cooperation and communication within the faculty, as well as between different associations and students. Additionally, our aim is to improve the professionalism of the entire faculty in every possible way. We are making good progress, but we definitely have plenty of ambitions and goals."

What characterizes IDEA?

"IDEA is a relatively young association. Within a few years, we have managed to make our mark on the faculty. We have established several workgroups that promote collaborations between TSB associations and

organize activities. IDEA has created the following five workgroups: the activity workgroup, the internationalization workgroup, the acquisition workgroup, the secretary workgroup, and the treasurer workgroup. Each workgroup includes one board member from IDEA and one board member from each study association (Complex, INPUT, POLIS, and Versot). Within these workgroups, the associations organize various activities and ensure better collaboration. As a faculty association, you operate at a higher level, working closely with the university and other faculty associations to manage the bigger picture effectively."

How would you describe the average member?

"Since we are a foundation, we do not have members. However, we do represent all students at TSB and organize activities that they can participate in. Students do not need to be members to take part in our activities. Our focus is mainly on working 'behind the scenes' and less on direct contact with students. That's what the study associations are for."

What are some of the activities you organize?

"Our biggest and most well-known activity is the BEHAVE cantus. This is a cantus held in October, which we organize in collaboration with the study associations for all students in our faculty. It's a massive success every year!"

"Additionally, we are responsible for the Mentoring Program, where students serve as mentors to guide first-year students throughout the year. The Master Experience Days is another significant event that we organize. It brings master students and alumni to discuss the master's programs and the field, helping bachelor students make their master's choices."

What does an average week look like for your board?

"Our tasks vary from week to week. All board members have a wide range of responsibilities. Of course, we have board meetings, which occur twice a week. As the president, I also have a meeting every Thursday with the presidents of all the TSB associations. Additionally, my weeks are filled with numerous meetings. As a faculty association, you have to interact with various parties, which results in a lot of meetings."

What is the highlight of the year for you?

"The highlight of the year was definitely the BEHAVE. Unfortunately, the cantus didn't take place in person for two years due to COVID-19, and you could tell that everyone was excited that it could happen this year. The cantus sold out within twenty minutes, which was a great way to start our board year. The atmosphere during the cantus was fantastic, and everyone was enthusiastic. It was great to see! In the weeks that follow, there are always stories and everyone talks about how much fun it was, allowing you to savor the experience for an extended period."

How can you develop yourself at IDEA?

"Because we are a young association, there is a lot of room for development. Each position has a small set of fixed tasks, supplemented with a wide range of additional responsibilities, making it very personal and challenging! It's up to you. Furthermore, it's fantastic to get involved at the faculty level and engage in discussions with both the associations and the Management Team. At IDEA, you can truly make a difference and improve various aspects within the faculty."

How do you see the future?

"In the future, we hope for even more cohesion and collaboration at the faculty level, where the interests of all TSB students are represented. It would also be great to have a five-member board or full-time positions at some point because there is an enormous amount of work to be done. There are plenty of opportunities and challenges that our future board members can take on. At the moment, we are still working on establishing a strong foundation, but in the coming years, there will be many expansion opportunities for IDEA!"

If you want to know more about IDEA, please visit the site!