Educational and social impact: StudentWeetRaad

*The StudentWeetRaad team, gathered in their office located in the C building room C 0.05. (Image supplied: Laura Rodenburg)*

We met Ilvy van der Steen and Laura Rodenburg, former and current coordinators of the student consultancy firm StudentWeetRaad, based on the Roeterseiland Campus. They told us more about their mission, how they collaborate with external partner organisations and the initiative’s benefits for students.

What is StudentWeetRaad?

StudentWeetRaad (SWR), translatable as "Students know", is a student-led consultancy firm focused on educational and pedagogical problematics. Present on the Roeterseiland Campus, the organisation historically focused on child behaviour and educational science but is now looking to be more interdisciplinary and accept all students from Social and Behavioural Sciences. The agency collaborates with numerous public and private organisations with different approaches, roles and missions related to education and the social field. The association works on a reciprocity principle: UvA students provide advice, consultancy or research to partners, who in return set up an event such as a workshop, training, or networking conversation.

Ilvy, a former coordinator of the Bureau, joined StudentWeetRaad because she wanted to further connect academic and professional life. "I feel like there is a gap between university and the working field, between theory and practice, that is overcome too late", she explains.

Laura, one of the two current coordinators, felt the same need: "I was looking to make more extracurricular activities next to my studies and knew StudentWeetRaad from their promotion on campus. I joined on a voluntary basis. After one year, I had the opportunity to become a coordinator!"

How is StudentWeetRaad structured?

"There are two cycles per year. Each cycle, we create an average of 5 self-directive teams of 2 to 4 students. Those self-directive teams work voluntarily: they choose a problematic or research question submitted by a client, do research and produce an answer and advice. Students from all backgrounds in social sciences and all levels are welcome. Even first-year bachelor students! We team them up with more experienced students. Mixing specialities, experience, and study levels create collaborative and vivid team exchanges", Ilvy explains. Students are accompanied and monitored by (student) coordinators in the process and in the follow-up of their personal, academic, and professional skills. The coordinators manage teams and run training on multiple subjects, ranging from how to write a piece of advice to how to make a resume. Close collaboration with lecturers and seminar teachers guarantees the high academic standard of the reports.

3 pillars: academic, personal and professional

Coordinators ensure that participating students benefit from opportunities to develop their skills to prepare them for the professional world. It includes the development of personal and professional skills. "Without always realising it, students have acquired much sought-after knowledge and methods. They discover that their advice is of great help to professionals and that their skills are valued and appreciated. In the process, they gain self-assurance", Ilvy says. "Groups are very autonomous during the process. They have to take initiatives and are directly in contact with their client. Coordinators are always here to help and keep an eye on how they are doing. It is very rewarding to see students grow and learn during those collaborative projects. The contacts we encourage between students who are still learning and professionals who have been present on the field for years turn out to be very authentic, rich, and insightful for each actor", she explains.

What type of advice do you give to organisations?

StudentWeetRaad consultancy built a vast network of partner organisations in the field since they started their activity. "It all started gradually, beginning with contacts from the first members. Students take their assignments very seriously, and the companies are enthusiastic to work with motivated young people who have a fresh and new perspective on their problems. Through word of mouth, after hearing positive feedback from their collaborators, many companies seek our advice."

Below are some examples of projects carried out by student groups at StudentWeetRaad:

For the Municipality of Amsterdam: advice about the support of the Municipality of Amsterdam for MBO students with money problems, poverty and debts,
For Mindset Movers, a study on how can primary school students best deal with feelings of depression,
For the Europaschool, advice on how to teach new math skills to children who do not yet know the Dutch language.

The diversified nature of their partners and clients allows SWR teams to address various and diverse issues. Most of the recommendations are based on quantitative literature research. The firm’s network now includes public and private organisations with educational, psychological and sociological missions and focuses. Some examples are the Elance Academy, an initiative that coaches and empowers young girls on talent discovery, resilience, healthy lifestyle, identity, culture and future., or even Qpido, which provides assistance and education about sexuality, diversity, violence, and acceptance to teenagers, teachers and parents.

An exchange-based collaboration

"I really appreciate the fact that our initiative, even though it functions on a voluntary basis for students, is based on an exchange. Partners are happy to provide us with training or workshops in return for our efforts and advice", Ilvy explains. “Some students even got a side job after collaborating with partners through the student firm!”

What are your plans for the future of the agency?

"We are working on becoming more interdisciplinary to reach every field in Social Sciences. For now, we only work with students from Interdisciplinary Social Sciences. We wish to attract more Psychology students", explains Laura. "We are also having discussions about how to welcome an international team of students", she adds. The team seems very enthusiastic and avid to develop the organisation. “We take it step by step, to develop those projects and keep giving qualitative advice at the same time”, Laura concludes.

If you are interested in learning more about StudentWeetRaad, you can meet them in their office, on the ground floor of the C building (C0.05), on UvA’s Roeterseiland Campus. You can also visit their website, which showcases their many past projects and presents their young and passionate team.