A safer and comfortable place for all students

What is 'Scholas'?

Each student of the International Institute of Social Studies (ISS) Master's and certificate programmes makes up Scholas, the Institute's student association. Several committees within Scholas promote student engagement within and outside of the Institute, ranging from themes like arts and culture to student housing and gender and sexual diversity. The Scholas Executive Committee is elected in the first term of each academic year and comprises four members who advocate for the voices of the ISS student body.

The newly elected members of the 2022/2023 Executive Committee are Scholas President Conor Farrell (USA), Vice President Karen Vargas (Colombia), Secretary Martin K. (Liberia) and Treasurer Patience Atanga (Ghana). As the outgoing Scholas Executive Committee passes the torch to the new elects, they are ready to make their mark while carrying the legacy of previous members.

What inspired you to run for Scholas?

Patience Atanga, Treasurer: 'My passion and desire to learn the art of building relationships within teams, defining identities and achieving tasks effectively inspired me. I wanted to learn to identify and display effective communication and interpersonal skills. Leveraging on the aims of Scholas, which include representing members of all decision-making bodies and exercising power to address academic and welfare problems, I wanted to help achieve these goals by acting as a liaison between students and the management of ISS to promote the welfare of students.

I also want to gain relevant experience in a leadership role that can impact my career, like learning new leadership skills in a safe and comfortable environment with support from peers. Moreover, I want to know about responsibility and confidentiality when dealing with money in a multicultural environment. My department budget planner experience inspired me to run for the treasury position within Scholas.'

What are your first impressions of this new role in the Scholas Executive Committee?

Karen Vargas, Vice President: 'Being part of the Scholas has given us a new perception of the ISS Master's experience. So far, our time at ISS has become more than an international experience; it's also a process of thinking about how to make this institution safer and more comfortable for all students.

As incoming students, the student body has experienced the challenge of adapting to a new academic and social context; This allows us to translate the challenges into strategies we can work on practically and make the process easier for incoming students.

The challenge of being part of the Scholas, for sure, will be learning how to approach differences to build peaceful conversations and respect individualities and cultures. These are learnings that go further than our lectures and provide us with more practical than theoretical knowledge, going beyond our role as Master students.'

What are your ideas for implementing change at ISS?

Conor Farrell, President: 'Our proposal to ISS is built around four pillars: Wellbeing, Advocacy, Development and Engagement.

Each pillar contains a set of activities and approaches for what we want to implement during our tenure as the Executive Committee. We want to continue building on the solid foundations established by previous committees and increase internal and external engagement opportunities for ISS students. At the same time, we want to ensure student wellbeing continues to be prioritized through engagements within the institution.

Under the 'Engagement' pillar, we are excited to have already begun engaging with the student body through forming working committees and establishing relationships with associations within Erasmus University Rotterdam to explore expanding opportunities to engage ISS students in the broader university. Under the 'Development' pillar, we have also started to compile a resource list of options related to internships, job fairs, training and financial aid. Finally, under the 'Welfare' and 'Advocacy' pillar, we are continuing the tremendous efforts of previous Scholas bodies to advocate on behalf of the student body to improve policies related to better mental, physical and psychological health for all students.'

Tell us about your team — what are some of your best qualities?

Martin K., Secretary: 'I recognize the shared values, mutual respect and individual talent that exist within our team. Teamwork and a positive attitude that focuses on result-based interventions are at the center of this. Since assuming office, we have been engaged with various stakeholders at different levels, including the student body, the administration and external partners. 

These fruitful engagements demonstrate our firm commitment to duty as elected representatives of the students. Our ability to communicate our vision and care for students has created an inseparable bond of trust and reliability in our leadership. We've treated everyone equally and demonstrated an openness to feedback and new ideas. Our team values diversity, inclusion, tolerance and peace.

The best quality that is unique about our team is servant leadership based on innovation, humility and hard work. We are always willing to reach out to help find solutions, even during difficult circumstances. Above all, the student's interest is central to our overall plan.'