Leadership for an Equitable Academic Democracy (LEAD) is a broad coalition of both support and management (OBP) and academic (WP) staff who aim to promote leadership, equity, and democracy, which we see as deeply interconnected at Maastricht University. Specifically, we believe that effective leadership is necessary to foster an equitable and inclusive environment for all members of the UM community which contributes to a more democratic decision-making process. We recognise that our university is undergoing rapid change, with new policies and procedures likely to affect us all. As such, our coalition will proactively advocate for the rights and needs of all support staff.
As the LEAD-OBP party, we believe that the success of the university depends on recognizing and valuing the contributions of all staff. To this end, we propose the following initiatives:
1. Recognition and Rewards Policy for Support Staff: Support staff plays an essential role in the smooth functioning of the university, but may not always receive recognition. Therefore, we will advocate for the implementation and refinement of a fair recognition and rewards program for all support staff, regardless of personal circumstances. By engaging with university leadership, we aim to have everyone’s work and tasks acknowledged and compensated.
2. Internationalization of UM: Internationalization brings numerous benefits to Maastricht University, but also poses challenges. We aim to facilitate open communication about the advantages and disadvantages of internationalization, taking into account the perspectives and needs of all members of the UM community, including international and domestic staff and students. To this end, we will encourage dialogue and gather feedback from stakeholders.
3. Sustainable Employability: We believe that all support staff should have access to secure, sustainable employment. Security requires fixed contracts and open communication about career opportunities. Sustainable employability requires a good work/life balance, programmes to improve both physical and mental well-being and solutions for the chronic understaffing in certain departments. We believe new initiatives should only be implemented if they can be accompanied by the necessary increase in staff from the start. We will work collaboratively with service councils and other stakeholders to identify and address staffing needs.
At LEAD-OBP, we are committed to ensuring that everyone has a chance to make their voice heard, regardless of their background, native language or communication style. We understand the importance of clear communication and will make sure that everyone involved in discussions truly understands the topic and viewpoints presented, using common language and terminology. We firmly believe these initiatives will not only benefit support staff but will also contribute to the overall success of Maastricht University.
