DIVERSITY MANDATE
When you are elected as a Diversity Mandate, you can take on both a policy-making and an organizational role. Within LOKO, you develop initiatives to bring attention to inclusivity, physical & digital accessibility, and other diversity topics. You consult with policy implementers and collaborate with them to develop an overarching diversity policy. Additionally, you work within organization-wide campaigns on various topics. You ensure that inclusion and equality are always considered when organizing events and campaigns or making decisions.
WHAT KIND OF PROFILE ARE WE LOOKING FOR?
We are looking for engaged and integrity-driven student representatives with a sense of responsibility, who are willing to prepare files and follow up on meetings. You can set aside your own opinion, if necessary, for the opinion of the students. You have a connection with or interest in the diversity of the Leuven student community and the issues and opportunities that come with it. Finally, you can handle sensitive topics in an appropriate manner.
TIME COMMITMENT
You stay informed about the events regarding important files at the city of Leuven and KU Leuven or other educational institutions, you represent the opinion of the students and report back to the General Assembly (GA). You actively follow up on files and try to set up initiatives and campaigns aimed at inclusive educational institutions and an inclusive city. Such campaigns can include: accessibility of student bars, awareness campaigns on topics such as cross-border behavior or LGBTQI+, initiatives that cross mandates (such as mental well-being of students in collaboration with the student services representatives)... Moreover, you try to promote equality and inclusion through workshops, advice… Finally, you ensure that LOKO's events are as inclusive and accessible as possible.
MEETINGS
As a representative at LOKO, you are also expected to attend a number of meetings. The number of meetings may seem quite extensive. In practice, they are usually sufficiently spread out and it all works out well. You have 1 to 2 meetings per year. If you can't make it once, that's not a disaster. We are all volunteers among ourselves.
- GENERAL BUREAU (GB)
You sit as a representative in the General Bureau. Here, all volunteers of LOKO - DaBu and representatives, possibly also project staff - come together and discuss the progress made in the past period. Additionally, you prepare files and notes at the GB that will then be presented to the GA. The GB takes place bi-weekly during the teaching weeks and is usually followed by a small team-building: the après-GB.
- GENERAL ASSEMBLY (GA) & WORK MEETING (WM) STUDENT POLICY
Alternating with the AB, the General Assembly & Working Meeting on Student Policy – AV & WV Student Policy – takes place biweekly on Friday evenings. In the AV, administrative matters concerning the internal organization of LOKO are discussed, while in the WV Student Policy we address representation issues. All student representatives from the student circles come together to take positions and make decisions on matters that concern their students. As a diversity mandate holder, you are needed to propose a specific agenda item or to mentally support your LOKO colleagues. After the AV/WV, we head to a fakbar to get to know each other better!
- MANDATE MEETINGS
Depending on your role, you are also part of those meetings for which you are specifically elected. The meetings depend on the projects and developments on the agenda and the initiatives you set up yourself. Important meetings include those of the Diversity Council or the WG Physical Accessibility.
WHAT IS EXPECTED OF YOU?
You commit yourself as a motivated and socially engaged volunteer with loyalty to LOKO. You always prioritize the representation of students and support your LOKO colleagues where possible. You actively follow up on files and try to set up initiatives and campaigns to highlight equality and inclusion.
WHAT DO YOU GET IN RETURN?
Being a member of LOKO means being part of a super cool team full of motivated students. You can achieve effective improvements for the Leuven students and learn useful skills for later in your life.
PLACES: 2-3
TEAMMATES
You work together with your coordinator, in this case the chair or vice-chair of LOKO, and with the other diversity representative. Depending on a specific campaign, you may also closely collaborate with other representatives from the LOKO team or external partners.
ARE YOU INTERESTED?
You will be put in touch with a current diversity representative: they will explain to you what the mandate entails and inform you about recent files. Are you convinced? Yay! Then you can submit your application by email to loko@loko.be, consisting of your CV and a motivation letter. You will then receive the questions you need to prepare for your election. After that, you will go through the election procedure at the General Assembly. Don't worry! It may all sound a bit scary, but you are never alone: the current and upcoming LOKO team will gladly guide you and is always ready to help you.