Veste: Student Council Party Wageningen University

VeSte Wageningen is the largest student council party of the Wageningen UR. For 24 years already VeSte committed itself to improve the quality of the education and stimulating broad development of students within and besides the university program. VeSte was originally formed to look after the interests of the largest student associations of Wageningen; Unitas, K.S.V. St. Franciscus Xaverius, SSR-W and W.S.V. Ceres, together called ‘Contractus’. In 1997 the university’s internal structure changed, the University Council was replaced by the MUB. In this new structure Contractus had no seats, and thus no influence on the policy of the university. The student associations were afraid that their interest wouldn’t be looked after by the parties of the student council existing that day, namely the Progressive Student Party (PSF) and the Christian Student Party (CSF). To make sure that the voice of the these student was heard, VeSte (United Students, dutch: Verenigde Studenten) was formed. Over the years VeSte evolved and expanded its scope. Nowadays VeSte not only represents Contractus, but all active students. The philosophy of VeSte is that being a student is not only going to colleges and studying in the library. Your time as a student is the time in your life to develop yourself in ways that you otherwise wouldn’t, or can’t in the regular university program. We believe that you can learn just as much outside the classroom, at external organisations such as Study Associations, Student Association, sport clubs and other organisations. VeSte strives for an environment within the university where flexibility and participation in the student life are the standard. Especially in these turbulent times of budget cuts from the government, tasks and challenges lie ahead for VeSte. VeSte is an independent party, but has many contact in the university, the municipality and with students who support our views and ideas.