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Portfolio holder External Affairs, Entrepreneurship & Innovation

EXTErnal relations

Marilyn's main task is to maintain all Student Union contacts with the business community. The main task is to realise new partnerships, long-term cooperations with companies. The main goal is to gain benefits for Union participants, students and student entrepreneurs at the University of Twente, but also for the company itself. This added value can be both direct and indirect. Direct added value is created by, for example, discounts or training courses from professional organisations which directly affect the student. Indirect added value is created by financial resources that an organisation makes available to the Student Union. This is then returned to the students through sponsorship.

The entire process, from the first idea and contact to signing and maintaining the partnership, is supervised by Tom. The External Relations portfolio holder is also responsible for the external relations consultations with study associations and the consultation with the municipality once every six weeks.

entrepreneurship & INNOVATion

The Student Union is responsible for the policy regarding student entrepreneurship at the University of Twente. Together with Novel-T and ETM, facilitates and stimulates student entrepreneurship.

Entrepreneurship offers students many opportunities to develop themselves and gain experience. The Student Union collaborates with various parties within the UT to provide a great deal of support for this. The reason the Student Union is involved in student entrepreneurship is that it offers enormous opportunities for students. The experiences gained are unique and cannot be developed within the study.

As portfolio holder for Entrepreneurship, Tom is taking stock of the needs of student entrepreneurs. On the basis of this, she tries to take action so that the desired support is realised. An example of this is the realisation of the Incubase in February 2020 in cooperation with Novel-T. This is the start-up incubator in the area and offers start-ups a place to work, follow programmes and network.

It is also important to coordinate everything with the various organisations involved. There are numerous business clubs, Novel-T, the Business & Science Park, the Innovation Lab, ETM and more. It is up to the portfolio holder for Entrepreneurship to attune the services offered to the wishes of the student entrepreneur. Tom is the spider in the web who knows everything and can make the right connection between the wishes of student entrepreneurs and the existing supply.

Marilyn Djorai

Study: Psychology
Active: S.V. Dimensie, Amnesty UTwente
From: The Hague, South Holland, The Netherlands
Email: m.s.t.djorai@utwente.nl

After my high school years in the beautiful city of The Hague, I knew I was ready for a new environment. Additionally, I really wanted to move into student housing, as I had missed social interactions during COVID-19. Through a friend, I came across the University of Twente. The UT immediately appealed to me because of its strong community, green campus, and the many opportunities to develop myself beyond my studies. So, in September 2021, I started with my Psychology degree and immediately immersed myself in student life.

During the Kick-In introduction period, I discovered the rowing association D.R.V. Euros, where I was active for three years and had the opportunity to organize the gala in 2023. I gained a close group of friends and unforgettable experiences here. A year later, in 2022, I also became a member of the study association S.V. Dimensie, where I enthusiastically joined several committees, such as the first-year committee, activities committee, promotion committee, Kick-In committee, and the bartending committee.

Besides being active in both D.R.V. Euros and S.V. Dimensie, I found I still had time left alongside my studies. So, in 2022, I also joined Amnesty UTwente, a student organization in Enschede that serves as a local branch of Amnesty International, advocating for human rights. From 2023, I was part of the board as External Affairs Officer and Secretary. Additionally, since 2024, I have been a Confidential Contact Person (CCP), supporting students with their concerns and offering a listening ear, both at UT in general and at J&SV Exaltio.

It quickly became clear that I can’t sit still and am always looking for new challenges. That’s why I decided to make the most of my student years and truly contribute to my fellow students by considering another board year—this time full-time instead of part-time alongside my studies. This led me to the Student Union, where I have the opportunity to make an impact and fully dedicate myself to the student community. In the coming year, I will be responsible for External Affairs, Entrepreneurship & Innovation, a role in which I can further develop my own skills while making a positive contribution to the student community in Enschede.

Do you have ideas or questions about External Affairs, Entrepreneurship & Innovation? Feel free to reach out! I look forward to working together and making a difference for all students at UT.