The LUS provides independent advice on university-wide policies that concern all topics of relevance to students.

To gain input from as many students as possible, the LUS organises regular meetings in which students can discuss and brainstorm on a range of different set topics. The LUS communicates the insights and ideas of students to the Executive Board and other relevant organs within the Leiden University. 

The LUS also awards the LUS Teaching Prize for Leiden’s teacher of the year. 

Faculty member

Tasks

As a faculty member, you will help organise student meetings on education and student-related matters, attend lectures for the LUS teaching prize, and stay up to date on what's happening at your faculty.

Hours and allowance

The role will take 2 to 3 hours of your time each week, for which you will receive an allowance.

Chair

Tasks

As chair, you are responsible for organising LUS meetings. You will also sit in the Plexus Advisory Group and maintain contact with various parties within the university.

Hours and allowance

The role will take approx. 8 hours of your time each week, for which you will receive an allowance.

Apply

Vacancies for the new academic year will appear as announcements on this website in April or May.

The LUS Teaching Prize is presented annually at the opening of the academic year the to the best teacher of the previous year.

The teaching prize is a special award, celebrating the lecturer who is the most inspiring in giving their classes. The teacher receives a grant of 25.000 euro's that can be used for educational initiatives. Every student has the opportunity and is encouraged to nominate their best lecturer. 

Do you have a teacher that you would like to nominate for the next Teaching Prize? 

Note: You only have to submit a lecturer for nomination once. The LUS attends the lectures of the specified lecturer itself and makes a decision based on its own standards.

Winner 2024

This year's 2024 Teaching Prize was presented to Pieter Slaman, a History lecturer in Leiden. Described as full of humor and very open by his students, Pieter Slaman provides inspiring teaching. Student stories revealed that his talents as a teacher have convinced many a student to study Dutch History. Slaman: 'In lecture halls we light a fire every day. The students drag in the fuel from all corners of the world. The task of the lecturer is actually limited. Above all, the students do the work. I dedicate this prize to all those who make it possible for us as teachers to do our work, such as the educational administration and the secretariat.'

• Pieter Slaman wins the LUS Teaching Prize

Winner 2023

According to Gobée’s students, he is an enormously inspiring lecturer with a clear passion for his field. The variety of teaching methods he uses make for the best teaching a student could wish for. ‘Incredible, thank you so much for this honour’, said Gobée. 

• Best lecturer of the year

Winner 2022

The academic year 2021-2022 was a challenging one, with a gradual return to in-person and hybrid classes. Overcoming  such difficulties, the three shortlisted lecturers continued to guide their students with even greater passion. 

The winner of the LUS Teaching Prize 2022 was Emily Strange, who teaches sustainable development, biodiversity and conservation biology. She will use the prize for her ongoing interdisciplinary effort to “create an environment where good education is really sought after and not seen as an extra to the job” of an academic. 

• "When I leave the lecture and students are still discussing, I know I did a good job"

Winner 2021

The winner of the Leiden Teaching Prize 2021 was Ayo Adedokun who teaches on conflict, peacebuilding and development in Africa. 

• "Teaching is not merely a profession; it’s a calling"

See the latest LUS activities on Instagram: @lusleiden.

Do you want to propose a topic for discussion? Or do you have a good idea for the university? Contact LUS via lus@sea.leidenuniv.nl or Instagram: @lusleiden.

2024-2025

• LUS Rapport: Student wellbeing (in Dutch)

2023-2024

• LUS Rapport: Academische Vrijheid (in Dutch)
• LUS report: AI in education

2021-2022

• LUS report: The future of online education
• LUS report: University communication

2020-2021

• LUS report: Student wellbeing advice
• LUS report: Interdisciplinarity advice

2019-2020

• LUS report: Connecting Teaching & Research
• LUS report: Landing in Leiden
• Lunch Club: Anglification
• High Tea Club: Student feedback

LUS Input Week

De LUS Input Week took place in February 2020. LUS committee members visited each faculty and spoke to students in order to collect their ideas and feedback. They then wrote a report for each faculty and shared this with the faculty board. They also wrote a general report that pointed out recurring themes.

• Explanation & general conlusions
• Archeology
• Humanities | appendix
• Governance and Global Affairs 
• LUMC
• Law
• Social & Behavioural Sciences
• Science

2018-2019

• Breakfastclub: Integration 
• Breakfastclub: Sustainability
• Breakfastclub: Healthy Studying

2017-2018

• Breakfastclub 1: Studying in The Hague and Student Participation 
• Breakfastclub 2: FOS and Student Participation
• Breakfastclub 3: Englishization of education
• Breakfastclub 4: LGBTQ+
• Theme meeting 1: Career Perspectives
• Symposium: Stressloos studeren (in Dutch)

The LUS was established in 2013 with the aim of providing advice to the Executive Board, primarily via the Vice-Rector who is the portfolio holder for teaching and student affairs. It was tasked to gather insights especially (but not exclusively) from students who are not yet active in associations and participatory bodies.