August 7, 2019 · Team HG
DOver more than fifty years, the Groningen KEI Week has developed into an ambitious and socially engaged student event. The largest introduction week in the Netherlands is becoming even more sustainable this year, focusing on student health and using a digital payment system for the first time. From August 12 to 16, current students will introduce over 5,000 newcomers to Groningen student life.
The city of Groningen is known for its many student organizations. During no fewer than 19 KEI events, new students can get acquainted with everything student life has to offer. Sports, cultural, political, and social clubs present themselves to their future members, extensive attention is paid to student stress and societal themes, and prospective students are, of course, introduced to Groningen's nightlife. This year, Koen Pieter van Dijk, also known as Koen Kardashian, is coming to Groningen to talk about his studies and career. There will also be performances by Tabitha, Mike Williams, Chivv, and “the tougher version of Acda en de Munnik,” The Given Horse.
The KEI Week is switching to a more sustainable payment system. After 50 years, the well-known coin, which is printed every year with the KEI logo, is being replaced by a digital payment system. Every KEI participant, KEI leader, and volunteer will receive a wristband containing a payment chip that allows the student to pay for the entire KEI Week.
To bring students and Groningen residents closer together, many events are open to the public. Groningen residents can pick up a debit card at the offline top-up points. Among others The Grand Opening, the Night of the Songs, It Open Air Festival and the Film at the Fish Market are accessible to everyone.
“We hope that both Groningen residents and students receive this initiative positively. Any money remaining on the wristband after KEI Week will be refunded,” says Remmie Palland, Chair of the Executive Board of the KEI Foundation.
The KEI Week fosters not only a good relationship with the people of Groningen, but also with its surroundings. Every year, the events and the KEI Foundation become a little greener. The greening of the KEI Week was rewarded with the Green Key in 2017: the international certification mark for sustainable businesses and events. Together with the Groningen Noorderzon festival, the KEI Week is the only public event in the Netherlands with this certification. Next year, approximately 6,500 KEI runners and leaders will walk through the city with fabric KEI bags; these will replace plastic bags. To further reduce the use of plastic, is being done on the Open Air Festival A pilot was run using Hardcups, eliminating the use of disposable plastic cups. Also, in collaboration with Albert Heijn, Meatless Monday is being organized, just like last year, giving all KEI participants the opportunity to eat vegetarian on the first day. In addition to these sustainable initiatives, the KEI Sustainability Award – aimed at encouraging sustainability among students – will be presented to the most sustainable (student) organization. Finally, during KEI Week, the GREEN team will conduct measurements of water, waste, and electricity, among other things, to provide insight into consumption. With this data, we aim to identify where and how savings can be achieved in terms of consumption. This will enable the organization to focus on an even more sustainable KEI Week in the coming years.
Conversations with staff at Hanze University of Applied Sciences and the University of Groningen have revealed that study stress among students is increasing, partly due to performance pressure and financial problems. As a result, students may develop mental and physical problems.
“By focusing attention during the KEI week on how students can complete their studies as healthily as possible, we hope that they will be more likely to seek help if they do experience mental or physical symptoms due to performance pressure,” says Remmie Palland.
For example, a doctor's practice is present at the KEI Information Market providing information on the physical consequences of study pressure, and at KEI to your Future, students receive tips on mindfulness, relaxing yoga and meditation, and effective studying. During KEI Sportplaza, the Health Committee is present, organizing health events and providing information on health and an active lifestyle.
The full program of the KEI week can be found at www.keiweek.nl.
