- Campus , People
- 06/03/2025
Behind the Scenes | Ramses Rongen, head sports associations
Keeping a university running is no easy feat. It takes a lot of hands to make sure everything is in order, from administration to cleaning and from security to technical maintenance. Who are the unsung heroes behind the scenes keeping everything on track? In this series, Cursor shines the spotlight on TU/e employees. Today: Ramses Rongen, cluster head of all 38 sports associations, squash instructor, and confidential contact person at the Student Sports Center (SSC).
He arrived here as a student in 1996 and has never left since. “I’m part of the furniture,” he says with a laugh. If he should stay here until his retirement – which he believes is highly likely – he thinks he might set a record for the person who has been connected to TU/e the longest. “I don’t have the ambition to leave the university; it’s wonderful here.”
What time do you clock in?
“That varies greatly. On the days I give squash training, I’m here until late, so I don’t start until 2 PM. On other days, I start around 11 AM. But if my colleagues are already here at 9 and schedule a meeting, I don’t mind coming in earlier.”
As cluster head I support all 38 student sports associations with facilities and board guidance, among other things
What does your job involve exactly?
“First and foremost, I’m the head squash instructor, which is pretty self-explanatory. I give squash lessons here at the SSC three times a week.
As cluster head I support all 38 student sports associations with facilities and board guidance, among other things. By facilities, I mean storage for their equipment and a place to train. And board guidance because each association’s board changes every year; with this guidance, we ensure that the quality is maintained. So we assist them with policy-making and things like that; think of it as relationship management. What that relationship management looks like – what do we do, what don’t we do and to what extent – that’s the role of the cluster head. Creating the policy framework to support our sports associations.
The association managers then ensure that those policies are implemented. I myself serve as association manager for 12 of our associations, the other 26 are managed by my colleagues Atef el Allouche and Misha Latuhihin. So as cluster head, I’m responsible for the policy of all 38 sports associations, and as association manager, I’m responsible for ensuring that my 12 associations actually implement this policy. The squash association is, of course, one of those 12, and I also really wanted the e-sports association – Zephyr – under my wing."
"In addition, I manage some social safety aspects at SSC, so social safety for the staff, the sports card holders and other visitors. The university itself once drew up a document on social safety and its core concerns. Around those lines, we look at what we can improve, and if no improvement is needed, how we can keep it that way.”
What led you to this job?
“In 1996, I started studying Mechanical Engineering at TU/e and began working out at the Sports Center too. I played a lot of tennis at the time, but I gradually moved towards squash. I became a member of the squash association, ended up on the board, and then one day, I was asked to give a few hours of training. That’s how my work at the university began, in 2007. So I started out as an instructor, but when the previous head instructor left, he asked me if I wanted to take over the role."
At first glance, they might seem like three totally separate positions, but if you look closely, you can find a lot of connections between all three
"A while later, in 2021, there was a job opening for cluster head of the student sports associations and I was advised to apply. I did, and got the job. So from that point on, I was head squash instructor as well as cluster head of the student sports associations.
Then, as part of my policy duties as cluster head, I was asked if I could take on the social safety aspect at the SSC. It seemed important and interesting to me, so I agreed.
At first glance, they might seem like three totally separate positions, but if you look closely, you can find a lot of connections between all three. For example, the fact that I train students means that I have a strong understanding of that target group. That is of great help in formulating policy, and especially in successfully communicating with associations on important topics, such as social safety.”
What is the best part of your job?
“That we’re really working with a holistic vision. Students don’t just come here to study, they come here to become a richer individual. You learn to study, to cooperate, you drink your first beer, you get rejected for the first time, you achieve successes, you fail. Our core values are CORe, of course, but I think the holistic aspect is what really sets TU/e apart. It’s something I’m very proud of and I’m happy to be a part of it.”
And the least enjoyable part?
“I really love my job. I can't think of a single thing I don’t enjoy. The work itself is truly the best part for me, and apart from that, the campus has developed in such a fantastic way since my student days. It’s just an extremely pleasant place to work.”
What time do you clock out?
“When I give squash training – on Mondays, Tuesdays and Wednesdays – I work until about 10 PM. On Thursdays and Fridays, I’m only here for office work, so I’m finished by 3 PM. Although I have to say, it’s all very flexible.”
What do you do off the clock?
“I enjoy exercising myself, whether it’s with friends who still have a sports card here or with students I train. I also like to grab a beer with students at Hubble or play games at Zephyr. Aside from that, I really enjoy playing board games with friends. Shadows of Brimstone is one of my favorites, but we totally cheat and make up all kinds of extra rules.”
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