- Campus
- 14/06/2024
Tips TU/e canteen: student discounts and coffee after 4 PM
A common complaint at TU/e is that the food selection is too small and the prices are too high. That is why Appèl, the caterer of all Food City canteens, organized three brainstorming sessions. During these sessions, TU/e students and staff got to share their opinions and their ideas on how they think things could be improved.
Longer opening hours and dinner meals during exam weeks. Canteens where you can get coffee after 4 PM. More hot meals in the selection. Discounts for students. Better communication about what is available where and when.
These are just a few of the tips offered by TU/e students and staff during last Monday’s brainstorming session. The session was the last of three meetings organized by caterer Appèl.
The goal of these sessions? To arrive at concrete action points on how Appèl can better meet the needs of the TU/e community. “We get a lot of feedback, like ‘the selection isn’t good’ or ‘the price isn't good.’ So, of course, we ask ourselves: what would be considered good?,” says Steven ten Cate, Appèl campus account manager.
Brainstorming together
Through the three sessions, the caterer tried to develop concrete action points. A fixed user group was invited for this. Monique Kuyck, department head of Operational Services & Location Management – part of the Facility Management Center (FMC), the department responsible for catering – spoke favorably of the group. “We managed to put together a diverse user group with staff, scientists and students. In addition, extra people were brought in, from the University Council, for example.” The group consists of over 20 people and includes both national and international TU/e students and staff.
During each session, all attendees were divided into three or four groups. Consideration was given to ensure that each table was a mix of both nationals and internationals, as well as both students and staff. Each group was also assigned an Appèl employee.
All the groups then proceeded to brainstorm together for an hour. “In the first session, the pains and gains were shared by the group,” says Marsha Jansen, Contract Manager at FMC. The second session was aimed at defining three overarching spearheads based on these pains and gains. “The spearheads that emerged from this were assortment, price and opening hours. Next, the participants discussed what could be improved for each spearhead,” says Jansen. During the third and final session, the goal was to arrive at concrete action points for caterer Appèl to address.
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What will be done with my input?
At the end of the final session, Ten Cate thanks everyone for their input, intending to close the meeting, but it appears there are still some uncertainties among the participants. “Which points will be addressed?,” “What is the timeline?”, “Will we get insight into the improvement plan?” Ten Cate confirms that all input from the sessions will be discussed and incorporated into an official “master plan” for the university in the future, but also in the short term. “We have to submit this plan before the start of the next academic year,” says Ten Cate. According to him, this plan will also be shared with the participants. Whether they will get to give final feedback on it is unknown.
Afterwards, a number of participants discuss among themselves how it remains unclear exactly what will be addressed. “I’d expected to get a little more feedback, like ‘this is good’ or ‘this is what we are going to address.’ Now, we still don’t have a clue.” One of them mentions that, over the course of the three sessions, they were asked for the same type of feedback multiple times, making them feel like they had to repeat themselves over and over again.
Praise too
In addition to some questions and constructive criticism, participants also had positive comments. “I’m pleased with the way the sessions were organized. They were really open to feedback,” says one of the students. Another student takes a moment to personally thank Ten Cate for the initiative. “I think it’s great that you’re addressing this. Should you organize this again in the future, you’re welcome to invite us again.”
This will most certainly be the case. Because according to Kuyck, gathering feedback from the community is contractually stipulated in the tender. “This should be a structural element. As a caterer, you’re actively engaged in community building and you keep involving the user. And you don’t do that just three times because it happens to be important now, but rather you keep doing that throughout the entire year to keep your selection in good order.” According to Ten Cate, Appèl plans to bring back the brainstorming sessions at least once a year.
Discussion