‘Vocational students deserve the same opportunities as other students. I think it is great that with this card, we are taking another step towards full participation in Eindhoven’s student life for vocational students,’ Alderman Strijk says in a press release.

In the past, vocational students regularly fell by the wayside. They were often seen as ‘pupils’ instead of ‘students’, they didn’t get the same large-scale Intro as TU/e and Fontys students and – until recently – couldn’t apply for an SSC sports card.

Recognition

The initiative to now open the SSC doors to Eindhoven vocational students is part of the greater action plan for vocational education. This plan was recently drawn up by the municipality of Eindhoven and the three vocational institutions in the city. The goal of this plan is to create more appreciation and recognition for vocational students in Eindhoven. ‘I am convinced that playing sports together can also help students get to know each other, bridge differences, and increase appreciation for each other’s knowledge and skills,’ Strijk says.

Rijnders, an International Engineering student at Summa College, agrees. ‘I think it’s a recognition for us as vocational students. We’re seen as students instead of pupils. I feel welcome. With this card I can play sports together with my friends in the other programs. A joint intro party, like the one at the end of August in the center of Eindhoven, and playing sports together are important steps to give us equal opportunities and experiences.’

One hundred cards

It’s great that vocational students are now also welcome, but why only a hundred cards? “That has to do with the subsidy from the municipality,” explains Max van Veen, director of the SSC. “Students play sports at the SSC at a reduced rate of 120 euros and someone will have to pay for that discount. For TU/e students, it’s paid by the university and Fontys also foots the bill for its own students, but the vocational institutions didn’t have the money for this yet.”

Therefore, the municipality has offered to bear the cost for a total of three hundred sports cards. In other words, one hundred cards can be applied for in each of the next three years. “The idea is that after this period, the vocational institutions will sponsor the student discount on the cards themselves.” It’s unclear whether this means it will be possible for all vocational students to apply for a card from then on, instead of a maximum of one hundred students per year.

Crowded SSC

Van Veen isn’t worried about increased crowdedness due to the additional sports tickets. “It’s true that a lot of people are using our center already, but to me that’s a good thing. It’s also why we recently renovated and expanded everything; there’s a lot more capacity now,” he explains. He also expects the hundred additional tickets will make little difference given the more than 14,000 subscriptions already in place. “The increased student intake at TU/e brings in more people, relatively.”

And should it get busier over time, Van Veen says they’ll find another solution. “If more people come, this will also generate more income, which in turn will mean that we can expand our offer, for example with extra classes.”

Vocational students can register for an SSC sports card at their educational institution – De Rooi Pannen, SintLucas, or Summa.