The plan to establish the centre emerged at a later stage in the integration process, says Bram van den Berkmortel, a student and member of the University Council (LEX-Motus). He, along with several other student members, served on a University Council committee that discussed the integration at an earlier stage. “We felt that those documents paid little attention to student wellbeing and education. That was the feedback we gave to the Executive Board. This plan came out of that.”
In October and November 2025, a working group was tasked with developing a joint approach to student wellbeing, encompassing both mental health and “physical, social and cognitive wellbeing, characterised by resilience.” The aim is to give students a “solid foundation for a healthy life.” This ambition should “become a permanent part of the academic and medical foundation of both institutions.” But what does that mean, exactly?
Must be improved - but how?
In this joint ambition, prevention is key. The plans stress the importance of preventing mental health issues among students by “developing students’ mental health skills”. Current support is described as “fragmented”, with students needing better guidance to access appropriate support. There is a strong need for information among international students in particular, as they may struggle to find a GP or get suitable health insurance. Finally, the plans point out that almost none of UM’s student support staff has a medical background or related expertise, making adequate support in times of crisis a challenge. Both the hospital and the university agree this must be improved – but how?
First, a Student Wellbeing Task Force will be established, including UM and MUMC+ staff as well as students. They will advise on the strategy and approach to be developed. Existing effective services, projects and initiatives within both UM and the hospital will continue.
The hospital and university aim to learn from each other by sharing best practices and launching joint initiatives, such as wellbeing weeks, vitality programmes, online mental health courses and a joint communication campaign.
Listening ear
The ultimate goal is a proper student wellbeing centre, “a single point where students and professionals work together” – a place where students can find a listening ear, much like @ease or the student chaplaincy The Innbetween in the city centre. Support will primarily be provided by trained peers, with one of the nine UM psychologists providing psychological support. There will also be a Randwyck branch of services already offered in the city centre by the Student Services Centre, such as Disability Support. The centre may even include a student GP, as well as space for research and innovation.
This raises the question: why offer the same services as in the city centre? After all, the new centre is explicitly meant for all students, not just Randwyck students. “The whole idea of the centre, including its location, was news to us”, says Van den Berkmortel. “We never discussed a specific setup in our initial feedback.”
Informal
The plans point out that Randwyck is currently home to the hospital, the Faculty of Psychology and Neuroscience (FPN) and UM Sports, but lacks the informal initiatives, wellbeing activities and services that the new centre would provide.
Van den Berkmortel sees the centre as a good step in the right direction. “It’s important that the board, in pursuing close collaboration and organisational renewal, never loses sight of the students. It is fitting that they not only look at what all this means for employees, patients and even Limburg, but also take into account what it means for students.”
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