STAR (student association)

STAR (Study Association Rotterdam School of Management, Erasmus University) is a study association for business administration students of the Rotterdam School of Management, Erasmus University at the Erasmus University Rotterdam based in Rotterdam, Netherlands. STAR was founded in 1977 and currently has 5,500 members, of which 1,000 members are international. STAR has 32 committees and 13 Master Study Clubs and an annual revenue of €1.5 million. The 3 values held by STAR are Development, Commitment, Experience.

Well-known events organized by STAR include their anniversary celebration, the STAR Party. This festivity is a student-organized party in the Netherlands and attracts thousands of students, peaking at 4,850 visitors in 2007. Another notable event is their annual Academic Conference, where distinguished academic, business, and political leaders discuss current global issues. The STAR Party and the Academic Conference are part of the STAR Management Week. This weeklong event is considered as an interface between students, academia, and their corporate network.

Other events organized by STAR include the Erasmus Recruitment Days and the International Business Study. The Erasmus Recruitment Days, co-organized by STAR and the EFR, is the largest campus recruitment event in the Netherlands. In 2007 there were approximately 1500 participating students and more than 120 companies present. The International Business Study (IBS) offers companies and non-profit organizations tailor-made contract research in an emerging market country every year.

Mission

The Study Association STAR aims to provide development opportunities for Rotterdam School of Management (RSM) students, the business school of Erasmus University Rotterdam. These development opportunities are staged on and of the university and together with the faculty, the university and other organisations who take interest in RSM students.

The student population of the RSM consists of international students, divided over the Bachelor of Science in Business Administration, Bachelor of Science International Business Administration and Master of Science in Business Administration education. Study Association STAR provides services for the entire population of RSM.

History

STAR was established with the namechange, when the association went more international. Formerly STAR was known as Sviib, which was the student association for business administration students founded in 1977. Sviib is the abbreviation of 'Studievereniging Interuniversitaire Interfaculteit Bedrijfskunde' and was established by early business administration students. At the time, business administration was a post-doctoral study, mainly for graduates in engineering. The business administration study, or IIB (Interuniversitair Instituut Bedrijfskunde), offered by the Nederlandse Economische Hogeschool (NEH, now Erasmus University Rotterdam) was a joint venture with the Delft University of Technology. In 1984, this was fully incorporated in the Erasmus University Rotterdam as the Faculty of Business Administration for undergraduates and Rotterdam School of Management for graduates. Ten years later, in 2004, these two departments merged into Rotterdam School of Management Erasmus University.

The above-mentioned Faculty of Business Administration at the Erasmus University Rotterdam consisted of two studies for undergraduates: Business Administration and International Business Administration. The latter had its own dedicated student association, named BActive. BActive was found in 1999. The fusion took place in August 2005. STAR is the only association working closely together with RSM.

Future

Considering the origin of the RSM students and the direction in which the RSM is moving, Study Association STAR strives to be a truly international organization. Repositioning and outlining its services and back office to be both open and attractive to international students as well as national students, will meet this goal. Also, as the RSM networks with other prestigious universities, Study Association STAR will engage in networks with other student and study organisations.

Organization

STAR is the largest student-led organization in Europe and the organization is extensive. STAR organizes 52 activities throughout each academic year. An extensive organizational structure has grown over the past decades.

The organization applies an hierarchical structure in which the STAR Board holds executive power. The STAR Board is responsible for the continuation and daily operations. The STAR Board consists of 8 to 9 full-time members, which are newly recruited every year around August on the basis of competence and excellence. Because members of the Board are students of the Erasmus University Rotterdam, they receive a 12-month scholarship for their full-time input. A General Assembly of Members (GAM) is in place on a semi-annual basis, where the STAR Board reports its status on various topics. Reports include the association's financial and strategic position.

Long-term strategy is closely guarded by the STAR Supervisory Board, an entity consisting of prominent senior members of the organization of prior years. Whereas the financial health of the organization is closely monitored and audited by the Verification Committee (VeriCo), consisting of 3 former treasurers of the STAR Board and 2 professional accountants, which is deemed necessary with its €1.5 million revenue per year.

The Committees and Master Study Clubs embody more than 220 students that are dubbed 'active members'. Together, they represent 29 different nationalities.

Board of Recommendation

STAR has an extensive corporate and political network, including many embassies and ministries. This network is embodied by an entity called the Board of Recommendation. 48 prominent persons from academia, business, and politics hold chair in this entity. Membership to the Board of Recommendation is of non-permanent character and the Board of Recommendation's composition, as well as the size, may vary over time. The STAR Board of Recommendation include (in alphabetical order, not exhaustive):

• M.P. Bakker, Chief Executive Officer, TNT NV
• C. Bellamy, Former Executive Director, UNICEF
• Boutros Boutros-Ghali, Former Secretary-General, United Nations
• J.F.M.L. van Boxmeer, Chairman of the Executive Board & Chief Executive Officer, Heineken International NV
• P.A.F.W. Elverding, Chairman of the Managing Board, DSM NV
• R.W.J. Groenink, Chairman of the Managing Board, ABN AMRO NV
• J.M. Hessels, Chairman of the Board of Directors, NYSE Euronext Inc.
• W. de Kleuver, Chairman of the Supervisory Board, Royal Philips Electronics NV
• F.H.J. Koffrie, Chief Executive Officer, Corporate Express NV
• C.J.A. van Lede, Former Chief Executive Officer, Akzo Nobel NV
• F. Maljers, Former Chairman & Chief Executive Officer, Unilever Plc.
• B. Verwaayen, Chief Executive Officer, British Telecom Plc.
• G.J. Wijers, Chief Executive Officer, Akzo Nobel NV

See also

• Erasmus Consultancy Project
• Erasmus University Rotterdam
• Management Week
• Rotterdam School of Management
• Rotterdam
• Student society