Board vacancy: General board members (student/non-student) Organisational identity and activities OtherWise is a small but far-reaching NGO associated with Wageningen UR, its main aim is to empower people to achieve a sustainable livelihood. Our activities are characterised by social justice, international cooperation, sustainability, and democratising knowledge & research. We nurture empowerment by creating learning experiences both within and outside Wageningen UR, by giving a platform to alternative voices, and by holding a space for critical thinking. At OtherWise we promote awareness of choices by highlighting views or methods, which challenge the dominant ways of thinking or doing, and help students get inspired by, and engage in, promising people-driven initiatives. We want to create a dialogue on development based on knowledge-sharing between Wageningen UR and society. To this end OtherWise works with a broad network of partners inside and outside of the university, nationally and internationally. Our aim is translated in several programs on (i) Right to a liveable environment, (ii) Agro-ecology & food sovereignty, (iii) Democratising knowledge and (iv) Spotlight initiatives. To promote knowledgesharing we run a programme connecting thesis students with non-commercial bodies in need of research help, and we organise regular activities such as the iWeek on participatory methods (July), TheatreWise, and the Global Guests high school-program, as well as hosting the glocal Participandnetwork. Otherwise works with 3 coordinators, the board of the Foundation, and enthusiastic student-volunteers and project-assistants; each group has a role in fulfilling the organisation’s responsibilities, governance, and learning processes, enabling the foundation to develop constantly higher levels of performance and to keep contributing to a thriving Wageningen UR community. Responsibilities of a general board member A general board member shares the following responsibilities with the entire board:       Keeping the mission of OtherWise on track, the strategy up to date, and safeguarding the continuity of the foundation Creating the conditions that enable the organisation to function well, with passion and ambition A sound Human Resources policy and management as an employer A sound financial policy and funding of activities Maintaining good relations within Wageningen UR, with students, staff-members (teachers & researchers) other WUR-institutes, and the CvB The transparency of the organisation and foundation to the stakeholders. Qualifications and skills     Affinity with the mission and ambition of OtherWise, including some knowledge of and involvement with one of the issues on which OtherWise is working Studying for a Bachelor or Master’s degree (for student board-members) A relevant Master’s degree (for not-student board-members) Enthusiasm for working with and representing the organisation’s volunteers        Varied organisational experience (for non-student board-members) Proven proficiency in interpersonal and organisational communication skills independent in forming and expressing own opinions on matters Capacity to work with joint decision-making Prepared to act according to principles of good governance Good standard of spoken and written English; like Wageningen UR the OtherWise community is international and English is the working language, but some knowledge of Dutch is helpful Is available for 4- 8 hours a week and prepared to work flexibly Applications Candidates can submit their motivation letter (in English) to the following e-mail address: [email protected], attn. to Ms. Racien Nowak, Secretary of the OtherWise board. For more information visit the site: www.st-otherwise.org or contact the above mentioned e-mail address.