- Student
- 03/09/2026
Behind the Scenes | Elle van Hout, Introduction Committee
From technicians to schedulers, and from IT specialists to catering staff—it takes many hands to keep TU/e running smoothly. But who are the people behind the scenes? Cursor puts them in the spotlight. This time: Elle van Hout, a member of the Central Introduction Committee (CIC).
She is in the second year of her master’s degree in Mechanical Engineering, but, as she puts it, she is taking it easy “so I have time to do things like this on the side.” She is referring to organizing TU/e’s introduction period. Together with eight others, she has just wrapped up her busiest period. “I learned so much from it.”
What time do you clock in?
“That varies a lot. During the very first preparations, there’s still a lot of flexibility. You make your own schedule for the things you need to take care of. But in the weeks around the Intro, we often had to be there early.”
“I think the earliest I had to be there during the Intro was seven in the morning. So my alarm went off at six. But luckily, there were also plenty of days when I could start a little later.”
What does your job involve?
“Within the CIC, everyone has their own main responsibility; mine was called ‘facilities.’ So it wasn’t a specific part of the program, like it was for some of the others. Basically, I had to make sure that everything other people needed was there.”
“For example, think of the permits we need for our parties at the Koeveld. Just to be allowed to be there in the first place, but also permits for the sound system and serving alcohol. And all the safety measures you need to meet for an event like that, such as fencing and having enough first-aid personnel.”
“But there were all kinds of other things too. Machines for setting everything up and moving things around, sanitation facilities, electricity and water in the outdoor areas, tables for people to eat at, supplies for the campsite and, for example, food for the Intro participants.”
When does the CIC’s work start?
“In principle, you’re a CIC member for one calendar year, so we have a contract from January through December. In the beginning, it’s still relatively quiet. You start by figuring out: what are we going to do, and what do we need for that?”
“For me, things started getting busier in April, because that’s when I was dealing with the deadlines for applying for permits from the municipality. And of course, the workload peaks around the Intro itself. Then you’re working on it day in, day out.”
“Now that the Intro is over, we still have things to do. For example, we’re busy gathering feedback and evaluating everything. And in a little while, the application process for the new CIC will start; we’re involved in that as well.”
How did you end up in this job?
“I’ve always been active alongside my studies. I had already worked as a teaching assistant for a course a few times, I occasionally helped out with things at my volleyball club, Hajraa, and I served on the board of my study association, Simon Stevin, for a year.”
“After my board year, I told myself: ‘If I’m going to do something else, it’s going to be the CIC.’ Through Hajraa and my board year, I had already gained experience organizing things, but it had always been for smaller groups.”
“Organizing the Intro seemed like a really fun challenge to me. Organizing something for such a large group of people, and especially for so many different kinds of people.”
“So I applied for the CIC, which you do through Euflex. You actually go through an application process, because there are always more students who want to do it than there are spots. And around December, the month before your contract starts, you find out whether you’ve been selected.”
What do you like most about your job?
“I think it’s the group. When I joined the CIC, I didn’t know any of the other members at all, but we became such a close-knit group so quickly.”
“During the actual Intro days, you’re together almost constantly. Then it’s really nice if you all get along well.”
“In fact, in two weeks we’re going on vacation with the whole group, to Italy.”
And what do you like least?
“Getting up early definitely took some getting used to. I’m not really a morning person. Normally, I already struggle with classes that start at 8:45 a.m.”
“During the Intro, I often had to be there early to make sure everything was set up and taken care of. I don’t have to do that anymore, but apparently my body is still used to the early schedule, because I’ve been waking up before my alarm a lot since then.”
What time do you clock out?
“I don’t think any of us really consciously clocked in and out. If you look at what time I got home during the Intro, sometimes it was pretty late.”
“I often stayed at the parties. That gives you some time to enjoy yourself, but if something happens, you’re on duty, of course. And when the party is over, you also help clean up.”
“My longest day started with me arriving at eight in the morning and ended with me going to bed at 3:30 a.m. Luckily, we were able to take turns and cover for each other in the evenings. If someone was really tired, there was also room to go home early. For example, on the Monday of the Master Kick-Off, I stopped a little earlier because I really needed to sleep.”
What do you do when you’re off the clock?
“Now that the Intro is over, I’m back to studying, of course.”
“Besides that, I enjoy reading a book at home and I play volleyball at Hajraa. That’s usually three times a week: two practices and one game. But starting this week, I’ll also be coaching others in addition to playing myself. So that’s new.”
This article was translated using AI-assisted tools and reviewed by an editor.
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