The Big Antwerp Student Survey
the big antwerp student survey
In October 2018 The Big Antwerp Student Survey was called into being in order to map out Antwerp students’ identities and perceptions of the city and their corresponding needs. There are five themes that are key in the lives of the students in Antwerp: mobility, safety, free time, divesity and nutrition. The results show that Antwerp is a bustling university town to which most students feel related.
Some of the needs that came up in the study are: an even healthier offer of places to eat, more and wider bike paths, more extensive and better public transport and more contact with different types of students.
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What?
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A study of 4.041 Antwerp students around the themes of mobility, safety, free time, divesity and nutrition.
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By who?
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This study is a collaboration between University of Antwerp and STAN. The work was achieved by thirteen Erasmus students under the supervision of professor Peter Van Aelst and doctor Jonas Wood.
Mobility & accessibility
Antwerp students use public transport (58%) most of the time. Besides public transport, they move around mostly by bike (42%) or by foot (29%). The Antwerp students use public transport frequently, however they aren’t very satisfied about it. The most common irritations they experience are the limited punctuality and the crowdedness on bus and trams.
Despite the many infrastructure works in the city, 70% of the students say they can easily get around in Antwerp. Generally, 61% of the students is happy with the accessability of their campus.
Road safety & sense of security
Two out of three students that move by bike, feel unsafe on their bicycle in traffic. A feeling of insecurity that isn’t as present with pedestrians (23%).
About half the students (52%) believe a traffic-restricted city centre could offer a solution to this problem. They are even more supportive about the suggestion to provide separate lanes for cyclists.
The results as far as the general sense of security concerns, show that 53% of Antwerp students feel very safe.
One out of five students (20%) feel unsafe in the city, especially at night in the railway station area and in the northern part of Antwerp.
“I am from a village, but I actually feel safer in a city. There are always a lot of people around, who can easily come to rescue.”
Nutrition & places to eat
Food is very important to the Antwerp student. Four out of ten students almost eat on a daily basis at or near their campus. The same amount of students do this at least once a week. However, 43% of all students isn’t enthusiastic about the offer of places to eat close to their campus.
They’re specifically unhappy about the lack of healthy food (according to 41% of the students, there are too little healthy places to eat on or near the campus) and the price (28% find that there is a lack of affordable options).
The majority of students (54%) would like for the student restaurants to be open in the evening.
“I love healthy food, but unfortunately real healthy food is quite expensive. So that makes it easy to grab some french fries instead.”
Diversity & contact with others
Antwerp distinguishes itself from other Flemish university towns in the diversity of its population. The Antwerp student is largely positive about diversity in the city. 52% of students think ethno-cultural diversity is a surplus value.
“Diversity means to me that there are different perspectives in society. In my opinion, there are still some places in Antwerp which aren’t diverse enough.”
Moreover, more than half the students that mark diversity as a priority, want more contact with students from other colleges or universities and with students from another origin. The biggest demand is more interaction with foreign students (65%).
Forms of entertainment
No less than seven out of ten students state that Antwerp has a bustling student life. In terms of offer in nightlife, bars, sport and culture, more than half the students is satisfied.
There is still room for improvement in the offer of student activities during the day (only two out of ten is pleased with this aspect). One out of three students (32%) find it hard to fill up free periods in a useful way. Furthermore, four out of ten students is dissatisfied with the price of the nightlife. A discontent that doesn’t show in the answers of foreign students.
From student in Antwerp to native of Antwerp?
About half the Antwerp students feel closely connected to the city of Antwerp (37% feels strongly connected and 11% feels very strongly connected). Moreover, the love for Antwerp grows deeper as the years progress: 73% of students who have been in Antwerp for five years or more feels strongly to very strongly connected to the city.
Half the students want to stay or base themselves in Antwerp (51%) and this percentage increases over time. The majority (54%) wants to work in Antwerp after they have graduated.
The Big Antwerp Student Survey is conducted by Debbie from STAN.
The editorial team is responsible for the design of and the communication around the study.
