The UT committed to the health and sustainable employability of its students and staff and wants to offer them a healthy learning and working environment. Therefore, the entire campus of UT, excluding the residential area, is smoke-free.
UT partner of foundation 'Gezondheidsfondsen voor Rookvrij'
The University of Twente joined the foundation 'Gezondheidsfondsen voor Rookvrij' (in Dutch). As a partner of this foundation UT works towards a non-smoking generation. In addition to UT's decision to have a smoke-free campus (excluding the residential area), smoking on educational institution grounds is prohibited by law. This also applies to e-cigarettes.
This measure fits in with the increased technical-medical character of the UT and it is supported by Tobacco and Smoking Materials Act (previously the Tobacco Act), which prohibits smoking on the premises of educational institutions. By turning the campus into a smoke-free area the University of Twente supports the objective of the National Prevention Agreement, in which the government commits to making the Netherlands healthier. The objective: a non-smoking generation in 2040, with children and young adults growing up in a smoke-free environment in which they are no longer tempted to start smoking. A support study, carried out by researchers from the BMS faculty, shows that a large number of students on Campus take up smoking. This is an important reason for making the campus smoke-free. The UT wants to contribute to the objective of a non-smoking generation and has therefore become a partner of 'Gezondheidsfondsen voor Rookvrij'. (in Dutch)
The Netherlands smoke-free alliance
The foundation Gezondheidsfondsen voor Rookvrij (an initiative of the Dutch Heart Foundation, the Dutch Cancer Society (KWF) and the Dutch Lung Foundation) is a collaboration of public and private organisations with the aim to ensure that people no longer suffer (or die) as a result of smoking. The foundation is formed by many organisations that together aim to achieve a Smoke-Free Generation.
Smoke-free campus explained
What is a smoke-free campus?
A smoke-free campus has major implications for students and employees who smoke. UT offers help and guidance programmes to help people give up smoking. Existing facilities such as smoke shelters and ashtrays are removed from the entire campus, and there are clear signs and demarcation lines. Enforcement will be based on the existing code of conduct and internal regulations, which offer sufficient means for students and staff to, respectfully, point out undesirable behavior.
Help and guidance programmes
The University of Twente is involved in the health and the sustainable employability of its students and staff. That is why we support staff and students who want to stop smoking. We focus on providing information and offer various group programmes.
Do you intend to quit smoking? Then take a look at the group help and guidance programmes.
Allen Carr’s Easyway – by BewegenWerkt! During Allen Carr's Easyway training, you will learn to stop smoking in just six hours (online). It is a quick and pleasant way to stop smoking.
The Allen Carr method does not address the health reasons to quit smoking. After all, you know them. All the reasons why you smoke will be examined during the training. You will learn to see through your own smoking behaviour, which makes quitting smoking an obvious course of action. Quitting is therefore no longer a battle of willpower. Your perspective changes: instead of regretting not being allowed to smoke anymore, you will be happy that you don't have to smoke anymore!
Why choose the Allen Carr training?
- No prior motivation is required: unlike other ways to quit smoking, the Allen Carr method does not rely on willpower. The motivation arises during the training.
- The short duration: the training lasts only six hours. The training is offered online.
- The trainers: the trainers of Allen Carr's Easyway are former smokers themselves.
Information:
Duration of the training:
One-time (online) training of 6 hours, plus a year of telephone support – if so desired – after the training.
Language:
The training will be given in English if there are English speaking colleagues participating in it.
Costs:
Free of charge for UT employees.
More information?
For more information, visit the website of BewegenWerkt!
The app can helps you to stop smoking and to make keeping it up easier. Based on your personal preferences and individual needs, you can set achievable goals.
An overview of apps can be found here.
Individual guidance
Would you prefer to stop on the basis of individual guidance or are you a student with stop intentions? Then the general practitioner or your health insurance may be able to help you. The general practice on the campus employs a special addiction care employee (who works closely with the GGZ and Tactus). Anyone can make use of this without deductible or personal contribution within the basic health care "stop smoking" or and regardless of whether or not you are registered with this GP. For information, please contact the GP practice on Campus or your own GP/health insurance. The 'stop-poli’ of MST also offers help. For more information visit the website of MST (in dutch), contact the general practitioner's on the Campus or your own general practitioner/health insurance.
FAQ
Why does the UT opt for a smoke-free campus? The University of Twente wants to offer its students and staff a healthy learning and working environment. This fits in seamlessly with the university's ambitions in the area of sustainable employability of its staff, Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR), and the increased medical focus of the UT. Also, the Tobacco and Smoking Products Act (previously the Tobacco Act) prohibits smoking at the premises of educational institutions.
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The smoke-free campus also applies to e-cigarettes. So, it is not allowed to smoke e-cigarettes on campus.
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What if people do smoke on the campus? We assume that the existing code of conduct and internal regulations provide sufficient basis for enforcement by students and staff, and that we will be able to call each other to account if people smoke in a non-smoking area. If there is persistent undesirable smoking behaviour, the UT will be fined for this, and the fine will be recovered from the smoker.
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I would like to give up smoking. Whom can I turn to for help? It is really great that you want to quit smoking! We want to give up smoking together and therefore we will gladly help you. From January 2020, we offer various programmes to help you stop. The paragraph above, 'Help and Guidance programmes', offers more information on programmes for quitting smoking the UT offers to staff. This page also contains information on where to register.
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Is help also available for students who want to give up smoking? The UT only offers various programmes to employees. Of course, there are many other ways to participate in assistance programmes. Many of these programmes are also covered by your health insurer. So, the best thing to do is to visit the website of your health insurer for an assistance programme that is suitable for you.
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Where is smoking permitted? The entire campus is non-smoking, except for the residential area.
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What facilities are there for smokers? In order to clearly indicate the non-smoking area, there are signs put up at all access roads and paths that intersect with the non-smoking area. In the non-smoking area, there will not be any smoking facilities such as shelters for smokers or ashtrays.
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I have a complaint or question. Who should I contact? Do you have a question, complaint or comment? Please feel free to contact us via smokefreecampus@utwente.nl. We aim to answer your question within two working days.
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Contact
Do you have a questions about the smoke-free campus or our help and guidance programs? Please feel free to contact us via smokefreecampus@utwente.nl. We aim to answer your question within two working days.
Last edit: 30 September 2024
