Introduction: Growing as experts in transition

People really do have an impact on their environment. That's a starting point for a university of applied sciences. Because through learning and teaching, research and development, we know we can make a difference. But human influence is also the cause of major problems. It is the influence of humans that is increasingly threatening ecosystems. We are no longer even surprised by the severe and more frequent extremes in the weather. We are already taking into account global changes that also affect our immediate environment. Big transitions are needed, and people can influence that. This is the major task facing universities of applied sciences today: to make a positive contribution, through education, research and cooperation, to the transitions that can reduce or even reverse the problems caused by people.

The Van Hall Larenstein University of Applied Sciences aims to achieve maximum positive impact, first and foremost by educating professionals into transition experts for the future. We are aware that the challenges require professional expertise from many angles: from environment to people, from forest floor to work floor, and from tradition to transition. They are right to look to us for solutions, because we train people who devise, develop and implement solutions.

We have been the place where thinkers and doers come from for decades. For us, sustainability is not a trend, but a tradition. Not hype, but the heart of everything what we do.

We are the safe place for coalitions. Teachers, students and researchers know that we must work together, inside and outside our university, because major changes are needed throughout the system. That is why we focus our teaching and research on transitions. This requires deepening, experimenting, testing and scaling up. We can do that. We are the innovative place for talent. We are already the well-known experts in sustainable development for society: in the field of land and water, forest and city, fertility and technology. That is why we want to continue to develop and share knowledge, contributing to appropriate policies that future-proof systems at all levels.

We know that the issues are no longer just about the green, the blue or the grey domain. Earth is the domain. This makes the global task urgent and extremely complex. Everyone's commitment is needed to realise the sustainability transitions together. Van Hall Larenstein University of Applied Sciences makes the difference by training students from all over the world to make this contribution. Relying on their own expertise, cooperating with partners from all disciplines, working towards solutions where ideals and business models go hand in hand.

The future of the earth demands that we do everything possible today to seize opportunities and solve problems. Society demands that parties work together to realise that future. This ambition often clashes with the reality of stubborn problems, vested interests and ingrained habits. That is why, as a university of applied sciences, we are working on strong coalitions with a hopeful, realistic vision, within which students will find a place to be prepared for their position at the heart of social issues. To contribute as transition experts to a thriving world.

What can society expect from the Van Hall Larenstein University of Applied Sciences? That's what this Institutional Plan is about. It sets out how we are future-proofing our field of work: • We train people who have their specialist field and simultaneously can think integrally and internationally; • Based on our expertise, we build participation and cooperation in the region and (inter)nationally; • We combine the strengths of education and research; • Our ideals go hand in hand with carefully considered business models. We understand the market and connect with the consumer.

These are turbulent times for a world in which so much is at stake, and yet so much is possible. This requires a clear partner who can make the difference in key areas with focused passion and experience. Students, staff and partners deserve that clarity. This Institutional Plan presents our mission, our core values, and our vision for the next decade. We make strategic choices regarding the subjects that are most important to us, and base these on our main goals for the period up to 2025. So that everyone knows what we stand for and what we are going to do. This is us. This is Van Hall Larenstein University of Applied Sciences.

"The world of tomorrow requires a clear partner, who can make the difference with focused passion and years of experience in key places. Van Hall Larenstein is that partner."

PERRY HEIJNE

CFO World Nature Fund