VU Amsterdam Strategy 2020 - 2025

Aspiration 8: Developing a bustling and innovative campus Vrije Universiteit Amsterdam is a true campus university. Our campus is the ideal stepping stone for a close-knit community of students, staff and VU Amsterdam partners. VU Amsterdam’s campus has an inclusive, open character and international appeal. We want our campus to be a hospitable, green and inspiring environment, a place for outstanding university education, research and knowledge transfer, a setting in which people can truly feel at home.

The social campus as an important meeting place In the coming years, we will continue to invest in high-standard, future-proof accommodation for education and research. Aside from the indispensable renovation work in terms of maintenance and energy consumption, we are committed to the creation of an inspiring meeting place. Its vibrant range of facilities will ensure that visitors to the campus will have a pleasant and enjoyable stay. The same goes for our international community of PhD scholars and students, researchers and members of staff. As a meeting place, the social campus can help international staff and students to get more involved more in the VU Amsterdam community, without making any concessions in terms of identity.

The idea is for the campus to be a hive of activity throughout the day, in the evenings, and during breaks. The wide spectrum of activities spans culture (Griffioen Cultural Centre), debate (3D, Dialogue, Debate and Diversity) and Summer Schools, including sports such as the Amsterdam Performance and Health Centre (this website is only available in Dutch), recreation and art. Wherever possible, we will link these activities to our educational and research activities, which will then contribute to the development of A Broader Mind. Many activities serve to establish connections between groups. As much as possible, the campus must form a fully integrated whole, free of any physical or social barriers.

The sustainable campus On campus, sustainability is both visible and tangible. We will spare no effort to achieve the climate and energy transition objectives. Some people may not be aware of this, but VU Amsterdam has one of the most sustainable campuses in the Netherlands (this website is only available in Dutch). This is partly due to extra greenery and to a more sustainable image, which also make it a nicer place in which to pass the time. Everyone in the university community will truly come to experience the campus as a greener and more sustainable place.

We will become a paper-poor zone, a place where digital is the dominant theme.

We are upgrading our facilities for digital gatherings – including meetings, seminars, and educational activities – to the point where travel will become 64