Sustainability University Assembly

About Sustainability University Assembly

• Why is VU Amsterdam getting its own assembly?

  Shaping our future university is something we do together. To understand what is going on within our community in terms of sustainability and what ideas exist, we think it is important to have the conversation about it together. What role can and should our university play in light of climate change and sustainability developments? The citizens' assembly gives VU students and staff the opportunity to participate in thinking about this question through a democratic process, and thus the interpretation of the university's new sustainability strategy. 

• Who is organising the Sustainability University Assembly?

  The organisation is entirely in the hands of the G1000.nu Foundation. This is an independent organisation that has been organising citizens' assemblies throughout the Netherlands since 2014. 

  The G1000 team is in close contact with the registered participants and coordinates the entire process. They manage vuassembly.nl, where everyone — participants, the VU community, and people outside our university — can find all the information about the Assembly. 

• Why does VU Amsterdam not organise this instead?

  To ensure a transparent and independent process, G1000 facilitates and organizes VU’s Sustainability University Assembly. Vrije Universiteit Amsterdam will not interfere in this, so that students and employees can participate in the process in a fair way and feel free to share their opinions and ideas. This way, they can be sure that the VU will not steer towards a particular outcome.

• What are the outcomes of the Sustainability University Assembly?

  During the last meeting, participants of the assembly hand over the so-called Sustainability University Agreement containing recommendations to the Executive Board. These recommendations form input for the implementation of the new sustainability strategy (up to 2030). The sustainability agreement can be found on the website of G1000. 

• Can I still apply for the Sustainability University Assembly?

  Unfortunately, it is no longer possible to take part. The G1000 team has sent a personal invitation to a randomly selected group of students and staff to participate in the Sustainability University Assembly. A diverse group of people subsequently signed up, and the Assembly has now been definitively formed with 130 students and staff members.

• What are the next steps now that the sustainability agreement has been made and presented?

  A monitoring advisory group, made up of participants from the assembly, will now begin working to take the agreement further. Acting as advocates, they will engage in dialogue with decision-makers within the VU organisation and, wherever possible, begin putting proposals into practice in collaboration with others from the VU community.

• Where can I get more information?

  At www.vuassembly.nl, you will find all information about participation and the process.