We will explore happiness and well-being from two perspectives: personal and collective. You will examine how individual well-being—physical, mental, spiritual, and social—relates to collective well-being, the flourishing of all beings. The course invites you to engage with interdisciplinary insights and to develop skills essential for global citizenship, such as critical reflection, collaboration, and working with societal stakeholders.
The course consists of two interconnected Tracks (A & B).
Track A focuses on your personal well-being and development. You will begin by assessing your current level of happiness, setting learning goals, and creating an action plan to enhance your well-being. A printed happiness booklet will guide you through exercises and practices, helping you reflect on how they influence your happiness. You will share your experiences with peers and experts in debates, workshops, and roleplays, learning from both scientific insights and lived experience.
Track B focuses on improving happiness in a community context, preferably within the VU. Working in an interdisciplinary team and with a community partner, you will design an improvement plan and carry out a pilot. Previous projects included mindfulness workshops, dance events, art-based activities such as painting or designing a gratitude journal, and advisory reports on inclusive education for the municipality of Amsterdam.
Because designing and piloting a project can be challenging, you will receive guidance through workshops on teamwork, collaboration with partners, and project management. Peer feedback and two group-coaching sessions will further support your learning journey.
The two tracks complement each other: insights from your personal development in Track A can inspire your community project in Track B—and contributing to others’ happiness will, in turn, deepen your own well-being.
To pass this course, you must complete both Tracks A and B.
Explore happiness and contribute to the well-being of others.
Course details
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Practical information
Academic year
2025-2026Semester
2Period
4 & 5Participation
Also open for 1st year studentsDay(s)
TuesdaysTime
18:00 – 20:00Number of meetings
13 + 1 final event (2 June)Dates of all meetings
3, 10, 17, 24 February
3, 10, 17, 31 March
7, 14, 21 April
12, 19 May
2 JuneLocation
Mainly at the Vrije Universiteit, De Boelelaan 1105, 1081 HV Amsterdam.Some classes will be held off-campus, specific locations will be communicated per time via Canvas.
Room
Tuesdays 3, 10, 17, 24 Feb; 3, 17, 31 Mar; 7, 14, 21 Apr; 12, 19 May NU-06A69 Tuesdays 10 Mar + 2 Jun NU-2C33 - Theaterzaal 3 Credits
6Course Coordinators and Lecturers
- Jaro Pichel, Educational Scientist, Teacher Educator and Coach at VU Centre for Teaching & Learning.
- Selin Yagmur Cakmak, MSc Psychology, Teacher Educator/Mixed Classroom Trainer, VU Centre for Teaching & Learning.
Guest Lecturers Please note that the following lecturers were invited in the previous years and have not all been confirmed yet.
- Dr. Hylke Vervaeke, VU Faculty of Science, Center for Neurogenomics and Cognitive Research.
- Ermelinda Jaku, Creative Content Developer in Broader Mind Course and Educational Trainer at VU Centre for Teaching & Learning
- Dr. Geertje Tijsma, Postdoctoral researcher, Co-creating knowledge that bridges science and society, Athena Institute VU.
- Dr. Tim Strasser,- Facilitator for transformative capacity, regenerative strategy, evaluation & culture design
- Meindert Seju Roshi, Zen Master, Mindfulness & Happiness from Buddhist Perspective.
- Dr. Mariëtte Willemsen, Philosopher and Lecturer at Amsterdam University College
- Jolie Fraiquin, Holistic psychologist and psychology lecturer, Leiden University
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Learning objectives
Throughout the course you will develop various academic skills such as reflexive attitude and responsibility in society, interpersonal skills, and an open mind. As such you will work on your inner development as an active and responsible global citizen.
After this course, you will be able to:
- describe and differentiate between disciplinary perspectives (Positive Psychology, Theology, Philosophy, Neuroscience, etc.) on happiness;
- assess your wellbeing, identify factors contributing to your happiness, and apply personalized strategies to enhance your overall wellbeing;
- design a proposal for a community-oriented project that addresses a specific well-being challenge, applying happiness principles from multiple disciplines to positively impact a local or VU community;
- work in interdisciplinary teams, e.g., reflect on assumptions about teamwork, and identify potential dynamics that might hinder or improve interdisciplinary collaboration.
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Working formats & structure
You are asked to be open-minded towards new ways of learning, which includes a variety of experience-based exercises, and sharing personal experiences amongst each other. Beside lectures and workgroups, you’ll be asked to practice some tools outside the classrooms.
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Assessment methods
This course will have many in-class and peer feedback moments.
Completing the course will require the fulfillment of 3 elements:- full attendance;
- completion of the reflective booklet;
- A positive assessment of the final group presentation and report.
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Fraud and Plagiarism
With regard to fraud and plagiarism, the VU Student Charter (Chapter 10) and the rules and regulations of the Examination Board of the faculty that offers the course, apply. This will be monitored carefully. Upon suspicion of fraud or plagiarism the Examinations Board will be informed.
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Attendance expectations
- Be present at all lectures and work groups. Make sure to inform your teacher as soon as possible if you cannot attend a class due to special circumstances. If you are absent for two lectures and/or work groups, or over 15 % of all meetings, the teacher can assign an additional task or deny further participation.
- Active participation in the seminars and class discussions plays a crucial role in student learning in the course, and in the student’s ability to reach the course objectives: attendance, preparation, and active in-class participation will therefore form part of the course assessment.
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Study materials
There will be no mandatory reading list, so that you have more time to learn from personal experience and interaction with other students and stakeholders. You will need to search for literature that is relevant to your personal learning question as well as your community project.
A list of resources that we recommend is indicated:
Books
- Lama, D., Tutu, D., & Abrams, D. C. (2016). The book of joy: Lasting happiness in a changing world. Penguin.
- Seligman, M. E. (2002). Authentic happiness: Using the new positive psychology to realize your potential for lasting fulfillment. Simon and Schuster.
- Achor, S. (2011). The happiness advantage: The seven principles of positive psychology that fuel success and performance at work. Random House.
- Frankl, V. (1946). Man's Search for Meaning. Boston, Beacon Press, 2006.
Reports
- World Happiness Report: https://worldhappiness.report/ed/2023/
Academic Literature
- Ford, B. Q., & Mauss, I. B. (2014). The paradoxical effects of pursuing positive emotion: When and why wanting to feel happy backfires. In J. Gruber & J. T. Moskowitz (Eds.), Positive emotion: Integrating the light sides and dark sides (pp. 363–381). Oxford University Press. https://doi.org/10.1093/acprof:oso/9780199926725.003.0020
- Kauppinen, A. (2013). Meaning and happiness. Philosophical Topics, 161-185.
- Lama, D. (2014). Happiness from a Buddhist perspective. Journal of Law and Religion, 29(1), 5-13.
Movies / Films / Video Clips
- Mission: Joy - Finding Happiness in Troubled Times (2021), based on the book of Joy
Podcasts
- https://greatergood.berkeley.edu/podcasts/series/the_science_of_hppiness What does it take to live a happier life? Learn research-tested strategies that you can put into practice today. Hosted by award-winning psychologist Dacher Keltner. Co-produced by PRX and UC Berkeley’s Greater Good Science Center.
- https://greatergood.berkeley.edu/podcasts/series/happiness_break a On our new series, Happiness Break, psychologist Dacher Keltner and guests guide you through research-based practices to develop more compassion, resilience to stress, and moments of joy and inspiration. And we explain the science behind why these practices work--all in under 10 minutes. A happiness break in your day.
Blog Posts
- https://greatergood.berkeley.edu/article/item/how_cultural_differences_shape_your_happiness → Discusses the cultural biases of happiness. For instance in Asian countries there is a more collectivist view of happiness
- https://greatergood.berkeley.edu/article/item/happy_life_different_from_meaningful_life→ Differences between happiness and a meaningful life)