Flexibilisation of education is a wide-ranging topic that is receiving a lot of attention nationally and in an EU context. In the VU Amsterdam Strategy 2020-2025 (the institutional plan), VU Amsterdam has also expressed its ambition to further flexibilise our education. With the VU Amsterdam vision on flexibilisation of education, we make clear for which target group we want to use which forms of flexibilisation, and on the basis of which 5 principles we do so. In a way that fits VU Amsterdam's educational vision, ambitions and core values (open, personal and responsible).
VU Amsterdam deliberately chooses structured flexibilisation options rather than unlimited freedom of choice. The choices are fixed in advance and are intended for groups of students. After all, academic education thrives mainly with each other, on campus and online. If customisation per student is needed, we look at what is and is not possible and desirable. We have also looked at which forms of flexibility we can already realise now, within the possibilities of our organisation and legal frameworks. Our focus is therefore on the period of 2023-2030.
In the abridged version of our vision on flexibilisation of education, you can read, in summary and from a target group perspective, how we want to shape flexibilisation and according to which 5 principles. The complete vision, substantiation and realisation of the vision on flexibilisation can be read in the document 'Making room for talent: VU Amsterdam vision on flexibilisation of education'.
The title 'making room for talent' refers to an important VU principle, namely that education should always be about academic, personal and social talent development. We want to help all students recognise their talent, pursue their passions and encourage them to make conscious choices. This interpretation of flexibilisation makes the VU talent policy - now mainly focused on excellence and high grades - more challenging, richer and more in line with our core values. Flexibilisation also makes it possible to better combine studying with developing talent and passion outside of the academy.
The vision was written by the 'vision for flexibilisation of education' working group, following an extensive round of discussions within and outside of VU Amsterdam. The vision was adopted by the Executive Board in December 2022 and supported by the Consultation of Education Portfolio Holders (OPO in Dutch: Overleg Portefeuillehouders Onderwijs) and the Education Quality Steering Group (STOK in Dutch: Stuurgroep Onderwijskwaliteit).
In February 2022, VU also adopted the 'vision of educational logistics for flexible education' (FLOW), which shows what educational logistics could look like if VU were to flexibilise extensively. The 'VU Amsterdam vision on flexibilisation of education' then makes VU-wide choices and, based on five principles, shows what our flexibilisation ambitions are and what is and is not possible within our organisation and laws and regulations. Both documents and the public version can be downloaded on this page.
Do you see opportunities, have questions or want to talk about this subject? Get in touch with Hayke Everwijn, education policy officer.
VU Amsterdam vision on the flexibilisation of education
Last updated on 29 April 2025
Society demands students and workers who can continuously adapt to their field of work. We respond to this with more flexible education and broad talent development. The VU Amsterdam vision on flexibilisation of education describes how we want to do this and according to which five principles.
Q&A - VU Amsterdam vision on the flexibilisation of education
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