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A Broader Mind in education at VU Amsterdam

Last updated on 20 January 2026
At VU Amsterdam, you don’t just become something, you become someone. Someone with academic expertise and a focus on society. Vrije Universiteit Amsterdam encourages students, academics and professionals to look at society, their professional field and their personal role in it with a Broader Mind.

VU Amsterdam helps undergraduates, PhD students, academics, and professionals – both inside the university and beyond – to flower into individuals with A Broader Mind. These are people who are aware of their own personality, motivation and frame of mind while, at the same time, being open to these qualities in others. They are able to combine in-depth expertise in their own field with a broad multidisciplinary view and a corresponding skill set. They are able to think critically and from different points of view and are able to see, think and work ‘outside the box’. As engaged professionals and skilled and informed citizens, they can help shape a better world – today and tomorrow.

But how do you achieve this as a lecturer? Working on A Broader Mind can be done in many different ways and at different stages of a degree programme. On this page you will find a whole range of ways to incorporate A Broader Mind into your teaching.

Inspired by A Broader Mind

  • Diversity: enriching the educational experience

    In education at VU Amsterdam, a variety of teaching methods are used to develop A Broader Mind in students. The Mixed Classroom teaching model is one example, an approach to learning that builds on diversity to enrich the learning experience of all students. At VU Amsterdam, this is achieved through a three-phase approach to diversity in the group based on Sensitising, Engaging and Optimising. Watch this video in which a student and academics together discuss the use of the Mixed Classroom Model in education at VU Amsterdam.

  • A broad perspective

    Students at VU Amsterdam develop A Broader Mind. Whatever they study, they are challenged to take a wider view of their field, society and themselves. It’s an approach that leaves them better prepared for the challenges of the future. During their studies at the university, students are invited to participate in the Broader Mind Course. In close cooperation with students from other programmes, they work on four highly relevant societal themes. ACTA, the Academic Centre for Dentistry Amsterdam has embraced the Broader Mind Course, making it compulsory for all Bachelor’s students. Watch this video to hear Geerling Langenbach, Director of ACTA’s Dental College, explain why his institution has opted for the Broader Mind Course.

  • An enterprising attitude

    VU Amsterdam sees entrepreneurship as the best way to tackle societal issues and create added value for our society. With this in mind, the university encourages and facilitates an entrepreneurial attitude in order to work together for a better world. VU Amsterdam also plays a leading role in the Aurora network, where a teaching programme for social entrepreneurship is being developed. This video offers a more detailed picture of Social Entrepreneurship at VU Amsterdam.

  • Career-oriented skills and societal engagement through Community Service Learning

    Community Service Learning (CSL) is an innovative form of education that connects students with societal actors to collaborate on real-world challenges. Educating students through a Community Service Learning approach fosters deeper understanding of course material, personal growth, and social responsibility.

  • Final attainment levels for A Broader Mind

    All students at Vrije Universiteit Amsterdam graduate with A Broader Mind. But how can we ensure that students make this broad perspective their own? Working on A Broader Mind can be done in different ways and at different stages of a degree programme using the programme’s final attainment levels as a guide. Read more about these final attainment levels here, which will be included in the Teaching and Examination Regulations (OER) for all Bachelor’s programmes by the end of 2025.

Govert Buijs, Professor of Societal and Economic Innovation: "

Students who have participated in the Broader Mind Course are often pleasantly surprised. Because this course is different from other courses they have taken so far. For example, one student recently told us during the final presentation of the Broader Mind Course: 'For the first time, I was really challenged to think about myself and what I find important in life'. 

Get informed and inspired!

A Broader Mind

Transform your education with Community Service Learning

Mixed Classroom

Do you want to know more or do you have a question?

Please feel free to contact us

Erna Klein Ikkink, Future-Proofing Education: h.g.kleinikkink@vu.nl

Jaro Pichel, LEARN!Academy: j.p.pichel@vu.nl

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