On behalf of VU Amsterdam, Margrethe Jonkman, president of the Executive Board, put her signature, together with Rutger Groot Wassink, alderman for social affairs, and Erwin Schut, director of the Greater Amsterdam Work Centre.
With the new covenant, the parties express their ambition to expand the number of jobs for people with a support need at VU from 113 to 163 by 2030. The cooperation focuses on providing sustainable, suitable workplaces and strengthening inclusive employment within the university.
The meeting reflected on the successes of recent years and the significance of inclusive work for the organisation. In her welcoming speech, Jonkman emphasised that the VU 'not only wants to be a place where knowledge is central, but also where everyone can participate'.
Employees who started working at VU through the Servicepunt Participatie also shared their experiences. Miriam Heesbeen told how warmly she had been received at the VU and how important it is to be able to contribute to something. Jorrit Weijs said that looking at possibilities yields so much more than assuming limitations. "The cooperation with the municipality helps us to create real jobs and make people a sustainable part of our organisation," Jonkman said.
The covenant marks another step in the university and city's joint commitment to an inclusive labour market.