On 5 February 2025, VU Amsterdam joined global institutions at the University Social Responsibility Network (USRN) Online Forum to share insights on advancing social responsibility through public engagement.
Representing VU Amsterdam, Prof. dr. Philipp Pattberg, Director of the Amsterdam Sustainability Institute, presented the university’s Fossil-Free Dialogues, a platform bringing together citizens, climate activists, academics and industry leaders to discuss sustainable transitions.
He highlighted VU Amsterdam’s journey toward becoming fossil-free, resulting in the launch of the VU Fossil-Free Research Framework. This initiative underscores how open dialogue can shape institutional policies and drive impactful sustainability efforts. The forum attracted approximately 170 registrants and featured distinguished speakers from The University of Manchester and Université Paris-Est Créteil, who discussed strategies for civic engagement and public participation in university-led social responsibility projects.
VU Amsterdam’s participation reinforces its commitment to moving beyond research and actively collaborating with society to foster meaningful, lasting change.
For more details, visit the USRN website.