Personal development, dialogue and community building literally have a home at Vrije Universiteit Amsterdam. 3D-NEWConnective combines community building, dialogue and meaning, and brings them together in the 3D space on campus. From the living room of 3D-NEWConnective, more than 7000 students have already discovered their place in the world. The success is striking, as the initiative has won the prestigious Dutch Education Award 2025.
The Dutch Education Award (NOP) stimulates and rewards teams in education that ensure innovation and knowledge sharing. In its report, the jury writes: “3D-NEWConnective contributes to students' personal development and to a safe learning environment. The impact of 3D-NEWConnective on students' personal lives can be enormous.” 3D-NEWConnective receives 800. 000 euros.
Initiators Miranda van Holland and Gerdien Bertram-Troost, together with the other team members, received the prize during the ComeniusFestival in The Hague. "We are incredibly proud of this recognition for our work, a huge honor. But the most important thing is that we can offer students something that is desperately needed in these times: a sanctuary for meeting and developing on a personal and social level."
From all faculties, for all students
3D-NEWConnective has its origins in the VU School of Religion and Theology, part of the Faculty of Social Sciences and Humanities, and is propagated throughout the university, says portfolio holder for Education Welmoet Boender. Program director Miranda van Holland emphasizes that: "The programming really is for all students, we want everyone to feel at home here. It is precisely this diversity that is of great value for what we want to achieve."
"This recognition shows how important it is to provide space for dialogue and deepening within our university," says VU Amsterdam Rector Magnificus Jeroen Geurts. "With 3D-NEWConnective we give students and staff the opportunity to find each other in conversation and reflection and to think about the big questions of our time. The fact that this is now being valued with an education premium is more than deserved."
Not ‘something’ but ‘someone’
Gerdien Bertram-Troost is involved in the initiative from her chair in Education from a philosophical and pedagogical perspective: "We built a place where students can meet each other outside their formal curriculum, and can discuss themes that are relevant on campus in a familiar environment. The university wants to educate self-confident, resilient and socially engaged people: at VU Amsterdam you don't become 'something' but 'someone', is the promise, and we contribute to that in this way."
"3D-NEWConnective is a VU-wide sanctuary for dialogue, connection and meaning. We support students in a broad education, not only academically, but also on a personal and social level." (Miranda van Holland, program director)
Bottom-up
"The 3D-NEWConnective free zone was created in a bottom-up way; always in consultation with students and in line with their needs," says Miranda van Holland. "Participants can shape the programmes themselves, which range from social activities such as film viewings, piano lessons, lectures and workshops, and conversations about the increasing (political) tensions in society and on the VU campus. And it works: last year we received more than 7000 participants from all over the university. 50% say they come often, 30% regularly. At each event, a fifth of the visitors attend for the first time."
Knowledge sharing
The NOP award comes with a prize of 800 000 euros. Part of this will go to expanding the activities for students and to impact research. Another part will go to making the approach available to other institutions in higher education. Van Holland: "We would love it if others follow our example. In their own way, for their students. We now have the opportunity to properly investigate the impact of our work on the VU campus. We then share those insights with other educational institutions, so that they can also use them."