ASI and the VU Sustainability Office contributed to the consultation for a new KIN report on sustainability in the Dutch science sector, connecting our work at VU Amsterdam with wider efforts to accelerate the sustainability transition across higher education.
The Amsterdam Sustainability Institute (ASI) and the VU Sustainability Office participated in the consultation process for a new report commissioned by the Dutch Climate Research Initiative (KIN) and the Dutch Research Council (NWO). Our involvement reflects how we work not only within VU Amsterdam to facilitate sustainability research and make the university's organisation more sustainable, but also collaborate across the higher education sector to accelerate the sustainability transition.
The report, Verduurzaming van het wetenschapssysteem (Making the Science System More Sustainable), was developed by Het Groene Brein and the Rathenau Institute. It provides recommendations for embedding sustainability in research, education and institutional practices across the Dutch knowledge sector.
Why this report matters
The Dutch science sector has an important role in addressing climate change and broader sustainability challenges. Through research, education and innovation, knowledge institutions can contribute to societal transitions. At the same time, the sector faces the challenge of making its own practices and structures more sustainable.
Commissioned by KIN and NWO, the report provides a shared starting point for universities, universities of applied sciences, research institutes and other stakeholders to discuss how this transition can be accelerated.
The analysis finds that the main challenge is not a lack of ambition. Across the sector, many initiatives and networks are already working towards sustainability. However, existing structures, organisational cultures and incentives can make it difficult to embed and scale up these efforts.
The report therefore calls for both improvements to current practices and broader systemic change, integrating sustainability into education, research and knowledge transfer.
Four areas for action
The report identifies four interconnected areas that can help guide the transition:
- Coordination and sector-wide collaboration: Connecting existing initiatives and strengthening cooperation between institutions.
- A shared narrative: Developing a common understanding and direction for the sustainability transition.
- Funding and recognition: Aligning support structures and incentives with sustainability ambitions.
- Sustainability in education: Integrating sustainability into teacher training, curricula and quality assurance.
The recommendations are aimed at university leaders, policymakers and funders, researchers, and educators.
An important finding is that existing initiatives need structural support to develop further and become embedded in institutions. This requires cooperation across different levels of the science sector, including support from university leadership alongside the work of researchers, educators and sustainability coordinators.
Next steps: sector-wide collaboration and ASI's contribution
The report provides a starting point for further dialogue and joint action across the Dutch knowledge sector. As a next step, the Royal Netherlands Academy of Arts and Sciences (KNAW), commissioned by NWO and the sector, will facilitate the development of a framework for collaboration on sustainability.
To support this process, a dialogue session will take place on 9 November, bringing together representatives from relevant institutions to discuss concrete follow-up actions, particularly around coordination and sector-wide collaboration. You can read more about it here and register for the dialogue session here (held in Dutch).
Through our participation in the consultation, we have contributed to the broader discussion on sustainability in higher education and research, connecting our work at VU Amsterdam with sector-wide efforts to support change.
The report emphasises that making the science sector more sustainable requires both cultural and systemic change. Beyond improving institutional operations, sustainability needs to be embedded in the core functions of education, research and knowledge transfer. This combination is essential for the sector to contribute to a more sustainable, equitable and future-proof society.
For institutions, including VU Amsterdam, the report offers an opportunity to reflect on current practices and explore how collaboration and institutional support can help embed sustainability more structurally across the Dutch knowledge sector.
Read the report: Verduurzaming van het wetenschapssysteem (available in Dutch only).
More information is available on the KIN website.