From 2025 onwards, VU will again invest structurally in education through the Spending plan Quality Means Education. Each year, €24.6 million is available to strengthen educational quality: one-third is used for VU-wide innovation and improvement, two-thirds goes to faculty-specific plans.
How are these choices made, and where does the money go exactly? Today, Isabella van Ophem, Head of Education Policy and Advice, explains the spending plan.
Strengthening what works, renewing where needed
“Our education needs to reflect the times we live in. That means: innovative teaching, socially engaged, and firmly grounded in our educational vision. We want students to develop broadly and be well-prepared for complex societal challenges.
To make that happen, we need to keep adapting. Faculties, for example, are investing in additional teaching staff, activating and blended learning, and cross-disciplinary innovation. From the university-wide budget, €1 million is reserved annually for innovative, cross-faculty projects, such as those that focus on A Broader Mind or collaboration on social themes.
We’re also providing long-term support for Education Analytics. This allows us to make more evidence-informed decisions about our education based on student and teaching data: what’s working well, and where is there room to grow?”
Teaching development
“At VU, we believe that teaching also means continuing to learn. Luckily, this already happens widely. Lecturers attend training, exchange ideas with colleagues, and work with educational support staff. It’s encouraging to see that professional development and strong networks are increasingly seen as part of what it means to teach, and part of the drive to guide students well.
To support this, we’ve secured structural funding for the VU Centre for Teaching and Learning (VU CTL). On top of that, faculties contribute around 6% of their own funding on average. Together, this strengthens a connected teaching community where teachers are truly recognised.”
Good facilities make a difference
“High-quality education needs high-quality facilities. That may sound obvious, but it requires continuous investment. Through the spending plan, we’re making sure that education, support and physical spaces align better.
We’re investing in new assessment software, for instance, and through the Copyright Information Desk, we help teachers make responsible use of educational materials.”
