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Enrich your studies with Community Service Learning

Last updated on 16 April 2025
Make impact by working on real-world challenges, while developing essential skills for your future career. VU Amsterdam offers various Community Service Learning courses that take your learning experience beyond the classroom, into society.

Community Service Learning (CSL) is a form of education that connects students with actors in society, such as citizens' initiatives, non-profits, local organisations, or policy makers. Together, you will address (part of) a real-world challenge.

Most Bachelor's and Master's programmes at VU Amsterdam offer CSL courses, so yours probably does too! 

Why participate in a CSL course?

✓ Make a difference | Address real-world challenges and contribute to society, already before your graduate. 

✓ Apply knowledge in practice | Combine theoretical learning in the classroom, with applying your knowledge to real cases in society.

✓ Acquire new skills | Develop important competencies for your future career, such as critical thinking, problem solving, leadership and cultural understanding. 

✓ Explore different viewpoints | Become aware of your own perspective, and that of others. Reflect on the similarities, differences and frictions between these viewpoints, and look for possibilities to integrate them.

✓ Expand your network | Build connections with organisations, citizens' initiatives and fellow students.

Join a Community Service Learning course

How do students experience CSL?

"Community Service Learning made me aware of the complexity of societal issues. Through this experience, I feel well prepared for my future job."

"I feel more self-assured and have confidence to deal with people who are different from me."

"Something really gets done based on your insights and results. That is very motivating."

"Now I understand what I can actually do with the knowledge we acquire during lectures."

Example of a CSL course addressing loneliness

In this (subtitled) video, first-year Health Sciences students explain their Community Service Learning project, addressing loneliness among young people in Amsterdam New West. How did they experience this interaction?

"We were surprised how open and vulnerable people talked to us!"

"The project was really fun, because we got to work with a real client so early in our studies."

Questions? Or want to follow a CSL course?

Let's explore the possibilities together

CSL@vu.nl

Athena Institute, Faculty of Science
Main Building (HG-0E), ground floor, wing E

Contact

Dr. Eduardo Muniz Pereira Urias
  • Dr. Sarju Sing Rai
  • Assistant professor of competencies development through public engagement
  • s.s.rai@vu.nl
Dr. Sarju Sing Rai

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