For students
Interdisciplinary education that connects students and stakeholders.
Engineering for Sustainable Innovation; Learning in a Learning Community (LC)
What if your studies don't stop at understanding problems, but you also truly learn how to contribute to change?
In the Even Groene Vrienden Learning Communities, you do not work on fictional cases, but on real societal issues. Together with students from MBO, HBO, and WO, as well as with companies, government bodies, and residents, you will tackle complex challenges surrounding sustainability and innovation. These are not simple problems with a single solution. They are systemic issues: intricate, layered, and constantly in flux. Think of themes such as circularity, energy transition, climate change, and social inequality, where technology, behavior, and policy influence each other.
What makes a LC different, and what is expected of you?
A Learning Community is not a course, but a learning environment where you work on real societal issues together with students from other disciplines and real stakeholders. You learn to understand complex problems from multiple perspectives, apply systems thinking, and collaborate across boundaries, while working on solutions that are feasible and relevant in practice. At the same time, you experience how complex change is and how you can act effectively within it.
You participate as part of a course within your own study program and are personally responsible for coordinating the alignment with the course requirements with your lecturer. Additionally, you are expected to participate in two workshops with stakeholders, attend sprint sessions with fellow students, and present your work during a partner session.
Within this setting, you develop skills such as analyzing complex issues, systems thinking, collaborating in transdisciplinary teams, and dealing with uncertainty, while also working on your professional identity and leadership.
Why participate?
Organizations are looking for people who not only come up with solutions, but also understand how systems work, and how to change them. In a Learning Community, your work does not disappear into a drawer. You build on what others have done, contribute to real-world challenges, and present your results to engaged stakeholders. You can earn credits through an elective course or project, or, starting from September 1, 2026, through the Learning Community course “Engineering for Sustainable Innovation” (15 ECTS). But above all, the experience of working on real-world sustainable impact is what makes it truly valuable for your future.
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Interdisciplinary education that connects students and stakeholders.
A Learning Community is an innovative environment where students, teachers, companies, governmental bodies, and citizens collaborate on real-world issues. In doing so, students develop subject-specific knowledge alongside crucial skills such as interdisciplinary collaboration, problem-solving, and clear communication. Learning Communities bridge the gap between study and practice and foster innovation. Students come up with solutions within a broader societal context and build on each other’s results, ensuring their work doesn’t end up gathering dust. Afterwards, they present their findings, earn ECTS credits, and receive an additional certificate.
For students, teachers, companies, government, and citizens.
For students, teachers, businesses, government, and citizens. Students discover a world that would otherwise remain out of reach, learn from professionals, and work in multidisciplinary teams with diverse backgrounds. Stakeholders can collaborate with these students on solutions that truly meet societal needs, ensuring the right solution for everyone involved.
How do you join?
Register on the website and indicate which challenge appeals to you. Additionally, indicate where in your curriculum you have room for a project (internship, graduation project, or other project). Fill out the form. We organize an information session once a quarter, where you can ask all your questions, in Dutch or English.
As a student in a Learning Community, you participate in two co-creation sessions every ten weeks, where you collaborate with professionals and other students. Additionally, you meet fellow students in a 2x sprint where you can give each other feedback informally. At the end of the project, you give a presentation to the partners in which you share the results and insights from your work.
Interest form:
