The voices of impact

Erasmus University Rotterdam (EUR) is dedicated to providing education where students actively collaborate with individuals outside the university to tackle challenges that impact everyone. These challenges span the neighborhood, the region, and even internationally. EUR focuses on issues such as energy poverty, healthcare accessibility, and entrepreneurship during grid congestion. Since 2020, EUR has emphasized “impact-driven education”, which aims to prepare students for future roles where they can contribute meaningfully to understanding and, if possible, solving these complex challenges. Students and academic professionals work together with society to achieve this goal.

This magazine highlights the achievements and lessons learned by Erasmus University Rotterdam from 2020 to 2024, thanks to the efforts of numerous stakeholders both within and outside the university. These accomplishments were made possible through the university-wide educational innovation program, Impact at the Core. EUR has committed to prioritizing engagement through impact-driven education until 2030. Consequently, the innovative capacity of Impact at the Core has been integrated into EUR’s Community for Learning & Innovation as of 2025.

Aligned with the Education Vision, EUR will continue to embed impact-driven education at the heart of its educational programs. Several faculty members share their aspirations for the next five years. Additionally, Impact at the Core has developed foundational elements for the continued advancement of impact-driven education, illustrating how EUR will integrate impact-driven education and “engagement” with the external world into its educational programs. This also takes into account the recommendations of the advisory board.

Perspective of the learning innovator

“Real-life assignments in the neighborhood provide a rich learning experience in which students can develop these skills to the fullest.”

Perspective of the learning innovator

“Reflection offers students the time and mental space to critically examine their experiences, skills, emotions, assumptions, beliefs and the underlying frames of mind they often take for granted.”

Perspective of the teacher

“It is kind of exciting to be able to give the students adequate support when you don’t know beforehand what they are going to choose or design as a topic. It means extra focus on the support of the process as well.”

Perspective of the teacher

“It was also tremendously inspiring to meet like-minded people and exchange ideas during the many meetings and conferences on impact-driven education.”

Perspective of the teacher

“It was not a one-way street; we were able to inspire each other and learn from each other.”

Perspective of the student

“Impact-driven education has better prepared me for my future.”

Perspective of the stakeholder

“You experienced the reality of the students and their critical questions. It also brought a new critical perspective for me.”

Perspective of the stakeholder

“This in turn triggered new insights in me, because I did not immediately get crystal-clear solutions to a problem I had, but I was prompted to think differently again.”

541

ECs ontwikkeld

35

cursussen gekoppeld aan 143 externe partners

10.439

studenten impact laten ervaren

32%

van de 123 programma's ondersteund om (meer) impactgedreven te worden