The Assembly started on 15 April with the University Summit, in which more than 130 people took part. The second meeting was the Inspiration Carrousel on 6 May, followed by the Working Group Carrousel on 20 May. The Assembly met for a fourth time on 3 June, this was the Action Workshop. The final meeting was the University Convention on Friday 20 June. Here, participants adopted their Sustainability Agreement.
How do we become a sustainable university?
In the Assembly, members of the VU community have been addressing this question together. They prepared proposals for a sustainable VU Amsterdam and in their final meeting on 20 June adopted the Sustainability Agreement.
What’s happening at VU?
VU Amsterdam has held an assembly for students and staff. It was facilitated by an independent non-profit organisation: G1000.nu Foundation.
The Assembly was a decision-making process similar to a citizens’ assembly. A large and diverse group of 130 VU students and staff got together several times. Through dialogue they developed and agreed proposals in response to the question:
How do we become a sustainable university?
The 130 participants have presented their Sustainability Agreement to VU’s decision makers. The Board commits to taking the outcomes seriously. They will adopt proposals or clearly explain why they cannot.
You can find out more about the Sustainable University Assembly and its outcomes on this website.
Watch: citizens’ assembly explained
The short video below provides an impression of what an assembly can look like. Just press play to watch it.
What is an Assembly?
An Assembly is a way to make decisions together. If that doesn’t sound exciting, do read on, because it is! It’s an opportunity for students and staff to have their say about the future of VU Amsterdam.
The Assembly participants are speaking to all kinds of fellow-members of the VU community. Assembly meetings are dynamic and purposeful. It’s about dialogue and decisions, but also about working together to make plans for VU Amsterdam and its impact on the wider world.
Random selection decided who can participate in the Assembly. This means everyone has a fair chance to be part of it. And that the Assembly broadly reflects VU Amsterdam’s diversity.
When does it take place?
The first Assembly meeting took place on 15 April 2025. There have been three further meetings in May and June. The participants have been working step by step during that time to craft their proposals for a sustainable VU.
Then, on Friday 20 June, the final Assembly meeting took place. Here, participants decided which of the proposals were adopted into their Sustainability Agreement.
Once adopted by the participants, the Sustainability Agreement was handed to the VU Executive Board.
Want more detail about the process? Please scroll down and have a look at the handy infographic that shows every step of the Sustainability University Assembly in a visual overview.
Who were taking part?
The Sustainability University Assembly was made up of more than 130 people from the VU community. The group had roughly equal numbers of students and staff members.
An initial lottery decided which 10 thousand students and 2,250 members of staff received an email invitation to register for the Assembly. Registrations closed on 30 March. More than 250 people registered.
A further round of sortition took place to select the final group of 160 invited participants. This way, we selected a group that reflects the diversity of the VU community. Not everyone was able to attend, this is why the Assembly started with just over 130 participants.
Latest news and updates
Special guests bring inspiration to the Assembly
Thirteen people received a special invitation to spend a few hours with the participants of VU Amsterdam's Sustainability University Assembly. The invitation was from the Assembly participants themselves: they were keen for some new knowledge and information. Or, as...
The Assembly is underway!
Students and staff from all faculties and units of VU Amsterdam gathered in the main building Foyer for a unique event. The Sustainability University Assembly is very probably the first of its kind in The Netherlands: a deliberative dialogue process within a major...
Coming soon: an Assembly at VU Amsterdam!
160 Dialogue participants It's happening! A new way of discussing and deciding together is coming to VU Amsterdam. Building on the practice of citizens' assemblies, the Sustainability University Assembly (SUA) will see a diverse group of 160 students and staff members...
