As a university, we strive to be globally connected and locally embedded by learning to understand contemporary, complex societal challenges and ensuring that our education, research and engagement make a positive and sustainable contribution to solving them. We do this in close collaboration with our external partners at both the local and global levels.
Mission: creating positive societal impact
Our education and research are drivers and accelerators of positive change. Science is inextricably linked to world advancements in societal progress. Through our education and groundbreaking research, we play a role in solving societal challenges, serving global communities. In doing so, we are globally connected and locally embedded.
Our dedicated staff at Erasmus University Rotterdam (EUR), work every day to better understand complex societal challenges. We translate insights gained from our research into novel courses and innovative teaching that prepares our students for the future. These insights also fuel our research and innovations to shape solutions for the world of tomorrow and beyond. Crucial to this is our intensive engagement with society, both regionally and internationally. We are an "Engaged University".
Our mission serves as a compass: it helps us to focus, inspires us in our daily activities, and provides direction when we are faced with choices, as a university, as a department, as employees.
Our vision on education, research, and engagement
For centuries the role of universities has been to educate students and conduct research. They have traditionally been seen as somewhat detached from society, focusing on specific fields from a single perspective. In view of local, national and global developments and the complex challenges facing the world, society is asking universities to rethink their role and position.
We feel the need to adjust our role: we want to contribute to our society. Not as a distant knowledge institute, but as a knowledge centre at the heart of society. We strive to understand contemporary, complex social challenges and to contribute to their solution through our education and research. We do this in close collaboration with our external partners at both the local and global levels.
"Curiosity and openness to the unknown form the basis of our science, creativity and innovation"
Annelien Bredenoord
Chair of the Executive Board
Education
Through our education, we prepare current and future students for a world where regional, national and international issues are inextricably linked. A world where value encompasses more than generating profit and where learning does not stop at obtaining a diploma.
Our academic education goes beyond the transfer of knowledge. Students are trained to become experts in their chosen field. They learn to develop a broad perspective on societal issues, collaborate across disciplines and domains, and apply new scientific insights.
We provide everyone with the space to develop broadly, both in knowledge and the digital and human skills needed for today's global transitions.
Research
In our research, we place great value on independence and encourage curiosity. Our fundamental and applied academic research often leads to solutions for societal challenges, internationally, nationally and regionally.
Our researchers collaborate closely, both with each other and external partners. By combining insights from different disciplines, we create new knowledge and innovative solutions. For example, health scientists, economists and medical professionals work together to reduce health inequalities and improve access to high-quality care. Legal scholars and criminologists join forces with sociologists to investigate, combat and prevent criminal behaviour. Additionally, psychologists, anthropologists and communication scientists collaborate with local communities in Rotterdam to explore how they experience their neighbourhood and city and what could be improved.
Inextricably linked to society
As an "Engaged University", we are aware that everything we do is intrinsically connected to (international) society. Strong, meaningful connections with society are crucial for creating a positive societal impact.
We engage in ongoing dialogue to gain a deeper understanding of the challenges we face. Through co-creation, we integrate this knowledge into scientific insights and contribute to actionable understanding and solutions.
Being "engaged" reflects our commitment to society, both regionally and internationally. It involves how we relate to our society, how we build bridges, and how we establish reciprocal, inclusive and equal relationships with our partners.