Future Learning Spaces

Can tomorrow's education still be organized on today's campus? What should the development of our campus look like? What do students, teachers and staff need? And how could our university better facilitate studying and working on campus?

Background

The cause for this project is the need for an overview of the requirements and aspirations for the design of the physical learning environment, taking into account education as it is today, while focusing on the education of the future. This explicitly concerns physical indoor and outdoor spaces where students can come together and learn.

The SURF Future Campus trend report highlights the social component of learning on campus and the importance of creating more spaces where students can actively participate and collaborate. However, focused learning and taking time to relax between study activities are equally important. How should these learning spaces and our overall campus be designed to ensure that the teaching activities of the lecturers, the study activities of the students, and the supporting services are aligned seamlessly and can function optimally?

SURF Future Campus trend report

Inspired by the ideas of our namesake, Erasmus University gives shape to our identity, our thinking and actions. We summarise this under the heading 'being an Erasmian'. This stands for global citizenship, social commitment and an open and critical mind-set. Last but not least, it also stands for how we do it: enterprising, innovative and from the diversity of backgrounds and opinions, always connecting and cooperating, action-oriented and, where necessary, unconventional and with guts. We proudly call this 'how' the 'Erasmian way'. However, all these ‘Erasmian values’ also place demands on our learning and working environment. If we truly want to educate students to become open-minded, entrepreneurial, socially engaged, and connecting global citizens, our campus must support this ambition. Erasmian values therefore require a future-oriented Erasmian campus.

Erasmian values

A strong vision is created through co-creation with those involved. That is why, in 2024 and 2025, we developed a future learning spaces vision in collaboration with support staff, lecturers, and students. We identified what campus users believe is needed to optimally support studying (and working) on the Woudestein campus. The vision document serves as a source of inspiration for Erasmus University to make the campus student- and staff-friendly, future-proof, and ‘sticky’ - a place where students and staff should genuinely want to be and stay. For students and lecturers, a pleasant campus is essential; it stimulates learning and networking, while also fostering a sense of community and belonging.

These documents are currently available in Dutch only.

Connection: the Erasmian campus encourages students to come to campus in person. The campus facilitates collaboration and encounters, and is connected to society.
Concentration: the Erasmian campus provides sufficient quiet study spaces that are easy to find. The design of the different spaces helps students to focus.
Relaxation: the Erasmian campus contributes to academic performance and mental health by providing students with opportunities to rest and recharge between learning activities.
Customisation: the Erasmian campus is inclusive and meets the needs of a diverse range of campus users. Its flexible design supports a variety of teaching methods.

Pilot spaces

The future learning spaces vision reflects the needs and aspirations of the users of the Woudestein campus. To make this vision a success, it needs to be translated into practice. So it is time for action! During the 2026/2027 academic year, we are therefore testing four different pilot spaces focusing on the two themes of connection and concentration.

The design of these project spaces encourages accessible and representative interaction with one another and with stakeholders. Flexible, adaptable furniture and supporting tools facilitate collaboration.

In this space, you will find two train-style benches with two tables, four poufs, two sit-stand tables with adjustable stools, and a mobile whiteboard. This provides the flexibility to collaborate both as a large group and in several smaller groups.

You can find this space on the fifth floor of the Mandeville Building. You can reach it via the stairs or elevators at the back of the Mandeville Building, from the third floor.

Overhead graphic of diverse hands typing on laptop, writing notes, holding coffee and smartphone

In this space, you will find a modular bench, four poufs, six chairs on casters, two of which have movable table elements, and a mobile whiteboard. This makes it easy to create different layouts for studying together.

You can find this space on the fifth floor of the Mandeville Building. You can reach it via the stairs or elevators at the back of the Mandeville Building, from the third floor.

The design of these quiet spaces aims to promote concentration and contribute to a more effective learning environment. With individual spaces (that can be enclosed), we facilitate focused studying or working in (complete) silence.

In this space, you will find three wall-mounted tables, two concentration corners, each with two individual desks, and an enclosed phone booth. This offers various options for studying or working, either standing or sitting, in a sound-insulated environment.

You can find this space on the third floor of the Polak Building, at the back on the right.

In this space, you will find eight different comfortable individual lounge seats. This provides a pleasant setting for focused studying or working. In addition, there is a locker for storing belongings and charging mobile devices.

You can find this space on the fourth floor of the Polak Building, at the back on the right.

Use by students

The spaces are freely accessible to students and can be used on a walk-in basis. Reservations are not possible. Please note that in the project rooms, multiple groups may work in the same space at the same time.

Use by lecturers and staff

Staff members are also welcome to use the quiet spaces. We are also open to lecturers who would like to use the project rooms for teaching purposes. Requests can be submitted via ivar.vandeloo@eur.nl.

To identify the needs, aspirations, and frustrations of students and staff, we gathered ideas about the ideal campus and the design of its physical indoor and outdoor spaces through surveys, a pop-up co-creation stand, and an interactive campus tour. We also spoke with experts to deepen these insights from different disciplinary perspectives. All the outcomes of this broad exploration among our campus users formed the basis for the creative development, the future learning spaces vision, and its translation into the pilot spaces.