Our time calls us to navigate complexity and integrate many fields and perspectives, together.

The question is… how?

Collective Futures is a five-month full-time minor for MSc students who want to make a tangible difference by collaborating on a project with social impact organizations and researchers.

It serves as a unique bridge between your academic studies and professional life. You'll join a high-trust learning environment. You’ll collaborate with real-world stakeholders. And, you’ll develop your talent for a career that matters.

Why Collective Futures?

Many people and organizations are grappling with today’s fast and complex changes. To make a tangible difference, we need to integrate many fields and perspectives; and to sustainably feel and do good, we need connection with others.

We need futures that are more collective. This means there is a growing need for people with the skills to shape and navigate those futures. People who can work together, connecting diverse perspectives, with creativity, compassion and scientific rigor.

This is what our program is about. We offer a learning environment where you gain real-world professional experience, while also getting space and guidance to develop your unique qualities and passions. Together, we combine holistic understanding with scientific rigor, personal development with social connection, and imagination with practical action.

How does it work?

Collective Futures is a 30EC minor program at University of Amsterdam, open to students from any Dutch university enrolled in a two-year MSc program. 

In this full-time program, you will join an interdisciplinary team of students and work on a project with collaborators from different fields, such as researchers, public organizations and social enterprises. You will work on a societal challenge, combining methods from science, systems thinking, social innovation and consulting. This takes about half of your time.

The other half, you participate in activities, such as workshops, lectures, coaching, theater and sports. You will also join a committee with budget to co-organize parts of the program. These activities support your personal and professional development, and prepare you for a career that matters.

What will you learn?

  • Making Systemic Change

    • Form a holistic understanding of societal challenges using methods from science, systems thinking and social design

    • Learn to identify opportunities for making long-term meaningful change

    • Link global perspectives with local action

  • Collaborating Across Boundaries

    • Develop an empathetic and inclusive approach to working with diverse groups of people, including those from different cultures, backgrounds, and disciplines. 

    • Build networks and relationships across sectors to help address societal challenges

  • Project and information management

    • Learn to combine, structure and analyze complex information from a diverse range of (academic and non-academic) sources

    • Develop project management skills to coordinate and evaluate initiatives aimed at addressing societal challenges

    • Learn to use modern tools to collaborate and manage information

  • Creativity and imagination in action

    • Connect with your imagination and develop a well-founded and creative vision

    • Learn to translate your vision to practical action

  • Self-actualization

    • Explore your values, qualities and what you need to flourish

    • Explore how you can use your talent to help others

    • Build resilience and adaptability to navigate uncertainty and overcome challenges in complex and dynamic environments

  • Career navigation

    • Explore which career directions help you do your most meaningful work

    • Learn to balance your different needs and passions in work and life

    • Learn the skills to find and navigate a career that matters

What is included in the program?

Current projects

  • De Ceuvel 3.0 - De Ceuvel

    Investigating the future of circular innovation at Amsterdam's De Ceuvel, a sustainable creative incubator facing relocation, to integrate and inspire circular principles in future urban developments.

  • Climate Distress - Climate Majority Project

    Addressing the mental health crisis of climate distress by developing and supporting classroom initiatives that combine the full truth about climate and the psychological support young people need to help turn climate distress into well-informed collective action.

  • Integral Collaboration & value-oriented communication - KWR Water Research

    Enhancing holistic approaches to complex water challenges through developing an approach to support value-oriented communication and cross-disciplinary collaboration at WHO collaborating water research institute KWR.

  • Green DME in a renewable energy system - TNO

    Developing an assessment and roadmap of Green DME's potential and role in the transition to a renewable non-fossil-based energy system.

Previous projects

Is Collective Futures for me?

You:

  • Are enrolled in a two-year MSc program at UvA or any other Dutch university.

  • Seek opportunities to apply your academic background and make a tangible difference

  • Are excited to collaborate with a partner organization on a real-world societal challenge

  • Want to embrace the opportunity to go beyond your comfort zone and learn from both successes and failures

  • Are motivated to collaborate in a strong community and make the program a memorable, educative and impactful experience

  • Are prepared to commit to a full-time 5-month program and have a relevant track record in both your academic and extracurricular experiences

Interested in collaborating with us?

Join hands with the University of Amsterdam and a team of second-year MSc students to help your organization make meaningful change. We seek project collaborators who share our vision and support our students' development. For ideas or more information contact us below.

Previous collaborators

Contact

Coordinators & teachers

Rob Schuurink, Jarik Guijt & Jelger Kroese

Email
Collective-Futures-science@uva.nl

Address
Startup Village
Science Park 608
1098 XH Amsterdam
The Netherlands