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Healthy Future Education at the UvA

At the University of Amsterdam (UvA), we focus on creating a healthy future through innovative education and research. Our goal is to equip students and professionals with the knowledge and skills needed to contribute to sustainable and healthier societies. Within the Healthy Future theme, we emphasize fostering interdisciplinary and transdisciplinary collaboration to address complex health challenges and develop sustainable solutions.

The Special Interest Group (SIG) Healthy Future Education is a community of and for educators working together to strengthen Healthy Future education. In the spring of 2025, the SIG will issue development grants for new interdisciplinary or transdisciplinary Healthy Future education initiatives. Some examples of existing innovative educational programs include Change Making and Placemaking.

  • Change Making Healthy Future

    Change Making is an action-oriented program where students, researchers, and professionals collaborate closely on transition challenges. This program combines theory and practice through small, real-world interventions in society. Some example themes include:

    • What if healthy food were easy, attractive, and affordable?
    • What if healthcare prioritized overall well-being rather than just treating diseases?
    • What if technology genuinely contributed to health and vitality?
    More information about the program and how researchers and educators can participate can be found on the Change Making website
  • Placemaking

    Our placemaking initiatives focus on creating healthier and more livable environments through participatory approaches, actively involving communities in redesigning and improving their surroundings. In April 2025, the first edition of Placemaking will take place in collaboration with the Faculty of Medicine: Cardiology in the Neighborhood.

    More information can be found on the UvA Placemaking platform
  • Special Interest Group (SIG) Healthy Future Education

    The Special Interest Group (SIG) Healthy Future Education brings together researchers and educators who focus on innovative education within specific themes related to a healthy future. The SIG promotes knowledge exchange and interdisciplinary collaboration on topics such as preventive healthcare, social well-being networks, and healthy food systems.

    At our monthly (online) meetings, we discuss examples of Healthy Future education, grants, and other development opportunities.

    You can join the SIG by contacting Dr. Tjerk Jan Schuitmaker-Warnaar (T.J.Schuitmaker@uva.nl). This will keep you informed about the latest developments, events, and collaboration opportunities.

  • Education Innovation Grants

    The Institute for Interdisciplinary Studies will award four education innovation grants in spring 2025 for:

    1. Adapting an existing course to better fit the Healthy Future theme (starting September 2025).
    2. Developing a new interdisciplinary or transdisciplinary course (starting September 2026).

    For example, you might collaborate with a colleague from another faculty, allowing students from different disciplines to work together on a relevant issue, preferably with a societal partner.

    The grant provides 80 hours to develop and implement your idea. These hours can also be shared with a colleague from another faculty.

    Details and inspiration for these grants will be discussed at the SIG meeting on February 14, 2025.

    For more information, contact Dr. Tjerk Jan Schuitmaker-Warnaar (T.J.Schuitmaker@uva.nl).