VU University Amsterdam
VU University Amsterdam: looking further
Ever since it was founded in 1880, VU University Amsterdam has been known for its distinctive approach to knowledge. VU is an open organization, strongly linked to people and society. What matters is not just the acquisition of a greater depth of knowledge, but also a wider one. We ask and expect our students, researchers, PhD candidates and employees to look further – to look further than their own interests and their own field, and further than what is familiar and further than the here and now.
VU Strategic Plan 2011 - 2015
‘VU: looking further’ links the origins of VU with its ambitions for the future and the content of the VU Strategic Plan 2011 – 2015 (SP).
The SP sets out the ambitions, objectives and policy measures for the next five years. The starting point of the SP is the VU Vision 2025, which states where VU University Amsterdam wishes to be in 2025.
The SP sets out the ambitions, objectives and policy measures for the next five years. The starting point of the SP is the VU Vision 2025, which states where VU University Amsterdam wishes to be in 2025.
Freedom in responsibility: three core values
Academic research and education at VU is characterized by a high level of ambition, and encourages free and open communications and ideas. VU stands for universal university values such as academic freedom and
independence, which is reflected in our name (‘VU’ is the Dutch abbreviation for ‘free university’): free from the church, state and any commercial interest. The basic philosophy of VU is expressed in three core values:
independence, which is reflected in our name (‘VU’ is the Dutch abbreviation for ‘free university’): free from the church, state and any commercial interest. The basic philosophy of VU is expressed in three core values:
- responsible
- open
- personally engaged
Institutes & Centres
Interdisciplinary Research Institutes
National Research Schools
Faculty Research Centres
Graduate Schools
Faculty of Law institutes and centres
National Research Schools
Faculty Research Centres
Graduate Schools
Faculty of Law institutes and centres
Research Centres
- ACCR Amsterdam Center for Career Research (ACCR) is a large-scale research project on career determinants. Career determinants are individual factors, such as personality, learning style and behaviour, and situational factors.
- Amsterdam Institute for Business and Economic Research (AMBER) facilitates research for the Faculty of Economics and Business Administration.
- Centre for International Cooperation (CIS) makes knowledge, experience and expertise accessible to institutions and individuals in developing countries and countries in transition, and by doing so, contributes to national development processes in those countries.
- Amsterdam Center on Aging (ACA) is a working group on research and education in gerontology and geriatrics.
- EXPres, the center of expertise of the faculty of Human Movement Sciences, focuses on rehabilitation, ergonomics and sports.
- The Historical Documentation Centre for Dutch Protestantism (HDC) focuses on the history of Protestantism in the Netherlands from 1800 to the present day.
- The research center on Obesity Prevention in Zwolle (OPOZ) focuses on overweight prevention in the age group 0 - 19 years old.
- The Radionuclide Centre (RNC) performs scientific research with radioactive material. The RNC has facilities for all kinds of chemical, biological and medical research with Radionuclides at Type-2-level.
- The Amsterdam Center for Entrepreneurship at VU (ACE@VU) researches entrepreneurship in relation to innovation, ethnicity, governance, corporate sustainability, regional development, international commerce, science and technology, and culture and values.
- The Zijlstra Center provides a contribution to the improvement of the management of governments and civil society organisations, by academic shaping and research.