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University Forum

What are the values that identify the University of Amsterdam (UvA)? What should be our strategic course and what does the future of the university as a whole look like? These questions form the starting point for the UvA’s University Forum. As of 2024, the Forum has been revamped. To increase the forum’s reach and impact, its structure has been changed and the number of participants significantly expanded. Over the next two years, discussion evenings will be organised twice a year to discuss subjects that are relevant to the broad UvA community.
Photo: Maartje Strijbis
Photo: Maartje Strijbis

The first meeting of the 'new style' University Forum is on 16 April 2024 at public debate centre De Balie. The thema will be ‘The university as a degree mill?’. One hundred students, employees, researchers and other representatives of the UvA community have been invited to attend after their names were selected by drawing lots. Following a plenary introduction, they will split up into small groups to discuss various subtopics related to education at the UvA. For example, critical thinking and the increasing regimentation of university education. The evening will end with a plenary debate about the main points of discussion. Attendance of the discussion evening is by invitation only.

Agenda committee

The subjects to be discussed at the meetings of the University Forum will be determined in collaboration with an independent agenda committee (consisting of the CSR, COR, UCO, UOC and student assessor, etc.). Its members will choose a theme that is relevant to both students and employees.

Origin

The University Forum was established following a recommendation from the Democratisation & Decentralisation Committee to set up a ‘broad-based deliberative forum’. After an evaluation of the forum’s first few years (2018-2023) the Executive Board decided that the University Forum will continue - in an adapted form.