Coen's tip:

Coen Wirtz (Social, Economic and Organisational Psychology): ‘When students get to work on social issues, it often remains theoretical. But it is important to also involve the people you are talking about, like city residents, or people from organisations and government. What I like to do: I send my students out into society. Getting out of the university bubble and talking to people may be stressful at first, but above all its valuable and educational.’  

Learning with the city

Coen works with 'Leren met de stad’ (Learning with te city), a collaboration between the university, hogeschool , mbo, municipality and civil society organisations. In consultation with residents, students get to work on urgent city-issues. ‘For example, a group of Bachelor's students in Psychology was asked to study why people put their rubbish next to a container instead of throwing it in. And for the Minor Co-creating a Healthy Society, students are working on issues about mbo students and healthy eating and how mental health is thought of in families with a migrant background.  

Exciting  

These are issues you cannot solve without involving the target group, Wirtz says. ‘Students often find that a bit scary. Calling people, talking to them, they have to get used to that. But afterwards they are very enthusiastic.  Especially when they notice that their research is really being used, for example in city policy.’    

Getting started  

Of course, this kind of education requires a lot of organisation. ‘If you really want to get started, contact Leren met de Stad  - we have the network and the knowledge to help you. And remember: even small adjustments in your couse can help bring society in. For instance, by including an assignment in which students have to have a discussion with someone, or interview someone. Students learn an awful lot from it: they can apply their subject knowledge and learn from the experience.’

More information

• Leren met de stad
• Inspiring projects at other universities: 
  • Service-learning at KU Leuven  
  • Community engaged learning at Universiteit Utrecht
• Minor Co-creating a Healthy Society  
• Or email Coen Wirtz: c.wirtz@fsw.leidenuniv.nl.