The Impact Space

Welcome to the Impact Space Minor: “Building a Fair Rotterdam: Living, Working and Governing in the Vital and Resilient Metropolitan Area” – where education meets real-world impact together with societal partners! Prepare to embark on a transformative journey that challenges conventional learning norms and empowers you to become an agent of change in Rotterdam and beyond.
Under the thematic focus of "Building a Fair Rotterdam: Living, Working and Governing in the Vital and Resilient Metropolitan Area", the minor offers five key themes that provide the scope and arena for you to engage with societal urgencies:

• Resilience of Youth
• Societal Transformation and Behavioural Change
• AI, Innovation, and Well-being
• Social Inequalities
• Sustainability and Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion

No worries if you're an international student or unfamiliar with Rotterdam ! The Impact Space welcomes students from all backgrounds and experiences. We understand that studying abroad or being new to the city can sometimes feel overwhelming, but rest assured. Our program is designed to provide you with all the support you need.

Throughout the minor, you'll delve into the diverse viewpoints of individuals grappling with challenges in Rotterdam**.** Expect to challenge your preconceptions and develop a deeper understanding of complex societal urgencies. But be prepared – this isn't about finding quick solutions. Instead, we encourage you to fall in love with the problems themselves. You should anticipate and embrace some confusion as you intend to shape the content and structure of the course (including assignments) further.

This minor equips you with a diverse toolkit of methods for understanding, analysing, and reframing challenges at their core. You'll explore innovative design frames and future thinking, igniting your creativity to develop ground-breaking interventions or gain fresh insights. Moreover, the minor teaches you how to embrace discomfort, lead discussions, and think outside the box by fostering an environment where questioning conventional approaches is encouraged. You'll learn to challenge established norms and explore new avenues for addressing challenges both within and beyond the classroom.

Are you ready to contribute to creating a fairer Rotterdam? To get a glimpse of the inspiration and excitement that await you, we invite you to watch the captivating after-movie from last year's Impact Space. Let it fuel your anticipation and motivate you to seize this opportunity to ignite your potential and ignite change.

Video

Enrol in the Impact Space minor. Together, we'll make Rotterdam and beyond a better place for all.

• Develop your perception of personal position and biases.
• Assess your individual learning and group process requirements.
• Conduct multidisciplinary analyses through participatory research with fellow students and stakeholders.
• Design intervention plans that create a tangible impact on assigned cases.
• Enhance skills in navigating the complexities of researching, designing, and implementing societal impact actions.

Attendance is mandatory due to the nature of the minor.
Most meetings and activities will take place in the vibrant city of Rotterdam.

As part of the minor, you will organise a showcase of your research findings with your peers (Learning Expo). This offers a unique opportunity to develop a wide range of valuable skills. Through conducting research, presenting findings, and engaging with audiences, you'll enhance your critical thinking, communication, and public speaking abilities.

Teaching methods
The foundation of The Impact Space lies in experiential learning, emphasizing your learning process through practical application, observation, and reflection. You'll engage in self-regulated group projects, benefiting from structured coaching sessions. Documentation of your process in portfolio assignments is essential, and you'll share these insights with your coaches.

Participation in (weekly) workshops and sessions is crucial for fostering knowledge and skill development. These sessions cover various aspects, such as interdisciplinary collaboration, co-creation methods, and design techniques. The unique challenge of The Impact Space lies in working on projects without predefined outcomes. With no fixed 'product' as a goal, the primary emphasis is on the journey rather than the destination.

In this learning environment, teachers play a supportive role in your individual and collective learning processes. The approach sees you as self-directed learners, requiring didactical tools that promote autonomy, authenticity, and responsibility. Your autonomy is key, and the tools used are designed to enhance your sense of control and accountability in your learning journey within The Impact Space.

Teaching materials
Journal articles, videos, field trips, co-creation sessions with stakeholders, project work, portfolio.

Method of examination and composition final grade
The impact space assesses the process of action-based problem orientation with portfolio building. You will be assessed based on the collective group work and individually based on a personal learning reflection.

Assessment will be based on the process of action-based problem orientation and portfolio building. Your collective group work, as well as your individual personal learning reflection, will be evaluated.

Process Portfolio: Group-based (30%)
Supporting Academic Documents: Group-based (40%)
Self-reflection Report: Individual (30%)