1. Amsterdam University College Excellence and Diversity in a Global City May 2008

2. 2 We decided to establish AUC because the leaders of the future will have to be successful in working together across the boundaries of nationalities, cultures and disciplines. They will have to perform on an international competitive level in scientific, corporate and public service sectors. The global city of Amsterdam with its two major research universities is the perfect context where excellence and diversity can meet very naturally. AUC’s Founding Fathers Job Cohen (Mayor of Amsterdam) Rene Smit (President of the VU University Amsterdam) Karel van der Toorn (President of the University of Amsterdam )

3. 3 AUC’s Mission AUC’s mission Two major research universities join forces to create a liberal arts and sciences undergraduate experience in Amsterdam that demands excellence from its students, preparing them for high-level performance in a 21st century knowledge economy that is fuelled by innovation, and equipping them for today’s globally engaged and culturally diverse society.

4. 4 AUC’s aims and objectives Provide academically challenging study programmes for highly talented, ambitious and motivated international students. Develop the scientific and academic thinking and strong analytical skills of students who will be our future leaders and CEOs. Equip these students with the intercultural competences they need for success in an increasingly multicultural and globalised society. Stimulate more students to become interested in science, thus enhancing the potential for entry into science-oriented graduate programmes and research. Support the ambitions of the Dutch knowledge economy and the performance of Amsterdam as a “knowledge hub”. Attract more international students at Bachelor level to Amsterdam and to the Netherlands. Offer young people who have followed an international and/or English-taught programme at secondary school in the Netherlands an opportunity to follow an international Bachelor (Honours) programme in Amsterdam at a top quality liberal arts and sciences educational institution.

5. 5 AUC’s unique selling points A joint initiative of two major research universities with outstanding international reputations, located in a world city Liberal arts and sciences education for the 21st century: a broad interdisciplinary approach, creating new pathways across the traditional dividing lines between liberal arts and sciences and the professional fields Opportunities for students to focus on science and science-related majors in a liberal education context Focus on connecting diversity with excellence in an international and intercultural context The unique qualities of the city of Amsterdam

6. 6 The 21st century will to a large extent be shaped by our response to complex and challenging issues such as energy, sustainability, health and information technology. Capitalising on the strong research environment of Amsterdam in all these fields, Amsterdam University College will have a unique opportunity to educate a new generation of students that have an integrated understanding of the workings of modern science and its wider impact on society, preparing them for the future. Robbert Dijkgraaf Professor of Mathematical Physics (UvA)

7. 7 AUC’s profile A broad liberal arts and sciences programme at Bachelor level Offering breadth and depth of learning by focusing on far-reaching themes and real-world problems in science and society, thus crossing the boundaries between the sciences, social sciences and the humanities Aiming high at academic excellence With an Honours degree programme, selection of students and high calibre staff International and intercultural focus A diverse and international student and staff body An international curriculum and classroom setting Training in intercultural competences English as the language of teaching and learning Requirements for second language acquisition Engaging academic and social context Small class size, low ratio of students to staff Attractive and modern residential college setting in Amsterdam State-of-the art facilities Reaching out to the community Off-campus community engagement and in-company internships

8. 8 Connecting to the City of Amsterdam Central themes in the AUC curriculum will be connected to its direct environment, the city of Amsterdam, using its special qualities and characteristics and supporting its ambitions as a: Amsterdam was recently classified as a “knowledge hub”: a key player in the global economy, in the forefront of international industry, business and financial services, based on high levels of talent and excellent connections to the rest of the world (State of European Cities Report, European Commission, 2007). global city with a strong international position host for headquarters of top international and multinational companies and businesses cosmopolitan and multicultural city major centre for scientific research and innovation ‘cultural hotspot’, with world-famous museums and theatres, a renowned IT & media sector, and a growing creative industry city with traditions of openness, international orientation and freedom for intellectual and artistic expression

9. 9 AUC’s students and graduates Our future CEOs and leaders: young men and women with excellent academic skills and competences, who are serious, enthusiastic and ambitious students. They will be carefully selected on the basis of their academic performance, motivation and commitment. AUC will admit 250–300 students annually, enrolling them into an intensive three-year Bachelor (Honours) programme that will be their launchpad for a successful international career in academia or business. Excellence requires diversity, and AUC’s aim to foster global knowledge and international and intercultural learning will be reflected in its student body: half the student population will be recruited internationally (from both OECD and developing countries) and half from within the Netherlands (with special attention to recruitment of talented students from sections of the population often underrepresented in higher education). AUC’s graduates will qualify for admission into graduate programmes at leading research universities in the Netherlands and abroad.

10. 10 Reaching out to the corporate world A unique opportunity to participate in building a top quality, international educational experience in Amsterdam, designed to educate the next generation of leaders and entrepreneurs for our increasingly globalised and culturally diverse world. AUC graduates will be aiming for successful international careers – as their potential future employers, multinational companies have everything to gain from supporting this prestigious educational initiative in Amsterdam. Internships and joint research projects can provide fruitful opportunities for engaging these potential high-flyers in the international corporate world at an early stage and establishing new international links and networks. Companies can propel innovation within their own walls by generating assignments for student teams from AUC, and serve as laboratories for testing theories learned in the classroom. Opportunities for enhancing professional development within companies: The teaching experience of working with these talented young people can extend employee skills and inspire new enthusiasm. AUC students will come from diverse international backgrounds, offering an invaluable resource for companies whose HRM policies focus on diversity, and the students in turn will benefit greatly from the intercultural learning experience.

11. 11 AUC’s curriculum Interdisciplinary Integrating insights from two or more academic disciplines in order to develop a greater understanding of problems that are too complex or wide-ranging to be dealt with using the knowledge and methodology of just one discipline. Scientific reasoning, and (the role of) technology The development of academic thinking and strong analytical skills will be an integral part of the curriculum for all students. The curriculum will also offer opportunities for students to focus on science and science-related majors in a liberal education context, and enable them to qualify for entry to Master programmes in science. Global knowledge and international and intercultural competence Understanding of economic forces, interdependence and political dynamics, as well as second- language competence and the ability to respond to cultural perspectives other than one’s own. Civic knowledge and community engagement Active involvement with diverse communities and real-world challenges, including in-company internships and off-campus community engagement. Inquiry- and project-based learning Multiple opportunities to work, independently and collaboratively, on research projects that require the integration of knowledge with skills in analysis, discovery, problem solving and communication, engaging students in active learning based on their own questions.

12. 12 The curriculum is organised around broad themes, where students learn at an early stage how to integrate insights from various disciplines. These themes focus on far-reaching questions in science and society. At the same time, students achieve depth of knowledge in their chosen major(s), allowing them to participate meaningfully in the interdisciplinary debate. Towards the end of their studies, they bring their knowledge and expertise together in a capstone project. AUC’s curriculum circle

13. 13 Year 1 Year 2 Year 3 S1 S2 Curriculum structure Academic Core (60), major (90), minor (electives, 30) AC = Academic Core, BQs = Big Questions, M = major, E = elective BQs AC Theme AC E E Capstone E E MAC EMM EM Theme M MM M MM M AC

14. 14 Interdisciplinary theme (introduction) (10) Interdisciplinary themes (advanced) (2 x 5) Capstone (15) Disciplinary courses (55) Academic Core Electives (minor)

15. 15 Energy, Climate & Sustainability Capstone Research project & thesis Disciplinary courses: Physics Chemistry Biology Law Economics Political Science Economic Impact of Biofuels (energy–food competition) Energy & Geopolitics Articulation to the Master level Interdisciplinary Masters, e.g. environmental sciences Social Science Masters (listed) Major tracks (semi-individual) Elective Science Masters (listed)

16. 16 Information, Communication & Cognition Capstone Research project & thesis Disciplinary courses: Mathematics Computer Science Logic Psychology Media Communication Linguistics Philosophy Games Learning Articulation to the Master level Interdisciplinary Masters, e.g. artificial intelligence Social Science/ Humanities Masters (listed) Major tracks (semi-individual) Elective Science Masters (listed)

17. 17 Academic Core *Methods & Statistics of Social Science Research HumanitiesSocial ScienceScience Mathematics 5 10*10 Academic English 10 Foreign Language 2015 Philosophy of Science 555 Logic & Argumentation 555 Identity in a multicultural context 555 Big Questions 10 Total60

18. 18 Overview for themes: Energy, Climate and Sustainability; Life, Evolution, Universe; Health and Well-being

19. 19 Overview for theme: Cities and Cultures

20. 20 Big Questions Dutch 100 Introduction to Energy, Climate & Sustainability Logic and Argument. Academic English 100 General Biology Calculus I Identity in a Multi- cultural… Psychology Calculus and Linear Algebra II Capstone Big Books Advanced Micro- economics General Chemistry Introduction to Environment al Science Dutch 200 Dynamical Systems Environment al chemistry Molecular Cell Biology Evolution and Dev. Biology Advanced Ecosystems Philosophy of Science Historical and Contemporary Economic Thought Fundamentals of Micro and Macro Economics Structural Biology Academic English 200 Theme: Project Dutch 300 Theme: Energy lab Plants and Health Year 1 Year 2 Year 3 S1 S2 Plant Biology & Ecosystem s Natural Resources Example of individual student programme

21. 21 Big Questions French 100 Introduction to Cities and Cultures Logic and Argument. Academic English 100 Film Analysis Basic Research Methods Identity in a Multi- cultural… Classical and Modern Political Thought Philosophy of Science Capstone The Human Body: Anatomy & Physiology The Culture Market and Industry Golden Age Amsterdam Addiction and the Modern Subject French 200 Historical and Contemporary Economic Thought Fiction and Finance through History Literary Cities and their History Texts and (Moving) Images History 200 French 300 International Comparative Democracy Art History: Periods and Genres History 300 Academic English 200 Theme: The City and its Problems French 300 Theme: The Idea of the Urban Film History Year 1 Year 2 Year 3 S1 S2 History 100: Methods Text, Artefact History Example of individual student programme

22. 22 Big Questions German 100 Introduction to Social Systems Logic and Argument. Academic English 100 Classical and Modern Political Thought Statistics I Identity in a Multi- cultural… Introduction to Public Health Statistics II Capstone Health Economics Cultures and Health Care Statistics III International Comparative Democracy German 200 Ageing Comparative Modern Societies Migration, Integration, Diversity European and Int’l Institutions German 300 Philosophy of Science Medical Anthropology European Integration Advanced Topics in Political Science Academic English 200 Theme: Globalisation Illustrating Science Theme: Urbanisati on History of National Civil Rights S1 S2 Classical and Modern Sociological Thought Politics and the Other Year 1 Year 2 Year 3 Example of individual student programme

23. 23 Big Questions French 100 Introduction to Information, Communication, Cognition Logic and Argument. Academic English 100 Film HistoryCalculus I Identity in a Multi- cultural… Psychology Calculus & Linear Algebra II Capstone Film Analysis Modelling of Biological Systems Artificial Intelligence Linguistics French 200 Heritage Films Logic II Cognitive Psychology Programming II Psycho- linguistics Philosophy of Science Bio- informatics Models & Simulations Game Theory Academic English 200 Theme: Games French 300 Theme: Learning Machine Learning S1 S2 Formal Structures Programming I Example of individual student programme Year 1 Year 2 Year 3

24. 24 Big Questions Introduction to Cities and Cultures Logic and Argument. Film Analysis Maths Identity in a Multi- cultural… Multimedia Philosophy of Science Capstone Programming I Law and Society Film History Periods and Genres Narrative across Media Art and the Subject Representi ng the City Texts and (Moving) Images Major Media Film and the Body Historical Heritage Film Mediated Commun- ication & Games Theme: The City and its Problems Theme: The Idea of the Urban The Culture Market and Industry S1 S2 Introducti on to Adaptation Studies Text, Artefact History Spanish 100 Academic English 100 Spanish 200 Spanish 300 Academic English 200 Spanish 300 Example of individual student programme Year 1 Year 2 Year 3