Corporate story

University of Groningen/Campus Fryslân: global challenges, local solutions

Campus Fryslân is the eleventh Faculty of the University of Groningen, located in Leeuwarden (Friesland). It is the only campus of its kind. A Faculty that offers interdisciplinary and cross-disciplinary teaching and research into academic issues concerning the social and economic themes identified as relevant for the Frisian region, but also for the world as a whole. This explains our motto: ‘global challenges, local solutions’. Campus Fryslân is striving for a sound balance between fundamental and applied academic research.

The UN Sustainable Development Goals are an important source of inspiration for the strategic vision of Campus Fryslân. Staff and students are challenged to identify scholarly questions in their teaching and research wherever possible, thus contributing to the realization of these goals.  

The University of Groningen (1614) is a research and teaching institution with a good international reputation; a top 100 university located in the northern Netherlands. But Campus Fryslân is not only embedded in the University of Groningen. It also has close ties with the Frisian knowledge network: an alliance of thirteen knowledge institutions and two government bodies, aiming to provide a powerful, sound, high-quality range of degree programmes in Friesland (including at university level). The range is designed to comply with demand from institutions, government and companies, in national and international knowledge networks.

Campus Fryslân is a teaching and research organization consisting of a University College offering an English-taught Bachelor’s degree programme in ‘Global Responsibility and Leadership’, a Master’s College offering ten English-taught Master’s degree programmes, and a Graduate School with 50 PhD students working on a wide range of research projects. Research in the Graduate School is organized around four main research themes: Culture, Language, & Technology, Governance & Sustainable Economy, Food & Health, and High Technology Systems & Materials.

Innovative, committed and autonomous: these key words describe Campus Fryslân to a tee. CF hopes that by offering top-class teaching and research, it will contribute to the development of the region and make a national and international contribution to creating a better world. By taking an interdisciplinary and cross-disciplinary approach, we intend to bridge the gap between teaching, research, industry and society with a unique range of Bachelor’s and Master’s degree programmes and research at PhD level.

Leeuwarden is the base for all these activities. The capital of Friesland has a traditional, historical centre, with a broad spectrum of art, culture and business networks. Leeuwarden and Friesland have a lot to offer students in terms of sport (Sport City Heerenveen), music and culture. The Wadden Sea islands, the Frisian lakes and other areas of Frisian natural beauty are within easy reach. Anyone studying, working and living in Friesland has a unique opportunity to experience the north of the Netherlands, and contribute to innovative, applied projects as part of a growing, dynamic academic community.