HAS University of Applied Sciences and facility service provider Vegebo have signed a structural collaboration agreement. The issues the partners will be tackling predominantly focus on social aspects within the green sector. “We share a passion for bringing about positive changes,” says Patricia de Cocq, director of HAS University of Applied Sciences. The first graduation project is due to start this month.
There is currently a range of developments related to our environment taking place, including linking physical space to social challenges as well as extensive participation by users, companies and other relevant organisations. These developments are being further accelerated by the introduction of the Environmental & Planning Act (Omgevingswet) and its related standpoints. One of the lines of research focussed on by HAS University of Applied Sciences examines the translation of social returns (e.g. the influence of a given project on health and environment) to concrete spatial design and management plans. So far, HAS University of Applied Sciences has primarily gathered new knowledge within this line of research by partnering with city councils. HAS aims to change this by collaborating with contractors and consultancies.
Intensive collaboration with the professional field
HAS University of Applied Sciences believes there is enormous added value to offering education that involves intensive collaboration with the professional field. As Patricia de Cocq, director at HAS University of Applied Sciences says, “The curricula of our various study programmes offer plenty of scope for issues presented by the professional field. Besides, collaborating with companies enables us to keep in touch with developments within the sector. This, in turn, allows us to keep the curricula fresh and relevant and allows us to fulfil our role as a centre of expertise. In the coming years, we expect a growth in the nature and environment sector, so in the near future we will be actively recruiting more strategic partners from the professional field.”
Patricia de Cocq (HAS University of Applied Sciences), Peter van Kemenade (Vebego) en Bas Wijbenga (Vebego) have signed a structural collaboration agreement.
Taking a broad approach to sharing knowledge
With its various landscaping companies, family-owned company Vegebo occupies a prominent spot within the green sector. The facility service provider advises, designs, implements and manages public space for regional governmental and semi-governmental and healthcare institutions, housing associations, companies and individuals. The company places great value on meaningful entrepreneurship and, like HAS University of Applied Sciences, is actively committed to the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). “Various developments are at play within our sector, including linking physical space to social challenges and the extensive participation of users, companies and other relevant organisations,” says Bas Wijbenga, responsible for Brouwers Groenaannemers landscapers within Vegebo. “We are looking forward to tackling these issues together with HAS University of Applied Sciences. It will allow us to further increase our impact.”
First graduation project
In the coming years, HAS University of Applied Sciences and Vegebo will have a structural collaboration on graduation projects, internships, inspiration days and the ‘Space test’ minor. The Spatial & Environmental Planning, Geo Media & Design and Applied Biology study programmes are particularly involved with the collaboration. The first graduation project is due to start this month. Three students will set about developing a dashboard that can be used to quantify the contribution to and development of satisfied happy and healthy residents. They will also focus on developing an analysis model for determining interventions to provide a neighbourhood-specific approach to services that will contribute to satisfied happy and healthy residents.
More information: vebego.com/en