'Continuing Education is becoming part of our daily work at Utrecht University'

Dear readers,

Once you stop learning, you stop growing. This applies to students – whether at secondary school, university, vocational college or higher professional education – as much as it does to professionals who have been active in their field for years. The world around us is changing rapidly and requires us all to develop continuously. As a university, we feel a responsibility to facilitate that growth, not only inside our own lecture halls, but also outside them. In doing so, we train students and professionals to become critical global citizens who are aware of the importance of an open society and a healthy planet.

That is why extension courses are an important part of our educational offering. What began in 2016 as a pioneering programme is slowly growing into a firmly established educational practice with offerings from all faculties. Alongside social partners and alumni, lecturers and researchers are developing innovative, flexible, and future-proof education for individuals interested in further learning.

As a university, we offer a unique range of academic programmes at a fair price, which allows us to keep continuing education accessible and future-proof. This type of education is becoming an increasingly important aspect of our community's daily work, deeply rooted within the faculties, and informed by our strategic themes. This makes me happy. Fortunately, it has now become “normal” to teach not only students, but also experienced professionals who bring their own knowledge, experience and questions to the table. This interaction is enriching for everyone and strengthens our education as a whole.

In this magazine, you will meet students, lecturers, researchers and employers, and read about how diverse and meaningful our extension courses at Utrecht University are. This is what lifelong learning looks like, with room for curiosity, reflection and growth. I warmly invite you to be inspired, whether you are just starting a new learning journey yourself or thinking about how your organisation can invest in knowledge and development.

We never stop learning. And that's a good thing.

This is the rector's foreword to DUB's Lang zullen we leren! (Long may we learn!) magazine, which was made in collaboration with Utrecht University's Continuing Education programme. The magazine can be found in several buildings of the university but all the articles from the magazine are also available online. Over the next two months, DUB's website will feature several of those articles and stories, as well as publish a few additional online-only articles about continuing education. You can find all the articles related to the magazine here.