Rotterdam Arts & Sciences Lab

Erasmus University Rotterdam (EUR), Codarts Rotterdam and Willem de Kooning Academy Rotterdam are collaborating more intensively and joined forces in the Rotterdam Arts and Sciences Lab (RASL). The goal of this collaboration is to, firstly, advance the exchange of knowledge on education and research. Secondly, to offer students the possibility to develop their skills in accordance with the changing artistic professional practices and societal issues.

The three institutes aim to become a central player within the arts and sciences sector in Rotterdam in order to facilitate versatile and talented students, develop innovative educational structures and promote multidisciplinary research.

RASL reinforces the international artistic profile of Rotterdam within arts and sciences by elevating its artistic practices and enriching its artistic networks. As such, RASL provides a creative and innovative impulse to Rotterdam’s networks. The collaborating parties work together on the following three programmes:

RASL DOUBLE DEGREE

RASL will be an incubator and catalyst for multidisciplinary research. New policies will be developed to initiate and conduct new research. As such, RASL will function as a platform where arts and sciences meet and reinforce each other.

INTERDISCIPLINARY RESEARCH

Additionally, RASL is a place where its partners also exchange educational experience, focussing on innovation and development of educational methods. At the moment there is already a collaboration between EUR and Codarts in the form of a lectureship Blended Learning, by lector Jaco van den Dool of EUR. His research focuses on to what extent digital educational methods can improve art education. RASL wants to extend and strengthen these kind of collaborations. Lastly, RASL will look into possibilities for new programme components, starting with the double degree.

CREATIVE LEARNING

Starting September 2016 Rotterdam Arts & Sciences Lab offers a double degree to students, it is the first of its kind in The Netherlands. The Double Degree will be a five year programme in which students combine two fulltime bachelor programmes: at Erasmus University and Codarts or Willem de Kooning. The programme challenges students to combine science and art and offers an opportunity to develop their diverse talents. You can find more information about the Double Degree programme here.

ACADEMY

The Erasmus School of History, Culture and Communication (ESHCC) is a dynamic School, which offers five bachelor programmes, eight master programmes, a research master programme and a variety of courses in the fields of History, Arts and Culture Studies, and Media & Communication.

Codarts is a Rotterdam based international university providing high level professional arts education in music, dance and circus arts. The university has about 1,000 students, of 50 nationalities, and around 340 staff members.

The Willem de Kooning Academy Rotterdam University of Applied Sciences offers contemporary and cutting edge art education that complement changing, international practice. These practices are looking for designers, artists, educators and producers who possess a multitude of talents and skills and who look beyond the borders of their discipline. In other words ‘creating pioneers’.

Erasmus University College (EUC) is the international honour’s college of Erasmus University, offering intense multi-disciplinary education. Founded in 2013, this liberal arts college and the student housing are located in metropolitan Rotterdam. The selective and residential character of EUC attributes to a close-knit academic community in which the students live and study together.