Five Years of the Student Initiative Fund: A Milestone to Celebrate!
By the end of 2025, it’s time: the Student Initiative Fund (SIF) of Inholland will celebrate its fifth anniversary, and we couldn’t be prouder! Over the years, SIF has grown into a fund that students still approach with great enthusiasm to bring their ideas to life. To celebrate this special milestone, we’ve recorded a special podcast (available in Dutch only) and are looking back on five initiatives that have stood out to us since the very beginning.
In this podcast, we shine the spotlight on two student employees involved in SIF and one initiator. Listen to the podcast here:
Our History
Five years ago, we established SIF with the goal of giving students more space to shape education according to their own ideas. From the start, students with good ideas to improve the quality of education could apply for funding: up to €10,000!
Over the past five years, we’ve seen countless ideas come to life: from small-scale projects to major collaborations across different study programs, locations, and companies. Each initiative was unique, and we continue to be amazed by the creativity students bring.
Initiatives Full of Inspiration
We’re happy to share five inspiring projects that have stayed with us over the years.
Reading Competition Pabo
We’re proud to have supported Pabo students in organizing a large-scale reading competition. During this project, students had the opportunity to actively engage with reading education. A unique workshop by children’s book author Mylo Freeman and her role as a jury member added extra sparkle to the event and brought great enthusiasm to everyone involved. With initiatives like this, we foster an active learning environment.
Development of a Wind Turbine in the Next Gen Project
The Next Gen project started with a simple question: how can engineering students make an impact in countries that haven’t yet advanced in renewable energy but have enormous potential? Students from Aeronautical engineering took on this challenge, working together to design an affordable and efficient wind turbine. We are proud to support these students and provide them the space to experiment outside the traditional curriculum with innovations that could eventually be applied worldwide.
Short Film Echo by Film Minor Students
With the production of the short film Echo, created by students during their film minor, we helped them take their project to a professional level. Thanks to our financial support, they were able to realize their ambitions from script to editing and premiere. Initiatives like these show how students can take charge of their own learning process and create something truly impressive.
Primary Education in Underprivileged Neighborhoods in Zanzibar
We are always eager to support students who apply their knowledge abroad. Pabo students traveled to Zanzibar (Tanzania) to teach English and organize a sports and play day at primary schools in underprivileged neighborhoods. To make these activities possible, we as a fund not only reimbursed the necessary materials but later also donated them to the schools. In this way, SIF directly contributes to sustainable improvements in education and the well-being of the children there—and we are more than just a fund for our own students.
Talking About Studying Without Limits
Studying Without Limits was the very first initiative we welcomed at SIF. The project brought together students with functional impairments in a community where they could find information, events, and peer support. Two successful online events hosted by Valerio Zeno gave students the chance to share their experiences and support one another, especially during tough times. Through this initiative, we as a fund support the development of learning communities*.
Fun fact: the initiator, Nina, has graduated and now works as a project leader at SIF, strengthening the fund and the team while helping to carry the mission forward.
On to the 10-Year Anniversary?
We’re looking forward to the next five years with great enthusiasm and can’t wait to realize even more wonderful initiatives together with our students!
Follow us on Instagram to stay updated on the event and make sure you don’t miss anything from the SIF!
*During the COVID-19 period, SIF approved initiatives that fostered connection between students and the university. Curious about our current criteria? Click here.