Engaging with education over the summer

With the previous year marked by coronavirus lockdowns and shifts to digital education, secondary school students were among the most heavily impacted. An initiative of the City of Amsterdam, Midzomer Mokum saw various special activities organised in different neighbourhoods to offer children and students the chance to meet in person again and enjoy the summer when so many vacation plans were cancelled or impossible.

Zeeburgia-AUC Summer School

Part of Midzomer Mokum, the Zeeburgia-AUC Summer School provided a programme centred on physical well-being and fun ways to engage with education and research at Science Park. Zeeburgia F.C is an amateur football club that trains young players with hopes of becoming professionals. For more than four years, AUC students have been volunteering at the club under the Z-AUC Coaching community project which pairs current AUC students with Zeeburgia players to help with homework and study advising. This long-standing partnership formed the basis for the idea of the Zeeburgia-AUC Summer School.

Study skills and building community ties

Designed by AUC students and Zeeburgia coaches, the Summer School was focused on three areas: study skills, the importance of exercise and physical health, and creating stronger bonds between the university and the community.  Over the course of the four days, students were able to meet new friends, practice a variety or sports activities, participate in creative workshops on education and learn about topics on-site ranging from climate change at AUC to astronomy at the University of Amsterdam’s Faculty of Science and botany at Anna’s Tuin en Ruigte.  

Upon completing the programme, participants were awarded a certificate in a festive ceremony to close out the week.