Honours Hop on Hop off 2024-2025

Immerse yourself in the world of honours education and unlock your potential by building meaningful relationships, exchanging ideas, and being inspired by fellow participants.

Date and location

Thursday, March 13, and Friday, March 14, 2025. Starting in Rotterdam and ending in Leiden

Costs

Participation fee: €75 per student (€100 per teacher) including lunch on both days and dinner on Thursday.

Limited spots available

4-5 participants per institution.

Accommodation

Rotterdam University of Applied Sciences has arranged 10% by Hotel Emma or Hotel Unplugged in Rotterdam if you mention you are a participant of HOP ON HOP OFF (you need to organise this yourself).

Sign up

Sign up for Honours Hop On Hop Off before 7 March. Limited spots available: 4-5 participants per institution.

Sign up here

Honours in Action: Unlock your Potential

Time	Activity
9:30 - 10:30	Welcome
10:30 - 11:30	Kick off
11:30 - 12:30	Inside the Honours Programme: How It Works at RUAS
12:30 - 13:30	Lunch
13:30 - 15:00	Workshops round 1
16:00 - 17:30	Workshops round 2
18:00 - 19:00	Closing
19:00 - 20:30	Dinner

Choose your workshops

Choose which of the following workshops you would like to attend in rounds 1 and 2 and indicate this when you sign up.

Workshops round 1

Feedback through Art

Do you find it challenging to accept feedback on something you’ve put your heart into? Or do you struggle to let go of your initial ideas to embrace new perspectives? In this workshop, we’ll use the creative process of drawing and painting to explore how feedback from others can unlock potential you may not see yourself. Through this hands-on experience, discover the surprising power of collaboration and learn how letting go can lead to something even better.

Workshop UNLOCKING POTENTIAL and TEAM PERFORMANCE

Keys is a foundation that aims to motivate, coach and inspire people, teams and organisations worldwide to unlock their potential.
Would you like to know more about their work? Join this workshop where we will explore the Keys test and how it can help you discover your potential and activate that in the world around you.

Nature Walk

Trees inspire us to see life as a constant movement of giving and taking of energy, of action and rest, of growth and decay. This movement is what we call harmony. Balance. During this workshop we will investigate how that balance can contribute to meaning, resilience and active citizenship. Together we will experience how personal values and resiliency can be interwoven with societal resilience and wellbeing. At the end of the workshop, you will have learned how to connect “what do I need from this world?” to “what can I give back?” and “how will I do that?”.

Workshops round 2

From Problems to Possibilities: The power of Re-Framing

What if the problem you’re solving isn’t the real problem—but a limited version of it? Re-framing helps you step back and ask: “Is this the right problem to solve?” It’s a powerful way to challenge assumptions, see fresh possibilities, and unlock better solutions. In this workshop, you’ll learn practical techniques to re-frame problems and practice them on real-world examples. Discover how small shifts in perspective can lead to big breakthroughs. Want to take this further? Join us in May for an exciting Creathon at the Boerhaave Museum in Leiden, where you’ll dive deeper into framing, biases, and creative problem-solving in a hands-on, immersive experience.

Rotterdam and You Through Art: A Walking Journey

Discover Rotterdam through the lens of its iconic public artworks in this reflective and interactive workshop. While exploring some distinct art pieces across the city, you’ll engage in creative activities that will help you see the city—and yourself—from new perspectives. Whether you’re curious about the stories behind the art, interested in creative expression, or simply looking to connect with others in a unique way, this workshop offers a relaxed and inspiring way to experience Rotterdam. No prior experience with art is needed—just bring your curiosity and a comfortable pair of shoes!

Stadslab

Curious about our StadsLab? Do you want to know how it works? Join us, and discover a world of creativity and innovation.
In this workshop, you’ll:

Learn what makes our StadsLab unique and how it’s organized at our university.
Get hands-on experience with some of the lab’s cutting-edge machines.
Create something cool to take home and showcase your creativity!

Whether you’re into design, tech, or just want to try something new, this workshop is your chance to explore, experiment, and bring your ideas to life.

Time	Activity
9:00	Bus from Rotterdam CS to Leiden
9:45 - 10:15	Welcome
10:15 – 11:00	Kick off
11:00 – 11:50	Round 1: Workshops
11:50 – 12:40	Round 2: Workshops
12:40 – 13:40	Lunch
13:40 – 14:30	Round 3: Workshops
14:30 - 15:30	Plenary session: Social Leadership Program
15:30 – 16:30	Snack and drinks
16:30	End

Workshops

We take pride in the wide range of tracks we offer. Therefore, participants in the two-day event on Friday, March 14, will get to know all the tracks. In round 1 participants will be divided among the thematic tracks. During the two subsequent rounds, groups will rotate until everyone has been introduced to each track. We will conclude with a plenary session of the Social Leadership Program.

Information on the three thematic tracks

Animal Welfare and Animal Rights

The Animal Welfare and Animal Rights track offers students the chance to explore moral and societal dilemmas related to animals. Examples include the roles of professionals such as veterinarians and the NVWA (Netherlands Food and Consumer Product Safety Authority) in enforcing animal welfare regulations, the models of industrial farming versus organic farming, greenwashing of animal products, and the roles of interest groups and documentary makers. The aim of this track is to inspire students to consider possible roles in related fields and to further develop their personal, critical perspective on this important topic.

Humanities

In the Humanities track, students marvel at the world around them through unique and surprising perspectives. They are introduced to thought-provoking ideas and forms of expression in art, literature, and history. Students visit museums and attend performances. For example, they explore why the words for "father," "foot," and "two" are similar across many languages; or investigate the origins of the Aztec Empire in Mexico. This exploration encourages students to make new connections and challenge assumptions, opening their minds to new worlds.

The Art of Letting Go

In The Art of Letting Go, students explore uncertainty. They are encouraged to look at themselves and the world, to see what there is, and not to run away from it. Students are supported in becoming more skilled to uncertainty. Together, the group searches for ways to rise above uncertainty and approach life with greater ease and resilience. They also explore how art can help break free from doubt and overthinking by offering different experiences or perspectives. By connecting with their creative abilities, students learn to approach an uncertain future in new ways

Information on the Social Leadership Program

Social Leadership Program

The one- to three-year Social Leadership Program provides students with the opportunity to develop their personal and social leadership skills in an inspiring and entrepreneurial learning community with students from various programs and academic years. They combine their own interests with those of other students and teachers. Our vision is that everyone can learn from each other, regardless of whether you are a second-, third-, or fourth-year student—or a teacher.