PPE - Philosophy, Politics and Economics at VU Amsterdam

At PPE, we encourage our students to engage with the world around them and develop into active global citizens. But what does being a global citizen actually look like in practice?

In the eighth edition of IDEA, VU’s magazine for social sciences and humanities, researchers and alumni reflect on this question. One of them is PPE alumnus Simba Martens, who now works at the international news desk of RTL News.

In his “Week in Pictures” Simba takes you behind the scenes of his work, showing what it is like to cover stories from across the globe and how he and his colleagues aim to inform, inspire and connect with their audience. Curious about where a PPE degree could take you? Discover what a typical week in Simba’s life looks like and how he likes to unwind after a busy day in the newsroom. Link in bio!🤩🤩

Sign up’s for the alumni speed dating event are now open!!🥳 Sign up via the link in our bio or via the link in the WhatsApp groups! We hope to see you all there!!!

We are proud to say that there are 3 PPE students who are running now for the VU student elections!! Good luck Alexandros, Joan and Omar with running the campaign!! Go vote now🗳️‼️🫵

Peaceful times in the study area have returned now that exam week is over….

Our PPE students have their own study area which is the perfect spot during busy uni times to study with all of your friends!! Especially during exam week when it is hard to find a spot on campus, our study area is there for you 🫶🤓🫵📖

What does it take to step into politics? Part 2

In the newest edition of The Fourth Floor, the official alumni magazine of PPE, we speak with three alumni who are doing exactly that: https://bit.ly/46URfQj (link is also in the bio)

Meet Ray Polman, chair of the largest student renters’ association in the Netherlands (SSH Utrecht), and No. 18 on the list of candidates for GroenLinks–PvdA Utrecht.

Ray: “I’m a PPE student after all, and I’ve always been interested in politics, but I never saw myself as a politician. My experience as chair of the largest student renters’ association in the Netherlands showed me I could actually improve people’s lives by changing the urban fabric. So now I’m running in the municipal council elections in Utrecht.”

Read the interview: https://vu.nl/en/stories/alumni-interview-ray-polman

What does it take to take the step into politics?

In the newest edition of The Fourth Floor, the official alumni magazine of PPE, we speak with three alumni who are doing exactly that: https://bit.ly/46URfQj

One of the alumni featured is Emma Timmermans, co-director of Project Apollo, a foundation she co-founded to lower the barriers for people who want to enter politics. And it’s making an impact: with the municipal elections in the Netherlands coming up this March, more than 25 Apollo alumni are now running as candidates.

In the interview, Emma shares what motivated her to start Project Apollo and how PPE helped prepare her to work at the intersection of politics, leadership, and society. Curious to read the story? You can find the interview here: https://bit.ly/46URfQj