ValuesMind Newsletter - May

 🎯 From Idea to Impact: RSM Students Join ValuesMind’s Journey

At Rotterdam School of Management, students are constantly urged to apply what we study to practical situations. Our team decided to work with ValuesMind, a startup that quickly drew our interest with its purpose to connect individuals to achieve sustainable change, for our New Business Development course.

We believe deeply in what ValuesMind is building. In a world where purpose-driven professionals are actively looking for meaningful work and companies are searching for talent that aligns with their values, ValuesMind provides the missing link. The platform bridges this gap - creating not just job opportunities, but a values-based ecosystem of collaboration, growth, and change.

Over the past few weeks, we’ve been diving into some of the most important questions any young company faces: How do you build a strong user base before launching? And how do you ensure your value proposition truly resonates with the people you want to serve? So far, we’ve explored strategies around content, messaging, and user engagement. We’re analyzing competitors, developing ideas for onboarding, and thinking critically about how ValuesMind can stand out while staying true to its core purpose.

We continue to learn every day about how vision and action come together to create significant innovation, in addition to business development. The direction this project is taking excites us, and we are honoured to be supporting a business that is putting meaning at the center of professional relationships.

Stay tuned, there’s more to come.

The RSM x ValuesMind Team

🌱 Triple helix with impact: where students, companies, and governments co-create a Sustainable Future 

Are you a student or young professional looking for more than just gaining knowledge? Do you want to make a societal impact, work on real-world challenges, and simultaneously build your network and skills? Then the Triple Helix approach is for you. 

In regional collaborations between education, government, and business, powerful innovation networks emerge. And the best part? You can directly contribute! Discover below where you can make a difference in six high-impact sectors: 

🌍 1. Energy transition 
What can you do? 
• Participate in living labs 
• Support energy cooperatives and grid operators 
• Develop awareness campaigns 
Examples: 
• H2 Campus Groningen – hydrogen research with vocational, applied, and academic education 
• SPARK the Movement – youth engagement in energy issues 
• TenneT x TU Delft – innovative grid solutions 
Get involved: Intern at a grid operator or join hackathons via organizations like the Climate & Energy Coalition. 

🏗️ 2. Circular construction and the built environment 
What can you do? 
• Design circular neighbourhoods 
• Research material reuse 
• Contribute to circular procurement projects 
Examples: 
• Cirkelstad – circular building network with students 
• BouwLab R&Do – hands-on innovation in Haarlem 
• De Bouwcampus Delft – multi-actor projects 
Get involved: Project minors, internships, or pilots with municipalities and companies. 

🥕 3. Food Transition and sustainable agriculture 
What can you do? 
• Conduct research in regional food projects 
• Develop business models for short supply chains 
• Set up educational campaigns about sustainable food 
Examples: 
• Foodvalley Regio Deal – collaboration with farmers and schools 
• Brightlands Campus Venlo – food, health & circularity 
• Wageningen Fieldlabs – experimental cultivation with students 
Get involved: Graduate on circular agriculture or launch your own sustainable food startup. 

🏙️ 4. Sustainable urban development and mobility 
What can you do? 
• Design smart mobility solutions 
• Co-create with local residents 
• Analyze data for more sustainable cities 
Examples: 
• AMS Institute (Amsterdam) – urban challenges 
• Smart Mobility Labs – practice-based design 
• Living Lab Scheveningen – smart district development 
Get involved: Join City Deals or enroll in interdisciplinary education programs. 

♻️ 5. Circular economy & resources 
What can you do? 
• Design circular products 
• Innovate processes across value chains 
• Research consumer behavior 
Examples: 
• Circular Skills Labs (HU) – working with SMEs 
• Circulair Friesland – students supporting businesses 
• ReUse Lab (Fontys) – reuse and design 
Get involved: Take part in challenges, internships, or applied research via research groups. 

🔬 6. Life sciences & health 
What can you do? 
• Design e-health solutions 
• Research prevention and lifestyle 
• Analyze health data 
Examples: 
• Health Hub Roden – students and healthcare innovation 
• RIVM x Universities of Applied Sciences – healthy living environments 
• Digital Care Labs – working with healthcare institutions 
Get involved: Participate in care labs or start your own initiative in a regional care hub. 

✨ Your role as a change-maker starts here 
The triple helix gives students and young professionals the opportunity to: 
• Make a direct societal impact 
• Gain practical experience in real innovation networks 
• Grow within regional hubs, living labs, and fieldlabs 

🎯 Are you a student or young professional ready to get involved in one of these sectors? Join a project, apply for an internship, or launch your own initiative! 
🏢 Are you a company, government organization, or educational institution? Open your doors to young talent, start a living lab, or connect to an existing hub. 

👉 Get in touch with us via [email protected] or sign up for our newsletter to discover new collaborations and projects. 

Together, we accelerate the transition to a sustainable future. 

Sustainability Career Event great success!

Please check out more details here: https://sustainabilitycareerevent.nl/