Rotterdam University of Applied Sciences (RUAS) has more than 39,000 students and more than 4,000 employees. Our education is closely connected to developments in the metropolitan region of Rotterdam. Rotterdam University of Applied Sciences stands for inclusive, high-quality education. We organise our education to be context-rich. Students, lecturers, researchers and professionals closely work together in a work-study environment.

The Willem de Kooning Academy (WdKA) will be the academy from the Rotterdam University of Applied Sciences which will take an active part in this project. WdKA offers contemporary and cutting-edge art and design courses that complement changing, international practice. Currently 2200 students study at the Willem de Kooning Academy which are educated and supported by approximately 350 teachers, instructors and staff members. WdKA actively seeks connections between developments in the field of art and design and broader social issues. Our graduates must be employable, but also create professional paths through their own initiative that did not exist before. As pioneers, they must be trained to become enterprising artists and designers with a wide range of talents and skills. When entering the professional field, they must not only be able to tackle the complex challenges of today and tomorrow, but also design realistic visions of the future and potential solutions.

Within this project the Fashion department as well as the Stations will be in the lead.

WdKA is fostering a radical shift to educating artists, designers and educators through interdisciplinary study paths, resulting in different perspectives on contemporary future creative practices and adopting a radical new take on material practice through introducing interdisciplinary ‘stations’.

Stations are learning environments in which facilities and technologies around certain making practices are being collected. The stations offer open access workshops where students and tutors can find the facilities and expertise that they need to realise their artistic work. Their expertise covers software, hardware, technology, equipment, and machinery. Next to offering individual support and providing skills education the stations stand out as knowledge domains. Research is collaboratively done, by technicians, tutors and students into new developments and innovations in the worlds of technology, art, and design. In this project the Fabric Station, Image and Sound Station and the Interaction Station will be playing a big role.

As part of the WdKA creating pioneers, the fashion department aims to prepare our fashion design students for a future in the continuously changing, fluid professional field of fashion. We train students both to work within the existing fashion system, and to hack the system. We supply them with the hardware (methods, technology) and the software (skills, attitude).

Professional diversity is key: we stimulate students in giving a new meaning to the profession. We encourage independence in self-initiated projects and electives and foster collaborations in the interdisciplinary practices. We offer introductions and education in both traditional and future fashion skills like 3D visualisation, interactive design and bio design.