Avans University of Applied Sciences is a large multi-stream comprehensive institute for higher education in the Netherlands with >3500 employees and >35,000 students in 14 faculties which provide 57 degree programs in 8 sectors that focus on Technology, Economics and Management, ICT, Health, Wellbeing, Arts and Design, Education and Law. In eight consecutive years Avans has been selected as the best large University of Applied Sciences in the Netherlands.

Avans has four campuses situated in four cities: Breda, ‘s-Hertogenbosch Tilburg and Roosendaal. The educational philosophy of Avans is to challenge our students to maximize their performance and develop into globally competent professionals that are agile and resilient who contribute to the complexity of the society in which they participate. Students who structurally contribute to developing and sharing regional specialist knowledge and make conscious choices concerning people, planet, and profit. Our students are recognized as highly skilled, responsible, critical, and reflective professionals. They are partners who collaborate multidisciplinary on creative solutions of value for society.

The four large centers are called Centers of Expertise, these focusing on Technological innovation in energy- and material transition (CoE TIEM); CoE Health, care and wellbeing; CoE Wellbeing economy -developing vital communities for a healthy planet and CoE Safe and resilient urban development. In addition, two smaller centers, so called Expertise Centers, are focusing on Future Proof Education and Arts and Design.

Avans has active participation in education development through various collaborations. These include coordination of national networks, such as the Dutch collaboration network of the UAS professors in biobased and circular fields and the network of Sustainable Application Centers that serve educational purposes and function as information and support channels to SME’s and other industrial partners. Research at Avans is all about responding to knowledge-related questions from the market and society. It also concerns modernizing education, upgrading teaching staff and improving the valorization and distribution of knowledge.