The educational initiative CLEAR: Chemistry Learning for Environmental Action and Responsibility from the University of Twente has won the 1st prize at the Dutch Higher Education Award 2025, announced on 1 July 2025 during the ComeniusFestival in The Hague. With this award, the team receives €1.2 million to further develop and scale up the initiative.
Previously nominated as one of the top three most innovative education projects at Dutch universities in 2025, CLEAR now receives the highest national recognition for educational teams in vocational, applied, and academic higher education who have demonstrably made an impact through educational innovation.
The award is a meaningful recognition of the collective efforts behind CLEAR. Programme director and CLEAR project leader Leonie Krab–Hüsken:
Collaborating on future-focused education
CLEAR was developed within the Chemical Science & Engineering programme at the Faculty of Science and Technology (TNW) and uniquely integrates sustainability, systems thinking, and personal development throughout the curriculum. Students learn to connect chemical expertise with societal and ecological challenges such as climate change and greenwashing, while developing fourteen essential skills that prepare them to become critical and responsible engineers.
The success of CLEAR is the result of close collaboration between teachers, students, and support staff. “Within this team, we have worked together to create an educational approach that is not only strong in content but also fosters awareness and responsibility. This award confirms the relevance and value of that collective commitment.”
