IDG Netherlands ESC Systemic Co-Design Hub
From Being to Acting: the transformative potential of inner development in facing systemic societal transitions.
What is the ESC IDG Hub?
The ESC IDG Hub is a collaborative initiative designed to enrich systemic co-design practices in higher education, with the transformative potential of the Inner Development Goals (IDGs).
SDGs
After more than 10 years of the SDGs (Sustainable Development Goals) we recognize that sustainable transitions need more than just a tech fix. What are the inner qualities that will help us to make long-term sustainable changes?
Inside Out
By fostering a culture of both inner and outer development, the Hub provides a space where our learning community can build resilience and agency to face transitions inside out.
Hybrid Hub
The physical and digital Hub connects individuals with the community, tools and methodologies they need to embark on a journey of personal and societal transformation.
The ESC IDG Hub is more than a project; it's a living, evolving ecosystem of change.
The sustainability crisis is not simply a technical problem but a human crisis of disconnection—disconnection from ourselves, each other, and our place in the global ecosystem. It thus requires an inner response.
Reconnection: Meeting the Climate Crisis Inside Out (2022)
What is our relationship with ESC?
As a member of the Expertise Network of Systemic Co-Design (ESC) - Expertisenetwerk Systemisch Co-Design we explore how the IDGs can support the ESCuela research agenda.
- What inner qualities do you need to play an active role in systemic change?
- You can't change systems on your own, so how can you collaborate with others and what's your common language?
- What qualities do you need to be able to act courageously in the complex realities of everyday life?
What is the ESC IDG Hub's mission?
- To integrate inner development with systemic co-design principles, take our heads out of the sand and take on complex issues.
- To bridge the gap between knowing and doing by learning how to align personal growth (BEING) with relational understanding (RELATING) and impactful action (ACTING).
- To cultivate self-awareness, agency and a shared language for transition challenges.
The ESC IDG Hub holds that inner development is a collective and cultural process, expressed and nurtured in community.
The ESC IDG Hub aims to create a dynamic, inclusive space where students and educators can come together to explore, learn and grow—fostering a young, intergenerational community that empowers them to act with resilience for sustainable, transformative change.
What emotions does sustainability trigger in you?
What do you feel grateful for?
When did you last stand up for your values?
What do we offer and for whom?
The Hub is a hybrid space, both physical and online, that combines systemic thinking, arts-based and embodied learning with participatory methodologies to create an engaging and safe learning environment.
We offer
Workshops and skill-building sessions
In-person, coaching and student-led events to nurture essential mindsets and practices, such as mindfulness, resilience, and creative expression.
Experiential learning
Activities that blend curriculum goals with real-world systemic challenges, encouraging reflection, listening and creative courage.
Digital resources and tools
A user-friendly online platform for IDG-related materials, events and community conversations: IDG Netherlands ESC Systemic Co-Design Hub.
Community events and engagement
Regular gatherings to explore the IDGs with a vibrant network of educators and students.
For whom
Students
Working on complex, interdisciplinary projects who seek to integrate inner growth into their educational journey.
Educators, researchers & support staff
Interested in incorporating personal development and sustainability practices into their work.
Collaborative partners and professionals
From the ESC network and beyond, providing external perspectives and resources for meaningful change.
The ESC IDG Hub strives to empower individuals to engage in systemic change within their own contexts. Together, we hope to transform education into a journey of inner and outer development, equipping a new generation to address global transitions with courage, compassion and purpose.
'The mass behaviours that drive the climate crisis are founded upon a worldview characterised by separateness. The same atomized view contributes to a dangerous illusion of powerlessness in the face of large-scale challenges.'
Reconnection: Meeting the Climate Crisis Inside Out (2022)
Experience connection and growth at the ESC IDG Hub
The ESC IDG Hub offers a programme of events to inspire connection and empower participants to take meaningful action in their personal and professional lives. Our events are inclusive and bring together students, educators, staff and partners.
Upcoming events:
Launch workshop at Inholland University of Applied Sciences Amsterdam (NL/EN)
From Being to Acting: the transformative potential of inner development in facing systemic societal transitions
Join the WhatsApp community to stay updated.
EXPO: Visit the IDG EXPO
Join the WhatsApp community to stay updated.
24th January - 6th February
What to expect in 2025
Workshops and skill-building sessions
Practical sessions that equip participants with essential tools, mindsets, and practices to navigate today’s complex challenges.
Experiential learning opportunities
Immersive events combining curriculum goals with real-world case studies and creative sessions led by artists, storytellers, and experts in sustainability.
Community meetups
Regular gatherings that provide a safe, collaborative space for participants to explore the IDGs and share insights, ideas, and experiences.
Stay tuned for updates on our event calendar by joining us as we explore the transformative potential of inner development and systemic co-design.
'Holding this space between—the liminality—requires us to think the unthinkable, to accept uncertainty, to resist both hopelessness and blind optimism, to stretch ourselves personally and professionally, and to practice self and collective care.'
The Great Unraveling: Navigating the Polycrisis of Environmental and Social Breakdown. Post Carbon Institute (2023)
Join the movement!
Be part of a growing community dedicated to transforming education and driving sustainable change. The ESC IDG Hub is a space to connect, learn and collaborate with like-minded people who share a vision for a more resilient and compassionate world.
Join Our WhatsApp Community
Stay up-to-date with the latest events, resources, and opportunities by joining our WhatsApp community.
Meet us in person
Visit us during our live drop-in hours. Let us know if you are coming via the WhatsApp community!
Every Wednesday from 10:00 to 12:00
'Hope creates a liminal and generative space where the unknown and unknowable can be embraced: we don't know what will happen and in that spaciousness of uncertainty is room to act.
How to play in a crisis, Philippa Collin (2023)
