Honours Impact Programme: Phase 1

Your studies are going well. You’re keeping up, meeting expectations, and getting things done. But somewhere, you feel like you want more than that. Something meaningful. Something where you make your own choices, follow your own questions, and get the space to explore what truly interests you. At Avans, that’s possible. The Honours Impact Program gives you that space.

What is the Honours Impact Program? 
The Honours Impact Program is a program where you take control of your own learning process. You discover what gets you out of bed in the morning, explore a theme that matters to you, and create impact in a way that fits who you are. 
You do this together with curious students from different programs and are guided by coaches and experts from within and outside Avans. The program is divided into two phases, each lasting one semester. 

Phase 1 
In phase 1, your development is central: you explore what drives you. You do this by experimenting, trying things out, and attending workshops. You connect with an Avans researcher on a theme you want to explore. 
You discover what works for you by trying things and sometimes starting over. The focus is on self-awareness and your connection to the world: how do you want to make a meaningful impact, and what do you want to contribute to? 
You develop a personal purpose statement that gives direction to what matters to you. 

Phase 2 
In this phase, you turn your purpose statement into real impact. You continue your research journey and contribute to an ongoing research project, or you create your own impact plan. 
You receive coaching, workshops, and masterclasses. At the end, you showcase your lasting impact — or fail in a big way. After that, you receive your Honours certificate. 

Learning together in a community 
During the Honours Impact Program, you’re not doing it alone. You become part of a community where students, coaches, and professionals learn together. 
Everyone brings their own perspective, and that’s exactly what makes it valuable. You learn from each other by asking questions, sharing ideas, and reflecting together. It’s a space where you can grow, doubt, and develop yourself in your own way. 

What’s in it for you? 

• You develop yourself in ways your regular study program often doesn’t offer 
• You become part of a community with students from other programs 
• You gain experience in research and creating impact 
• You build something that is meaningful to you 
• You receive an Honours certificate 

Curious? 
Read the experiences of Ryan, Jeffrey, Marieke, and ? below. 

Good to know 
We start with both a Dutch-speaking and an English-speaking group. Some activities are combined. 

What Ryan Boskljon says about HIP: 
‘What I liked most about HIP is that I was able to create something for a target group that’s close to me. Together with two other HIP students, I worked on supporting neurodivergent high school students, helping to make their school experience easier. I didn’t just discover what gives me energy, I was also able to turn that into a concrete tool that helps teachers and coaches identify potential challenges before students actually run into them. 
For me, it felt like a breath of fresh air to explore something outside of my usual curriculum as a commercial economics student, together with students from different programs. That’s what I see as the strength of HIP: bringing together different disciplines and creating space for new ideas. 
Even after my HIP year, I’ve continued to benefit from the skills I developed. Setting up a project without clear frameworks was incredibly valuable for the rest of my studies and has helped me stand out in the job market.’