We work with universities and their partners across Europe on organisational development, place based leadership, and the facilitation of strategic change — building the structures that connect higher education to the cities, regions, and challenges it exists to serve.
Learn about our vision
Universities are among the most fascinating institutions in modern society. They are, archives of civilisation and engines of its renewal — places where curiosity is protected, knowledge is tested, and the next generation learns to think and act. And yet, to remain who they are, universities must be willing to change how they work.That tension is where Onbound begins.We work with universities and their partners to build the alignment, structures, and relationships that allow institutions to act on their potential — not just as centres of knowledge, but as societal anchors, regional partners, and active participants in the transitions that matter most to the communities around them.Where universities are well-aligned — with their cities, their partners, and their own ambitions — remarkable things become possible. That is what we work towards.
Three orientations shape how we work at Onbound
1. We work at the intersection of knowledge and action
Universities hold knowledge that societies need — and societies hold challenges that universities are rarely asked to solve. Closing that gap requires more than goodwill; it requires structures, habits, and relationships that don't yet exist in most institutions. We help build them, by connecting research, education, and innovation to the real conditions of the places universities inhabit.
2. We further root universities in the places they serve
There is a meaningful difference between a university that happens to be located in a city and one that is genuinely part of it. The first exports graduates; the second helps shape what the city becomes. That difference is not accidental — it is built through deliberate relationships, shared agendas, and leadership that is accountable to the region, not only to the institution. This is what we work towards, and what we help make legible to those in a position to act.
3. We design for multiple perspectives and translate across value-systems
Complex problems resist single-actor solutions — not because no one has the right answer, but because the right answer depends on whose experience you are drawing from. Universities, cities, industries, and communities each hold partial knowledge. Our role is to create the conditions in which that knowledge can be combined: through facilitation, co-design, and the sustained relationships that outlast any single project. The goal is not agreement for its own sake, but solutions that are durable because they are genuinely shared.
“A system is never the sum of its parts, it’s the product of their interaction”
- Russell Lincoln Ackoff, organisational theorist (1919-2009)
Our practice
Universities that are well-connected to their regions — to their cities, industries, and communities — generate more durable impact than those that are not. Onbound works with institutions to build those connections: through strategy, facilitation, and leadership development that holds across political and institutional cycles.
The questions we are typically asked to help address:
+ How can we align our education, research and innovation agendas to effectively address societal challenges?+ How can we enhance our leadership in the community and region to strengthen our position and attract new funding opportunities?+ How can we foster interdisciplinary collaboration in innovation and entrepreneurship to create solutions that resonate locally and globally?+ How can we build a learning culture to strengthen the sharing of objectives and results, especially in complex and changing environments?
Discover our services
We develop strategic initiatives that span the boundaries of universities and society:
+ Benchmarking and integration of best practices:
Conducting comprehensive benchmarking studies to gather lessons from best practice and integrating this knowledge into the project's strategic framework to ensure relevance.+ Stakeholder engagement:
Facilitating workshops with key stakeholders to jointly define project scope, objectives and expected outcomes, ensuring alignment with organisational goals and stakeholder needs.+ Strategic planning and roadmaps:
Mapping current resources, identifying barriers and leveraging opportunities, and providing a framework for strategic decision-making and action learning to adaptively manage inclusive project development.
We support leadership development across institutional boundaries:
+ Leadership support:
Tailoring leadership development programmes to the specific needs of the organisation, focusing on both rectors and future leaders.+ Innovation training:
Supporting strategic dialogue that develops shared responsibility for collective action, using practical tools and techniques such as systems thinking methods.+ Peer learning:
Providing spaces for reflection across institutional boundaries to foster leadership and continuous learning.
We facilitate good conversations and build new perspectives:
+ Moderate public engagement:
Design and delivery of tailored events with internal and external stakeholders. Encouraging the engagement of all participants, regardless of their background and status.+ Workshop facilitation:
Facilitating conversations and discussions in, for example, European University Alliances, ensuring that all voices are heard and that meetings are productive and focused.
If this resonates with where your institution is heading, we would love to learn more.
Explore our work
Find out more about four of Onbound's projects that demonstrate our commitment to transforming higher education and driving societal impact:PLNT Leiden Centre for Innovation and Entrepreneurship, Una Europa Joint Institute of Advanced Studies, K2K Entrepreneurship Capacity Building in Côte d'Ivoire, GovernU Centre for Leadership Development in Paris.Find out how we've partnered to foster innovation, empower communities and bridge the gap between higher education and society.
Una Europa Joint Institute of Advanced Studies Feasibility Study
Client: Una Europa University Alliance, Leiden University
Overview
Onbound is supporting Leiden University, part of the Una Europa Alliance, in the feasibility of establishing a Joint Institute for Advanced Studies (Joint-IAS). The aim is to create a collaborative platform for interdisciplinary research on major European challenges, in line with Onbound's vision of universities as catalysts for societal transitions.
Approach
+ Benchmarking and good practice:
Conducting an in-depth review of IAS-type institutions and assessing each partner university's unique services and resources for interdisciplinary research.+ Scenario building:
Developing a set of scenarios with key stakeholders to assess the political, economic and practical feasibility of establishing a joint IAS.+ Stakeholder engagement:
Facilitating collaborative workshops with key stakeholders across the Alliance to ensure alignment on objectives, pool resources and build shared ownership of the project.+ Strategic roadmaps:
Developing an actionable roadmap with timelines, milestones and resource allocations to guide the establishment and growth of the potential Joint-IAS.
Outcome
We are working on a detailed feasibility report that includes a vision, scenarios and a roadmap that includes governance models, community needs and financial projections for the establishment of the Joint Institute for Advanced Studies. Our collaboration will help align the Alliance's 2030 vision for interdisciplinary research and engagement to drive positive societal transitions.
More notable projects and initiatives we supported
+ La Caixa PhD/Postdoc Training with SIRIS Academic (ongoing).
Facilitation of sessions on innovation, entrepreneurship and societal impact for PhD students and postdoctoral researchers to enhance their leadership potential.+ JRC Scoping Study on Place-Based Leadership (2023).
Identifying opportunities to strengthen regional innovation capacity of leaders in university and regional government .+ PIONEER University Alliance (2023).
Supporting a European university to develop a mission, vision and projects for SDG 11: Sustainable cities and communities.+ Egyptian Research Based Business in partnership with KnowledgeE (2023). Designed and delivered a training programme for Egyptian researchers to promote entrepreneurship.+ Porta Diagonal Barcelona (2023).
Conducted a study on the potential of an international branch campus as an anchor of the emerging innovation district.+ The city as a classroom, leren met de stad (2018).
Creating an university-city interface to enhance engagement of students, lecturers and local government officials in urban transitions.+ Joint Leiden-Delft-Erasmus Minor.
Degree Frugal Innovation (2017) Curriculum co-design of a joint degree on sustainable development in the Global South.+ Establishment of the Hague Humanity Hub (2016).
Conducted a feasibility study and supported the initiation of an innovation hub for NGO's in the peace and justice sector.+ Joint Leiden-Delft-Erasmus Minor in Responsible Innovation (2013).
Co-designed and prepared the first LDE joint minor focusing on responsible innovation.
All our engagements begin with a single conversation. Please reach out to learn more.
Highlighted project:
PLNT The Hague
PLNT The Hague, creating a student entrepreneurship hub
Client: Leiden University and the City of The Hague
Partners: PLNT Leiden
Overview
Onbound supported Leiden University's Campus The Hague to establish PLNT The Hague, a central hub to cultivate entrepreneurial skills and connect academic talent with public and private sector partners. PLNT The Hague serves as a dynamic meeting place where students, researchers, government agencies and businesses come together to address complex societal challenges. This project reflects Onbound's commitment to bridging the gap between academia and societal needs, fostering innovation that strengthens the city.
Approach
+ Needs assessment:
Assessed the needs of students and researchers at The Hague campus and identified key opportunities for entrepreneurship education that respond to local challenges.+ Ecosystem development:
Established PLNT The Hague as an inclusive environment, creating links with other innovation hubs such as Hague Tech, Titaan and World Startup to embed it in The Hague's entrepreneurial ecosystem.+ Innovation and entrepreneurship education:
Designing entrepreneurship and innovation programmes and activities to inspire students and researchers, providing challenge-based experiences and access to experts. We facilitate action learning opportunities linked to real-world problems.+ Community building events:
Designing, facilitating and delivering events to provide ongoing support and engage diverse student and research networks where academic insights meet societal needs.
Outcome
PLNT The Hague has become a springboard for entrepreneurial talent in the city, providing a platform for students and faculty to develop skills and collaborate on impactful solutions. With its interdisciplinary approach and cross-sector partnerships, PLNT The Hague contributes to local development and aligns with The Hague's Economic Vision 2030, establishing itself as a key interface for public innovation.
If you are sitting with a challenge at the boundary of your institution, we would welcome a conversation
Highlighted project:
K2K Cote d'Ivoire
K2K Entrepreneurship Education capacity building in Ivory Coast
Client: Netherlands Enterprise Agency (RVO)
Partners: Siris Academic, PLNT Leiden, Orange Corners, Côte d'Ivoire, UN University Maastricht (UNU-Merit), ESPartners.
Overview
As part of PLNT Leiden, Onbound partnered with RVO and Orange Corners to help Côte d'Ivoire's higher education system develop students' entrepreneurial skills. This project bridged academic learning with real market demands by promoting entrepreneurship education. We supported three leading institutions - INP-HB, IUGB and UAO - to integrate entrepreneurship into their curricula and cultivate an entrepreneurial mindset among students.
Approach
+ Needs assessment:
Tailoring the project to the unique capacities and strengths of each institution.+ Training of trainers:
Equipped 19 faculty members with innovative entrepreneurship teaching methods, including lean startup and design thinking.+ Curriculum design:
Co-designed and enhanced existing modules to embed practical entrepreneurial skills.+ Student engagement:
Engaged over 500 students in experiential learning through projects, company visits and pitch events.+ Coaching and support:
Provided ongoing coaching and documented learning to ensure long-term impact.
Outcome
The project fostered a culture of entrepreneurship within Ivorian universities, equipping faculty and students with the skills to drive local innovation and economic development. The initiative has laid the foundation for sustainable entrepreneurship education, bridging the gap between academia and industry needs.
If this is the kind of work your institution needs, get in touch.
Highlighted project: GovernU Paris
GovernU Leadership in Higher Education - Community of Practice
Client: Universite Paris Cite and the French Inter-Ministry Delegation for Public Transformation (DITP)
Partners: SIRIS Academic
Overview
As part of SIRIS Academic, we supported the creation of the GovernU Community of Practice, a network of leaders from French and European universities, to support leadership development in higher education. GovernU empowers university leaders in academic and administrative roles to adapt effectively to the evolving Higher Education landscape. This community-driven initiative promotes strategic reflection, role clarity, team building and shared culture, ultimately fostering institutional development and leadership capacity.
Approach
+ Needs assessment:
Conducted a comprehensive needs assessment with over 50 university leaders and benchmarked 12 institutions, identifying key challenges and opportunities in higher education governance.+ Pilot project design:
Co-designed pilot projects focusing on different themes and audiences, such as strategic planning, decision-making and team cohesion, tailored to promote effective governance practices.+ Leadership development training:
Developed and delivered professional development initiatives for university leaders to enhance their capacity for strategic thinking, collaborative leadership and adaptive decision making.+ Community engagement:
Facilitated ongoing discussions and workshops to strengthen the community of practice, enabling leaders to share insights, refine strategies and foster a collective vision for governance innovation.+ Evaluation and scaling:
Implemented a feedback loop to assess the impact of each pilot, gathering insights to refine approaches and scale successful models across additional institutions.
Outcome
We supported the implementation of 4 pilots, including their lessons learned. Developing tools for strategic reflection and adaptive leadership. Through targeted pilots and collaborative learning, GovernU fosters a culture of peer learning and continuous improvement, enabling universities to meet the demands of an evolving higher education landscape.
If you are working on a challenge that fits this scope, we would be glad to hear about it.
Get in touch
At Onbound, we look forward to working with you to turn strategic visions into impactful realities. Our founder, Sjoerd Louwaars, and our carefully assembled teams bring a wealth of expertise to each partnership.Listen to the CiviCast featuring Professor John Goddard OBE in conversation with Sjoerd Louwaars and the OECD report we contributed to on the geography of higher education.
Reach us directly — by phone, email, or LinkedIn. Conversations are where our work begins.T +31 6 2883 8252
E sjoerd@onbound.org
www.linkedin.com/in/sjoerdlouwaars/
Thank You
We will be in touch shortly.