Never doubt that a small group of thoughtful, committed citizens can change the world. Indeed, it's the only thing that ever has.
The words of anthropologist Margaret Mead fit well with what we consider to be the central objective of a college like University College Roosevelt: education for global citizenship.
The Roosevelts
The name Roosevelt links us to the family that is believed to have originated in Zeeland and played such an important historical role in pointing out global interconnectedness. Theodore Roosevelt convened the world’s second Peace Conference in the Netherlands. Franklin Roosevelt famously formulated the Four Freedoms which would serve as the foundation for world peace – and are still commemorated with the Four Freedom Awards handed out in Middelburg every other year. Franklin’s wife Eleanor chaired the Commission that formulated the Universal Declaration of Human Rights. One of her most famous sayings is UCR’s adage:
‘The future belongs to those who believe in the beauty of their dreams.’
UCR, in line with the Anglo-Saxon Liberal Arts and Sciences tradition, considers contributing to critical global citizenship a core objective of higher education. This takes shape in many different ways. By living together with fellow students from all over the world and learning about their lives and viewpoints. By learning how to take a well-rounded, scholarly perspective on a wide range of topics and presenting your views orally and in writing. By joining the debate club, or partaking in a Model United Nations contest. However you spend your three years at UCR, you will find that – just as was the case with the Roosevelt family – Zeeland will serve as your springboard to the world.