FC Groningen and the University of Groningen are looking for cooperation to tackle exercise poverty and develop talent: ‘This is a unique opportunity for us’

FC Groningen and the University of Groningen are going to work together. On Thursday, President Jouke de Vries of the Executive Board of the University of Groningen and General Director Wouter Gudde of FC Groningen signed a letter of intent to join forces in the field of research.

With this declaration of intent, FC Groningen and the RUG express their wish to collaborate more on relevant social and substantive education and research themes. For example in the field of sport, exercise, health and sustainability. But social challenges such as lack of exercise, talent development and entrepreneurship also play an important role in this. In addition, agreements have also been made about further exploration of possible student and research projects.

“In our policy plan 2020-2025 ‘Together to the Grote Markt’, we have formulated beautiful and firm ambitions as a driver for the regional economy in the Northern Netherlands and as a driver to solve exercise poverty in our catchment area,” Gudde responds on behalf of FC Groningen. . “We need strong partners and brands for this. The RUG is such a party. An institute with a great deal of in-house knowledge, which we would like to make use of and work with.”

Unique opportunity

Jouke de Vries of the RUG is also happy with the plan to start working together: “By linking FC Groningen’s great social reach and the broad academic knowledge within the RUG, we create a unique opportunity to achieve common goals in the field of of health, sustainability, sport and exercise. This allows us to generate a positive impact on social issues.”