Student Community
Our community connects students and PhD candidates from all faculties who are curious about new ideas, driven to make a difference, and eager to support each other’s journey.
Why Join?
Anyone can drop by Playground, but joining the community lets you step into something bigger:
Connect with open-minded, collaborative peers regularly
Gain early access to workshops, events, and outings
Receive exclusive invitations to external events we attend as a group
Be first to hear about startup opportunities — from internships to co-founder roles
Explore and join interest groups to act on what excites you
Help shape Playground through our community Think Tank
We Connect Online...
If you study at UU, UCU, or are a UU PhD candidate, you’re welcome to join our Playground Community WhatsApp. Getting started is simple:
Sign Up – Complete the and access our WhatsApp Announcements channel. Stay updated on Playground news, workshops, and events.
Complete Onboarding – Attend a 2-hour workshop introducing the entrepreneurial mindset. This session helps every community member build key entrepreneurial skills and a shared foundation.
Unlock Full Community Access – Receive a personal welcome from Bianca, our community manager, and explore the:
General Chat: Introduce yourself, meet others, and engage with the wider Playground community.
Interest Groups: Dive into niche topics, like AI or sustainability, collaborate, and form project teams around shared interests.
Startup Marketplace & Think Tank: Find internships, co-founders, and share ideas to improve Playground.
Be a Part of the Conversation!
Note: PhDs without a SOLIS-ID can contact Bianca Meyer (b.a.meyer@uu.nl) to join the WhatsApp community.
... and Also Meet Offline!
Our community stays vibrant through face-to-face meetups, such as:
- Monthly Lunches – Casual meetups with delicious food, fun conversations, and occasional PlayGrant Awards or guest entrepreneurs. Open to non-members.
- Playground Hangouts – Fun, exclusive outings to bars, experience centres (e.g., escape rooms, ), and more!
- Workshops & Events – Build skills individually or in teams while meeting other students. Open to non-members.
- External Events – Attend external networking and entrepreneurial events together, like and .
- Everyday Connections – All students are welcome at Playground, so there’s always someone to chat, brainstorm, or grab coffee with.
Curious about what this looks like? Check out our ľ¹Ï¸£ÀûÓ°ÊÓ & Insights for more.
