About this tender

The UvA and AUAS have decided to start a joint tender process for payment transactions. This decision aligns with our ambition to make sustainability a central part of our operations. With this tender, we aim to select a bank that meets both our functional and sustainability requirements, with a particular focus on climate and environmental considerations

What does this mean?

• We have chosen to place significant weight on sustainability in the evaluation of potential banking partners, with a strong weighting factor of 30%.
• The European tender will be published in early November, meaning that we expect to select a bank in the first quarter of 2025.
• If a new service provider is chosen, the plan is to complete the implementation by the end of 2025.

Erik Boels, Director of Finance & Control at the UvA, responded positively: ‘I've never seen sustainability given such a large weighting in a tender before. This demonstrates how important sustainability is to the UvA, even in our financial operations.’

The CSR expressed pride at this result: ‘The CSR is looking forward to selecting a green bank for our payments. This not only aligns with our goals of incorporating sustainability into the fabric of the UvA, but also showcases that the students have the power to bring about effective change. After all, the CSR was one of the parties that formally initiated the process of transitioning to a sustainable bank.’

Scientists for Future NL said it's looking forward to the tender: ‘Firstly, it’s excellent that the UvA has taken the input from students and staff seriously. We, at Scientists for Future NL, see this change in tender criteria as an important step forward that reflects a shift in how the UvA as an organisation approaches sustainability. We are hopeful that this will result in an outcome that will help support the transition to a just and sustainable society.’

Engagement of staff and students

In 2022, the topic of ‘sustainable banking’ was raised at the UvA by the CSR and the Green Office. During preparations for this tender, input from various stakeholders, including students and staff, was essential. The involvement of staff will also be crucial during the transition to a new bank, particularly in the execution and management of the migration process. We see this tender as a significant step towards a more sustainable future.