Breda University of Applied Sciences has been recognised on the European stage, receiving a Bronze Award at the first-ever Besties ceremony in the category of Edcom Initiatives.
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The award was presented in recognition of the Learning Lounge, a grassroots initiative developed by Creative Business lecturers Koen Suidgeest, Stefan Egberts, and Rob Verhagen from the Academy for AI, Games and Media (AGM).
What is the Learning Lounge?
The Learning Lounge is a platform designed to bridge the gap between academia and industry. It connects Creative Business students at BUas with leading professionals from the media and creative sectors, offering them direct exposure to real-world complexity and contemporary professional practice.
The initiative reflects a core belief shared by its founders: that meaningful education goes beyond the classroom. By facilitating genuine dialogue between the next generation of creative professionals and the industry they are preparing to enter, the Learning Lounge creates mutual value, enriching students' perspectives whilst giving industry partners a valuable insight into emerging talent.
A European recognition
The Besties (formerly known as the Best Practice Awards) are organised by the European Association of Communications Agencies (EACA), the voice of Europe's communications agencies and associations. This year marked a significant expansion of the awards, opening participation to all EACA members, including members of edcom. The ceremony brought together some of the most impactful initiatives from across Europe, celebrating excellence across the communications industry.
Lecturer Stefan Egberts expressed his delight at the recognition:
"Having just started this initiative, supported by management, it is fantastic to win this international education award together with my colleagues and besties at BUas!"
View the full list of 2026 Besties winners on the EACA website.
