Higher education institutions [HEIs] in the Netherlands increasingly focus on their pivotal role in society. Supported by the Ministries of Education as well as Domestic Affairs, HEIs have teamed up with municipalities to form "City Deals" in an effort to connect researchers & students to the pressing issues of society. In this session we'll introduce how these Dutch Deals have been a driving force in leaving the ivory tower behind. By harnessing multi-level & cross-boundary learning, innovative education can be responsive to local societal challenges & help students develop transversal skills