To increase the innovative power and productivity of companies, the government is making a subsidy of 210 million available for scaling up cooperation between vocational education (MBO and HBO) and employers. This was announced by Minister Adriaansens (EZK) during a visit to RDM Rotterdam, where Rotterdam University of Applied Sciences, STC and Technology College Rotterdam work together with the business community.
The scheme is part of the government's Green and Digital Jobs Action Plan. The 'Subsidy Upscaling of sustainable PPS in vocational education' is funded from the National Growth Fund.
Minister Adriaansens:
Er zijn dringend meer vakmensen nodig voor de transitie naar een duurzame en digitale economie. Daarom moeten we beter gebruik maken van de kennis en innovatieve oplossingen uit het beroepsonderwijs en zo de aansluiting tussen beroepsonderwijs en arbeidsmarkt verder verbeteren.
Connection of vocational education and the labor market
Since 2010, the Netherlands has been investing in public-private partnerships (PPPs) to strengthen the connection between vocational education and the labor market. A good connection is necessary to stimulate the application of innovations in professional practice, to help people develop throughout their lives and to increase the productivity level of SMEs. This subsidy scheme ensures that a number of existing collaborations between education and business can be further scaled up through targeted investments, so that more students and workers are trained for a job in technology or ICT.
Vocational education is a basic condition for the growth and competitiveness of the Dutch economy. Investments in education and training have a positive influence on the innovative strength and productivity of companies.
The National Growth Fund
The 'Subsidy Upscaling of sustainable PPS in vocational education' is funded from the National Growth Fund. With the National Growth Fund, the government will invest €20 billion between 2021 and 2025 in projects that ensure long-term sustainable economic growth. Of the €210 million for the project, €152.4 million has been definitively allocated. € 57.6 million has been awarded conditionally and will be paid out after a positive evaluation of the first phase.
