News item | 2023-03-20 | 3:30 pm
In order to increase the innovative power and productivity of companies, the government will allocate € 210 million in the coming years for scaling up cooperation between vocational education and employers. The subsidy scheme for public-private partnerships in MBO and HBO was opened today. This was announced by Minister Adriaansens of Economic Affairs and Climate Policy during a visit to the RDM campus in Rotterdam, where various educational institutions collaborate with the business community. The scheme is part of the government’s Green and Digital Jobs Action Plan.
Minister Adriansens: “More professionals are urgently needed for the transition towards a sustainable and digital economy. That is why we must make better use of the knowledge and innovative solutions from vocational education and thus further improve the connection between 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 ‘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.
For more information see: Subsidy Scaling up sustainable PPP in vocational education.