News item | 06-11-2025 | 09:00
Policy is drawn up at ministries that shapes the Netherlands. We can further increase the quality of this policy by explicitly adding more and different perspectives to the group of policymakers. To encourage this, the Ministries of Education, Culture and Science and the Ministry of the Interior and Kingdom Relations/VRO will start a program specifically aimed at MBO students as of February 1, 2026. This is a great addition to the existing traineeship for HBO and WO graduates. It is possible to apply for the vacancy from today.
Deputy Secretary General OCW Mo Jaber (OCW): ”It is extremely important to have more MBO graduates in our policy departments. In this way we make our policy richer and better aligned with the social issues we are working on at OCW. This program is an important next step in that direction.”
Secretary General Vincent Roozen (BZK): ‘Our society runs on doers. People who not only come up with ideas, but also bring them to life. That is why I am incredibly proud that we are starting the MBO Trainee program. In this way we give the practical knowledge and fresh perspective of MBO students the place they deserve. Together we translate their practical experience into policy that works.’
The MBO trainee program
The MBO traineeship is a two-year program in which MBO graduates work at the heart of policy. During 3 assignments of 8 months each, they will focus on, among other things, creating affordable housing, thinking about how education in the Netherlands can be improved or about how we make fair decisions together in our democracy. The trainee program is a full-time job with built-in room for guidance and training. This way, starters get to know the central government and the younger generation remains closely involved in tomorrow’s policy.