NIHA & VET

Already since its opening NIHA has been a frequent subject of interest by Dutch Vocational Schools (ROC’s and AOC’s). Whereas in the beginning of its existence, NIHA was only able to support these Vocational Schools in a mere incidental matter – primarily through external sources of funding – a change was achieved at the beginning of 2008. The direct incentive to this change was provided by the large scale, NIHA-organized congress at Kizilcahamam of 13-16 January 2008. 

The congress was opened by the Dutch Secretary of State on Education, Culture and Science, Ms Marja van Bijsterveldt, who greatly emphasized – and still does – participation of Dutch and Turkish vocational education representatives while simultaneously prioritizing meetings with Turkish policy makers and vocational education teaching staff.

Moreover, it was in this period that NIHA became involved in debates regarding the restructuring of – primarily – the two years higher vocational schools present in Turkey.  The impetus to do so was provided by the apparent demand of Turkish society for a well-educated labour force, which also possesses middle-management skills and ample hands-on experience. As a consequence, NIHA undertook steps towards Turkish-Dutch cooperation within the field of vocational education.  In order to suit labour force demands, NIHA successfully explored possibilities of introducing the Dutch model of vocational education (“MBO-model”) and related practices – such as knowledge transfer, student and teaching staff exchange and internships – into Turkish society.
Up to this date, NIHA’s – extending – activities on vocational education have been made possible primarily through external sources of finance, such as PIB and the Matra-flex programme.

PIB

Since the start of the Internationalization Vocational Education Project (PIB) – as initiated by the Dutch Ministry of Economic Affairs and implemented by the Economic Development Agency – Dutch (higher) vocational schools are able to receive subsidies for international cooperation extension. As of that moment onwards, NIHA has been involved – for example through the organization of meetings, offering logistical and organizational support, finding potential partners – in the implementation of numerous internationalization projects by Dutch vocational schools. More information about PIB can be found here.

MATRA-FLEX

The Matra-flex programme falls under the auspices of the EVD and aims at financially supporting short-term, relatively small scale projects. In 2008, NIHA initiated and coordinated a Matra-flex project by the Dutch and Turkish ministries of education regarding tourism and hospitality. In 2009, NIHA hopes to execute a similar project on elderly care.

Dutch Trade Mission to Turkey in November 2008

During the final week of November 2008 the largest Dutch trade mission ever visited Turkey. NIHA was honored with organizing the bulk of the education programme, which was chaired by the Secretary of State, Ms Marja van Bijsterveldt and visited Istanbul, Ankara and Izmir. The preparation and execution of the education programme meant that NIHA’s network of relevant contacts in Turkey and the Netherlands regarding vocational education was greatly expanded. Please click here for a movie of the Dutch Trade Mission 2008

Internationalization by the Dutch Vocational Education Sector (text Dutch Ministry of Education, Culture and Science)

NIHA’s activities regarding vocational education – as showcased during the first two years of its existence – did not go unnoticed and have eventually paved the way for structural support by the Dutch Ministry of Education, Culture and Science. In this respect, NIHA is formally included in the Ministry’s vocational education internationalization agenda and will receive 40.000EUR – for vocational education ends – annually during the period 2009-2014. Besides structural support, NIHA envisions to receive financial means through project subsidies – LdV, PIB, Matra-flex – as well as a contribution by Skills Netherlands. The upcoming years NIHA wants to use aforementioned contribution for the following ends:

• Renting an office space solely for vocational education activities
• Hiring a full-time employee for LdV-projects
• Providing living- and working space for detached vocational school employees
• Incidentally involving (profit oriented) third parties in LdV-projects
• Hiring a part-time employee to fulfill NIHA’s tasks as official representative of Skills Netherlands in Turkey
• Facilitating cooperation and dialogue between Turkish and Dutch policy makers
• Supporting projects by Colo and related knowledge centers
• Supports project by MBO-raad (Netherlands Association of VET Colleges) and AOC-raad (Netherlands Association of Agriculture VET Colleges)
• Coordinating placements (identifying and matching)
• Establishing a support network for interns from the Netherlands and Turkey