Deborah Valentine

Indeed. A crucial question for anyone who accompanies, or joins, someone on a relocation anywhere. We, at ACCESS in the Netherlands, want to draw attention to the efforts of our Patron, TU Delft’s Dual Career Services. We have known for… read more >

How Can ‘Significant Others’ Land Successfully?Indeed. A crucial question for anyone who accompanies, or joins, someone on a relocation anywhere. We, at ACCESS in the Netherlands, want to draw attention to the efforts of our Patron, TU Delft’s Dual Career Services. We have known for quite some time that they were on the right path – and the feedback from those who have been on that ‘path’ is confirmation of this belief. Four core elements that are the focus of this knowledge-sharing initiative have contributed to its success. These are: cultural and linguistic awareness when preparing and strengthening your CV; the job application process; knowing what to do and say in network situations and when faced with introductions; and sharing tips and experiences with others in the same situation. In the hands of professionals, this programme enables participants to feel confident when dealing with their new life and career goals in the Netherlands. Having a series of comprehensive workshops – with sufficient time in between to network and practice their new skills – gives the participants the best possible start in the Netherlands.   www.access-nl.org read more >

Worldwide the debate is in full swing. Parents, teachers, students, educational institutions, employers and policy makers alike are asking themselves What are the skills needed for the labour market in the future?, and, Are these being taught to those who… read more >

Education: Steered by Market Needs…Worldwide the debate is in full swing. Parents, teachers, students, educational institutions, employers and policy makers alike are asking themselves What are the skills needed for the labour market in the future?, and, Are these being taught to those who will be entering the job market in the coming years? At ROC Mondriaan, an intermediate vocational education college based in The Hague area, the future of its graduates is the fundamental basis for all they do – in their national (Dutch) as well as international (English) streams. The three courses offered in the English language covering Hotel Management, Tourism and Business Studies offer their graduates access to Higher Education. From curriculum development and international partnerships to participating in achievement events, it is not simply teaching students today that matters, but also what the students gain for their own future. This may seem like a logical, expected element of education: preparing students for their future – but the truth is; when the future is such an unknown, unless educational institutions connect to employers and the wider world around them, how can they ‘know’ what the future is that they are preparing them for? There was an element of serendipity to the interview I had with Fred Klingeman, Project Manager, and Marian Crone, Tutor HRM & Internships at the International Hotel & Management School of ROC Mondriaan. That same afternoon, a local paper had featured a special insert entitled Education and the Business Sector, which had been a central element of what we had only just discussed earlier that day. Not to mention the current debates surrounding public education that are taking place worldwide, and the challenges an increasingly international world places on students and education institutes alike. Connecting Beyond the City “Currently, the Netherlands sends less than 1% of all MBO… read more >