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91% of MBO students need additional practical education from subject specialists

91% of MBO students need additional practical education from subject specialists

Volkswagen Commercial Vehicles initiates pilot teaching method via Instagram Live at ROC

91 percent of MBO students find it instructive to be taught by subject specialists from practice. This emerged from research carried out among students from ROC Amsterdam and mboRijnland, who are going to participate in the pilot 'Klassewerk'. This initiative of Volkswagen Commercial Vehicles is a new teaching method in which students are taught by various specialists from the field via Instagram Live. Through an interactive helmet, subject specialists answer questions, which students ask via chat, in real time while they are at work. Classwork thus complements current practical education, provides a solution to the growing need for up-to-date knowledge on innovation and sustainability in MBO education and improves students' professional prospects. On Friday, May 10, the first class of the pilot will take place, with a focus on sustainable construction. Specialists and teachers from all over the Netherlands with different disciplines can sign up from now on, for the continuation of the pilot.

Supplementary education from the field

The survey also shows that 86 percent of students think it would be fun to get a behind-the-scenes look at subject specialists. In addition, the majority (61%) indicated that - in addition to their current curriculum - they would like to learn more about the practical experiences of professionals in the field.

Marjolein van Kooten, Opleidingsmanager Bouw, Infrastructuur & Onderhoud ROC Amsterdam, sees added value for MBO education from this new additional working form: "Klassewerk contributes to the connection between theory and practice. It introduces students to (new) forms of work without them having to leave school. You bring the outside world inside." Badr Moustaïne, teacher and coordinator at ROC Amsterdam, agrees and indicates that Klassewerk is more dynamic than his usual teaching method: "The students see the lesson material being applied before their eyes. That's quite rare and doesn't happen anywhere within technical education." Because students engage on Instagram on a daily basis, this is a low-threshold way of gaining knowledge. Consequently, more than half (55%) of the students say they enjoy being taught via Instagram.

Harry Buijs, specialist in wind and solar energy and one of the professionals who provides the Klassewerk lessons, also thinks that theoretical and practical knowledge can be better aligned: "It surprises me that students often already know quite a lot theoretically, but the practical knowledge is somewhat meager." This is why he feels it is important that his knowledge be passed on to a new generation. This new way of teaching not only adds value for the participating students, Moustaïne illustrates, "Subject matter experts contribute to the education of their future employees. In return, their practical knowledge contributes to the teachers' development. There is a sustainable interaction."

Sustainability and innovation

Van Kooten sees a growing need in the MBO to supplement the curriculum with lessons on sustainability and innovation: "Specialists from the field have up-to-date knowledge that can never be present at a school to that extent." Moustaïne, too, is actively working on this in his classes: "I try to make my students aware that we are entering a new phase, where sustainability is no longer a special feature but is becoming the standard. An initiative like Klassewerk can support the translation that is still needed within education."

Classwork Volkswagen Commercial Vehicles Article Vakblad Grond Weg Waterbouw Nederland

Better job prospects

66 percent of students indicate that they believe the knowledge they gain from Klassewerk increases their chances in the job market. 70 percent therefore see Klassewerk as an added value to their current curriculum. Buijs also sees added value: "We have little time to train people in the field. It would be nice if people had more practical knowledge. Through Klassewerk, they do get a little more insight."

Craftsmen of the future

Classwork is an initiative of Volkswagen Commercial Vehicles. In the first four lessons, specialists in sustainable building who drive a Volkswagen Commercial Vehicle will provide the live lessons. For the fifth lesson, professionals from all over the Netherlands from different disciplines can sign up, including professionals who do not drive a Volkswagen. In addition, MBO teachers who want to organize an Instagram Live lesson in their class can apply. After the pilot, the applications will be linked together so that more Classroom Live lessons can be facilitated - the number of which will depend on the number of applications.

Lukas Jeukens, Sr. Brand Communication Manager at Volkswagen Commercial Vehicles: "With Klassewerk, we contribute to the quality of vocational training and bring professionals and students into contact with each other. This is how we make a difference for professionals of the future."

Subject matter professionals and MBO teachers can apply via www.vwbedrijfswagens.nl/nl/klassewerk.html

The Classwork Roster

- Friday, May 10: electric hybrid car charging stations

- Friday, May 24: topic to be announced later

- Friday, June 7: topic to be announced later

- Friday, June 14: professionals from all over the Netherlands can register for this date

The first Classwork lesson will be taught by Maikel de Goede of Shupple and will be about electric hybrid car charging stations and will take place at 2 p.m. For current topics and times of the other classes: www.vwbedrijfswagens.nl/nl/klassewerk.html

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