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Minister Van Engelshoven presented the Final Evaluation of the Regional Investment Fund mbo 2014-2018 to the Dutch House of Representatives on 15 December (see House of Representatives letter). The Regional Investment Fund mbo (RIF) was introduced by the Ministry of Education, Culture and Science in 2014 to stimulate collaboration between education (public) and the business sector (private). This public-private cooperation is a means to achieve the ultimate goal: improving the connection between education and the labour market in vocational education. Dialogic, in collaboration with Ecorys, investigated whether the intended improved connection was indeed realized through the resources made available with the RIF.
Between 2014 and 2018, 120 projects received funding totalling €107.6 million. The scheme is now well known among vocational education institutions: almost every institution has been involved in an RIF application. The sectors of technology, healthcare and welfare, and construction were the most represented in the granted applications. We conclude that the RIF functions well as a tool to strengthen and accelerate (often existing) collaboration between education and the labour market. The greatest impact of the RIF is the renewal of education (a quality boost in content). We also conclude that the collaboration contributes to a better alignment with the labour market but does not directly solve all issues. The effects for companies (particularly in terms of quantitative shortages) will only become apparent over the longer term. The main focus should be on keeping companies engaged (especially SMEs).
Want to know more about this evaluation? Please contact Tessa Groot Beumer.
(photo: techniekbeeldbank.nl)
