MADE IN HOLLAND Skills and Knowledge Excellence • International training • Educational games Innovative water management • Successful alumni • Cooperation

Where theory and practice merge The Dutch way

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in linking education and real life. Students use cutting- e Comes from edge technology in a practically oriented education Russia and wants to system and work together with the most innovative specialise in Mechanical businesses. Add the attraction of the historical Engineering. His lectures legacy to this educational environment and are in English. students realise ‘that’s how I want to work’. Books alone can never Dreams achieve as much. of a career in Germany.

Wants to go on to Wants a university of to be the best chef applied sciences to in Paris and will add the theory to his soon be a trainee at a top current practical Dutch Michelin-starred experience. restaurant. Has just left for her practical horse-breeding traineeship.

2 MADE IN HOLLAND Photo: Marijke Volkers www.hollandtrade.com 3 About this publication, January 2011, Made in Holland / Skills and knowledge is a publication of NL EVD International, a division of the NL Agency which is part of the Dutch Ministry of Economic Affairs, Agriculture and InnovationEditor-in-Chief Carin Bobeldijk Final editor Peter Koll Editing Kris Kras Design, Marc Mijer, Werner Bossmann Editorial address NL EVD International, Made in Holland, PO Box 20105, 2500 EC The Hague, The Netherlands, [email protected] Contributors Renske Heemskerk, Hielke Venema, Christien Dohmen, Priscilla de Jong, Willy Bronsteijn, Fred Klingeman, Huiberdien Sweeris, Marc Fonhof, Leo van Gelder, Leo de Wit, Emiel de Groot, Manfred Polzin, Charlotte van Hees, Hester Pronk, Loes van Tiem, Herman van Holt Concept, design and art direction Kris Kras Design, Utrecht Translation and revision Overtaal Language Services, Utrecht Printing vijfkeerblauw.nl Copyright Articles may be reprinted or reproduced only with acknowledgement of the source: Made in Holland, Skills and knowledge / NL EVD International. No rights may be derived from the contents of this publication. 14 www.hollandtrade.com/skillsandknowledge

Interview “International skills are essential” Innovation Source: Skills-Netherlands With the help of

students Cover The photograph on the cover shows two students at a EuroSkills 24 student competition. The students from secondary education compete to win titles such as ‘Europe’s Best Welder/Hairdresser/Baker’. Both ambition and precision are essential.

PRACTICAL The link between learning how to do something and then practising Ask a The Dutch it with your hands is very important in the Dutch education system. In the professional abroad The students have already acquired spotlight 6 Treat trainees as International

colleagues student projects a substantial amount of practical Practical and experience by the time they international 34 receive their diploma, which gives them a head start on the 22 job market. 4 Contents 18 Product development 30 Alumni Skills and knowledge Educational games Dutch successes 6 In the spotlight 2 1 In business 3 2 International cooperation Practical and international Working together in education Netherlands acts as guide for Indonesia 1 1 Outsider’s opinion 2 2 Ask a professional 3 4 The Dutch abroad World Expo Shanghai Treat trainees as colleagues Gaining valuable experience 1 2 Facts and figures 2 4 Innovation 3 8 Meet the Dutch Back to school Floating sustainable pavilion Global Entrepreneurship Week 1 4 Interview 2 6 Technology report 4 0 Addresses “Education is about investing in the economy” Synergy between university and hospital

4 MADE IN HOLLAND www.hollandtrade.com 5 Excellence Source: Skills-Netherlands

Photo: ANP / Duisenberg School of Finance

Cooperation

The Netherlands has a large number of training and development institutions that are not government-funded, such as the Duisenberg School of Finance. The school is a collaboration between the Dutch financial sector and universities, the ambition being to support innovative research and offer top-quality academic education in core areas of finance. Given the close cooperation with industry, the Duisenberg School of Finance is well positioned to bring global financial leaders from industry and other international companies to the classroom.www.dsf.nl

Challenge

The Dutch always want to be the best from a very young age. This ambitious attitude is encouraged by the education system with activities such as specialist international competitions in which students compete for the title ‘Best European Welder’ and games and a range of competitions organised during lesson time. Thanks to this practical approach, the business community can already share in the benefits of the students’ excellent level of knowledge while they are still studying. www.skills-netherlands.nl

6 MADE IN HOLLAND www.hollandtrade.com 7 Traineeships

Photo: Marijke Volkers (STC Group)

Practice

In lots of professions, practice is vital. Otherwise, how can the graduate be confident of steering his real-life ocean- going vessel safely into port? In the Netherlands, students can take various high-quality simulator-training courses, such as this one at the STC Group’s college in the Port of Rotterdam. Once the student has mastered the skills required to steer the virtual vessel, he or she will move on to practise on the training institute’s real-life vessels. Adults also undergo regular on-the-job training to keep their skills up to date. www.stc-group.nl

Responsibility

Students learn the most if you give them responsibility. An example are these hospitality management students from a senior secondary vocational school. They are running their own hotel and restaurant as part of a school assignment. That experience makes the learning process easier because they experience precisely what they will be expected to deliver on the job market in a way that would never be possible in a lecture on the theory. The Dutch education sector is constantly looking for this type of opportunity to cooperate with people in the field in once-only projects, competitions and traineeships. There are even forms of training in which the student works four days a week at a work experience company and goes to school for one day.

8 MADE IN HOLLAND Photo: Edith Paol (OCW) www.hollandtrade.com 9 International Outsider’s opinion

Source: PTC plus.com

Photo: Peter Cox Dutch students inspire China

The Netherlands achieved something unique during the World Expo in Shanghai when 170 Chinese and 152 Dutch students staffed the Dutch pavilion ‘Happy Street’. The students made sure that the 50,000 daily visitors had everything they needed. Michele Bosch lives and works in Shanghai and was responsible for choosing the Chinese students. She experienced the event from close range, so how does Michele look back on Happy Street? “Chinese students sometimes spend a day at a company as part of their studies, but that’s always on a voluntary basis. There were a lot of enthusiastic Chinese Sharing knowledge students wanting to take part in this project – especially Economics, English and Tourism students. That was certainly a major difference compared to the Greenhouse farming is one of the sectors in which the Netherlands excels: our country is the second largest The visitors remember Dutch students, who were mostly on Hospitality courses. Because they were exporter of agricultural products in the world. Businesses such as the agricultural company PTC+ invite visitors the pavilion in particular paired off with each other as buddies, the Chinese learned a lot from the Dutch from all over the world to use all of their senses to get to know the sector better. This strong internationalisation is because of the happy, about hospitality at major events, such as the fact that absolutely everything also mirrored in other sectors in the Dutch education system. International skills are important for everyone, from open atmosphere, with has to look amazing all the time. The Dutch expect a lot from themselves and farmers to researchers pursuing a PhD. That’s why sharing knowledge at the international level is so common here tasty Dutch treats such immediately expect the same from others as well. I liked the fact that the in the Netherlands. www.ptcplus.com/EN as battered ragout balls, students were at an age where they reacted in a very genuine way to each other. treacle waffles and That led to a lot of clashes in the beginning, but in the end there were floods small fluffy pancakes of tears when they had to say goodbye to each other. The Expo had literally Are you interested in our practically oriented, international approach? Are you looking for a traineeship opportunity for everywhere. They were a only just finished when the first flights were booked from here back to the your students in the Netherlands, or can you host Dutch students? If so, please send an e-mail to [email protected]. big hit with the Chinese Netherlands. The students can now call on an international network of valuable food fans. contacts. The Chinese also learnt a lot from the challenging personal learning goals that Dutch students set themselves before the start of a period of work www.holland-expo2010.com experience and that they must achieve by the end. These goals give added value to the work experience.”

10 MADE IN HOLLAND www.hollandtrade.com 11 Facts and Figures

12 MADE IN HOLLAND www.hollandtrade.com 13 Interview Photo: Marijke Volkers (OCW)

Joining forces

A vital economy needs a strong business sector and businesses, in turn, need well trained people. In 2011, this means that students must acquire international skills as globalisation continues unabated. Cooperation between the education and business sectors is therefore essential, emphasises Alexander Rinnooy Kan, Chair of the Social and Economic Council of the Netherlands (SER) and also Chair of the Knowledge Investment Agenda (KIA).

”Globalisation is a given,” says Rinnooy Kan. “In itself, targeted activities are used to give Dutch students that’s nothing new for a country like the Netherlands the opportunity to spend some time studying at a which has always had an international tradition, but university of applied sciences or a research university it is becoming increasingly important.” This is why in another country.” businesses need well trained men and women who know what they are doing at international level. Customised Precisely what skills do they need? “Knowledge of How can businesses contribute to students’ foreign languages is obviously important. The Dutch international development? Offering international education system must ensure that enough time and traineeships is one tried and trusted method in which attention is focussed on languages. Rather than only students are given the chance to get a taste of ‘the teaching English, in the Netherlands we also offer real thing’ while at the same time gaining experience Already other languages as well to make sure that students’ in another country. The businesses can really get to knowledge of languages is in line with the needs know a potential future employee and if everything working for a of the job market.” ‘Knowing what’s happening in works out well, they may even immediately provide the world’ is another skill emphasised by Rinnooy the student an incentive to stay at the business by real company Kan. The content of subjects such as social studies making him or her a concrete offer. and social sciences in the Netherlands, for example, A more substantive way in which the business as part of the must be determined partly from an international community can collaborate with the education perspective. “But it’s obviously at least as important sector is to become actively involved in a particular course to acquire real international experience during your curriculum. As an example, Rinnooy Kan mentions studies. Fortunately, that’s easy to arrange nowadays the way in which the ING Group (one of the through programmes such as Erasmus which is Netherlands’ largest financial institutions and also organised by the European Union. Subsidies and an organisation where he was a member of the

14 MADE IN HOLLAND www.hollandtrade.com 15 Interview

Executive Board for ten years) developed an IT study the end of 2009 and the count now stands at 50. A need programme in cooperation with a university of applied is clearly being met.” sciences. “The programme was entirely customised to the bank’s needs. In exchange, ING offered jobs to the Professor with an endowed chair students who were involved.” This is the kind of initiative In addition to international traineeships and jointly that ensures optimum alignment between the education organising and working out the details of study system and the needs in the field. The involvement of programmes, there are also other ways in which the the internationally oriented company guarantees an business and education sectors work together. “I think international emphasis in the study programme. it’s very worthwhile to establish endowed chairs at research universities, because companies establish a Combined study and work link between their specific sector and the education programmes sector by providing the funding for a professorship.” So-called ‘vocational colleges’ also meet with the Professors with endowed chairs usually have access to enthusiastic approval of Rinnooy Kan. Vocational the company in question, which enables them to help colleges offer special, practical teaching programmes improve the alignment between the education system organised jointly by Dutch businesses and technical and the job market. Equally, the companies can benefit vocational schools. “That kind of set-up leaves the from the direct access to the scientific world provided by students in a good position on the job market at the the endowed chair. end of their course. The advantage for the businesses Photo: Christiaan Krouwels is that they increase their chances of tapping into a Clear choices source of well-trained potential new employees.” What Rinnooy Kan believes that it is very important for a makes the vocational colleges really special is the high country to choose where it wants to excel so that it Alexander Rinnooy Kan practical content of their courses. From the very start can produce an ‘agenda’ designed to achieve this aim. of the six-year programme, the students are introduced As Chair of the Knowledge Investment Agenda (KIA) The daily Dutch newspaper of Rector Magnificus at Erasmus to the real-life professional environment. In the first coalition, Rinnooy Kan has actively contributed to De Volkskrant has voted University in Rotterdam. couple of years they visit businesses and have on-site the establishment of just such an agenda. KIA clearly Alexander Rinnooy Kan the In the 1990s, Rinnooy Kan was

Photo: Marijke Volkers (OCW) Volkers Marijke Photo: lessons, while in the latter part of the programme the summarises the sectors where the business community, ‘most influential person in the the chairman of the Dutch students ‘combine studying and working’ in the education sector and the government should Netherlands’ for the last three employers’ organisation VNO- real technical positions at the businesses focus their policies and resources. “As in so many years. Rinnooy Kan studied NCW and a member of the that are involved with the vocational countries, there is also pressure on these subjects in the mathematics in Leiden and Executive Board of the ING colleges. These businesses open their Netherlands because of the financial crisis and the need econometrics in Amsterdam Group. He has been Chair of doors to orientation visits by the to make cutbacks. In essence that’s understandable, before devoting himself to an the SER (Social and Economic Companies students and offer concrete work but this is in fact precisely the time when we should be academic career which has Council of the Netherlands) – experience. The businesses also investing more because investing in knowledge makes included guest professorships a body that advises the Dutch can later tap make a financial contribution, the economy stronger and actually generates money. If in California (Berkeley) and government – since August 2006. which makes it possible to link you don’t make these investments, you run the risk of a Boston (MIT) and the position into a source of every student to a permanent significant loss of prosperity. Furthermore, the country supervisor for the duration of becomes a less attractive place to establish a business Are you interested in our ‘vocational colleges’ where practical good new the programme. “An outstan­ding and less attractive to talented individuals. That’s why teaching programmes are organised jointly by Dutch businesses initia­tive,” says Rinnooy Kan. “That’s it’s more important than ever that the business and and technical vocational schools? If so, please visit employees why it’s very popular. The vocational education sectors continue to invest and join forces to www.mboraad.nl colleges started in 2008, a total of 24 produce well trained people. In the Netherlands, we are educational institutions had signed up by continuing to invest.”

16 MADE IN HOLLAND www.hollandtrade.com 17 Product development

Curriculum enhancement. The NHL University in Leeuwarden and the Van Hall Institute have included game development in their curriculum. Together with the international water company Vitens-Evides, the students develop a multimedia game about the decision- making process for water facilities in various different contexts. www.NHL.nl

International cooperation. The International Business students at Zuyd University of Applied Sciences play a hotel management game with students from Russia, England, France and Germany in which the object is to save a failing hotel from bankruptcy. The business community provides sponsorship as well as real-life case studies. www.hszuyd.nl

Explosive growth in turnover of 1,211%. This was what two students at the University of Twente achieved with their sensory suit that records body movements. After they graduated, they set up a small company called ‘Xsens’ and in Gaming at school no time at all they were supplying their product to gaming giants. They use the Xsens suit as In the educational game ‘The Great Flu’ students have to prevent a worldwide part of the process of making game animation movements lifelike. www.xsens.com outbreak of a new flu virus. Ranj, the company behind ‘The Great Flu’, developed­

this ‘serious game’ in cooperation with the well-known virologist Dr Ab Osterhaus Ready-made package for schools. The Make-a-Game package enables secondary of the Erasmus Medical Centre Rotterdam. The object of the game is to improve schools to organise a competition for current your knowledge of viruses and the complex ways in which they are spread. The (or should that be future?) game builders. Under the supervision of a coach, teams make a game’s visual power has a major impact on anyone who plays it. You can play the learning game for their 12 to 18-year-old game at www.thegreatflu.com.Image: RANJ.nl contemporaries. www.make-a-game.nl

Interested in working together? If you would like to work with innovative Dutch gaming companies or gaming departments at educa­ tional institutions, please contact the Dutch Game Garden. www.dutchgamegarden.nl

18 MADE IN HOLLAND In businessXxxxxxxx xxxx

School trains engine fitters. DAF Trucks developed the PACCAR MX diesel engine in Eindhoven and ROC Eindhoven trained the DAF production line workers to assemble the MX. The ROC subsequently worked with the East Mississippi Community College to adapt the training for production of the same engine in an American PACCAR factory. www.roceindhoven.nl/english

Junior College Utrecht. Some pupils find secondary school lessons in exact sciences too easy. Utrecht University has therefore set up the ‘Junior College Utrecht’ to cater to these pupils. This cooperative arrangement gives the pupils access to the university’s laboratories and library, providing them with a new and challenging environment in which they can develop at a faster pace. www.youtube.com/ Juniorcollegeutrecht

From training to tools. The ‘Learn4Work’ programme organised by the Edukans Founda­ tion includes more than 10 Dutch Regional Training Centres or universities of applied sciences that are working to improve education – especially vocational education – in Africa. They provide tangible support – sometimes in cooperation with Dutch businesses – to assist a wide range of African schools by offering teacher training or IT support, for example, or Exchange tools to establish a link between vocational education and the job market. www.edukans.nl In October 2010, nine Technology and Design students from the Eindhoven Regional Training Centre (ROC Eindhoven) paid a visit to their fellow students at Green knowledge. The Green Knowledge Cooperative (GKC) brings together a wide ICVC ANHUI in Huainan, China. The visit resulted in ongoing cooperation between variety of Dutch educational institutions the two institutions, including a student traineeship exchange programme that focus on green spatial planning and the agricultural sector in particular. The GKC between the two countries. The students learn a lot from the exchange: the Chinese develops programmes for animal welfare learn how to develop creative initiatives themselves, and the Dutch students learn and health & nutrition, for example, and is working together with its counterparts in other the importance of discipline in their specialist area. The photograph was taken at European countries in an attempt to roll out the going-away party just before the students returned to Eindhoven. these programmes internationally. www.gkc.nl

Source: ROC Eindhoven www.hollandtrade.com 21 Ask a professional

What is the added value What would be your number of having trainees in your one advise for companies company? “They help us to grow planning to introduce your 1 Insure ATM. In addition to eight 5 approach? “You need to support employees, we also have three the trainee and make sure he trainees every year at our or she doesn’t get stuck while commercial office in Zwolle. How do you ensure that not having the courage to ask a We never have enough trainees can achieve their question. We have knocked down permanent employees to personal learning goals? “We the walls so that we all sit in the conduct exploratory research 3 consult with the school and same room, which makes it easier into possible new markets and the student to determine the to ask questions. On the other that kind of assignment is an competencies that the school hand, you don’t want to burden excellent learning opportunity requires the students to develop your permanent employees with for the trainees. This approach while they are at our company. too many trainees’ questions, has generated a lot of new If we notice that the trainees so trainees also have to look customers already. The trainees are missing certain skills, we up answers in what we call a are very keen and eager to learn. pass that information on to the ‘road book’. Our road book Sometimes they ask questions school. For example, the ability to was compiled by the trainees that have never been asked conduct telephone conversations themselves.” before which help us look at with customers is essential in our things in a new light.” niche market. The problem is that young people nowadays spend What makes your company so much time in chatrooms and Acquiring valuable different from other work sending text messages (SMS) that experience experience companies? they’ve gotten out of the habit of 2 “We have a new trainee every making phone calls. The students Doing a traineeship in a real-life three months. They follow a therefore spend a lot of time in business environment is very set programme in which they the first week on telephone trai­ common in the Netherlands. first get to know the company ning and issues like how to start Students at all levels do before undergoing training on a conversation with a stranger traineeships at least once and our products, then using our and how you should react if sometimes several times. What Photo: Marijke Volkers complex order system and finally you don’t entirely catch what the student does on a traineeship spending the last month on their someone says.” varies from one situation to another own research. Rather than the and also depends on the student’s traditional view of trainees as Does it cost your company level of education and training. ‘baggage’, we see our trainees extra effort and manpower to For example, some students will “Treat trainees as colleagues” as fully fledged colleagues. have trainees working for you? be given a look behind the scenes Obviously they need coaching, 4 “It’s mostly a great advantage! and a job to do in the company’s but we also expect them to live But you must make sure you day-to-day work, while others might Koos Bos (43) is Director of Insure ATM, an international supplier of ATM (= cash machine) components. up to certain perfor­mance levels. organise everything properly and be applying university research to His company was named ‘Best International Internship 2010’. Bos says, “We were very proud to win They gain the confidence to it’s important that the students real-life situations. work indepen­dently and when can work independently as soon Do you want to know more about the award. We would have missed major opportunities in many countries without the help of all of our they work independently you as possible. We now in fact have internships with Dutch students? trainees. We are continually tapping into new markets based on their exploratory research.” can see them mature in the two former trainees on the payroll. Contact us by e-mailing to course of their three-month They settled into their jobs [email protected]. www.insureatm.com trainee period.” immediately. That was ideal for us.”

22 MADE IN HOLLAND www.hollandtrade.com 23 Innovation

Two university of applied sciences students taking Urban and Regional Planning courses at Rotterdam The flexible University of Applied Sciences have been given the task connections between of providing the architects with inspiration. They are Students the floating sections and the also making preparations for a possible extension of quayside allow the floating the complex in the form of a giant ice floe representing pavilion to move with the large masses of ice that are disappearing from the keep you the tide. polar ice caps. Finally, a Civil Engineering student from Delft alert University of Technology is designing a possible way of connecting the different floating sections. The overall floating surface area is approximately the size of four The new icon in the Port of Rotterdam is a tennis courts. Rotterdam is situated beside the North Sea so the movements of the tides are noticeable right floating pavilion which is the first result In addition to into the heart of the city. of Rotterdam’s ambition to build a floating providing soundproofing and regulating the The really special aspect of the students’ involvement city for some 10,000 inhabitants. Students humidity level, the wall is the way that they can learn so much from each from senior secondary vocational education vegetation also improves other. The research university students receive air quality. valuable input from the students in senior secondary through to research university students are vocational education, for example, about what can working on the project and inspiring both and cannot be implemented, while the students from senior secondary vocational education learn about the the companies involved and each other. The domes behaviour of the structure and the forces generated are covered with an between the movements of its different component EFTE film which is ideal parts. The students found it especially interesting to Students who want to participate have to apply for the for a floating building as brainstorm together about the ice floe design based assignment – just as they would in real life. The star it is 100 times lighter on the experiences they had acquired in their different performers who come through this selection process than glass. activities. This kind of multidisciplinary team always are given a work contract with one of the companies raises a lot of questions, so the companies involved involved in the project and they use their knowledge have to keep alert with their arguments, which they feel and viewpoint to work towards the twin aims of the is a major benefit. Rotterdam Climate Initiative: a climate-proof residential area on the water and a 50% reduction in CO2 emissions The school supervisor closely monitors whether the for the city as a whole. students are able to achieve their personal learning objectives, because the student trainees are not there The two Architecture students from Albeda Regional to do the dirty jobs, but rather to make a substantial Training Centre (senior secondary vocational education) contribution to this ambitious project. They have are involved in the preparations for the floating certainly made an excellent contribution in this case. structure. The structure will be made of EPS (expanded polystyrene). The students are advising on how best to If you would like to learn more, go to: apply the hard-wearing coating on the EPS, as well as www.rotterdamclimateinitiative.nl/en monitoring the process as a whole and intervening if there is a risk of something going wrong.

24 MADE IN HOLLAND Photo: Marc Heeman www.hollandtrade.com 25 Technology report Photo: Bart van Overbeeke Xxxxxxxx xxxx

Balancing a scalpel and a screwdriver

Thanks to researchers at Eindhoven University of Technology (TU Eindhoven) and specialists from the Academic Medical Centre (AMC) in Amsterdam, there is now new technology available that can detect prostate tumours with a high degree of precision. The technology creates images based on ultrasound. “Engineers and doctors have completely different ways of thinking,” says Hessel Wijkstra, Head of Urological Research at AMC. “However, by working together, we were able to raise existing methods to a higher level.”

It’s been a long time since Hessel Wijkstra was Netherlands Organisation for Scientific Research thought of as ‘the man with the screwdriver’. He does (NWO). Massimo Mischi, who is affiliated to the have a background as an engineer, but he has now Electrical Engineering Faculty at Eindhoven been a member of the clinical staff at the renowned­ University of Technology (TU/E), was awarded a grant AMC hospital in Amsterdam for quite some time. of €800,000 from NWO to conduct research that “When I took my first steps in the medical world I was establishes a special link between TU/E and AMC. seen as the odd man out,” Wijkstra admits. “That was “When I decided to focus my research on ultrasound, probably because engineers and doctors come from imaging technology and cancer I immediately two completely different worlds. Since then, however, encountered Hessel Wijkstra. You can’t avoid him, I’ve learnt how urologists think.” because he’s the specialist in that area. He is one of Wijkstra does remain a special case, though, because the people responsible for the high level of academic he is one of only a handful of engineers worldwide urology in the Netherlands.” who work in urology, the branch of medicine that deals with urinary tract conditions. “Two of that Deviant patterns “Our handful work in the Netherlands: I and a colleague Hessel Wijkstra has been working on technical of mine in Rotterdam. It’s a great shame because solutions to help doctors make diagnoses for almost ultrasound- this shows that the input from engineers as regards twenty years. Prostate cancer – which kills three in developing treatment and detection techniques is every one hundred men – remains one of the most based imaging still not always fully appreciated.” difficult cases. “Medical science is as good as blind This is why the transfer of knowledge between the when it comes to prostate tumours,” explains technology is scientific world, the people in the field and the Wijkstra. “The most common form of cancer among business community is actively promoted in men is therefore the most difficult to detect. We can’t more precise” the Netherlands by organisations such as the even use the current imaging technology to view the

26 MADE IN HOLLAND www.hollandtrade.com 27 TechnologyXxxxxxxx report xxxx

Engineers in the operating theatre

Massimo Mischi

Photos: Bart van Overbeeke

“The collaboration between AMC and TU Eindhoven is tumours. For want of anything better, a biopsy is the precisely locate a tumour in a patient’s prostate, but than the current technologies and – most importantly – unique,” says Hessel Wijkstra, Head of Urological Research standard method. That involves inserting needles also to determine how aggressive it is. a lot more precise.” at the Academic Medical Centre (AMC). Wijkstra has been into the prostate at random points if an elevated The blood vessels in a tumour have a denser pattern working as part-time Professor of Hemodynamic Contrast prostate-specific antigen (or ‘PSA’) level in the Patient-friendly than blood vessels in healthy tissue, the researcher Sonography in Eindhoven since 1 November 2010. patient’s blood causes the doctor to suspect that His background and experience made Hessel confirms. “We also expect the deviant blood vessel Massimo Mischi and Hessel Wijkstra hope that the there’s something wrong.” Wijkstra the ideal person to act as a bridge between pattern to show us how dangerous the cancer is.” urologists of the future will be able to decide on the To watch an online According to Wijkstra, this method results in ‘poor’ the AMC and the researchers in Eindhoven, accor­ A damaged prostate was removed from four of the required intervention using only this new imaging video showing diagnoses. “There are too many cases of unnecessary ding to Massimo Mischi. “The way in which scientific patients on whom the researchers tested the techno­ technology, without the need to do a biopsy. Wijkstra: “A precisely how operations on dormant tumours or cases where a research is organised in the Netherlands encourages logy. The tumours were found at the exact locations pilot with the two methods in use side-by-side will start Mischi’s and lump is overlooked. We have to remove the entire cooperative arrangements such as ours,” he says. shown by the images. soon in several different hospitals. I hope the number of Wijkstra’s prostate before we can determine how dangerous the “You need to find partners who support your unnecessary interventions will rapidly decrease as a result. examination method tumour was. That’s the last resort with other forms research and show that your research is relevant Breakthrough There will be occasions when doctors decide to leave works, go to of cancer, but with prostate cancer it’s usually the if you want funding. I think that’s a good thing.” PhD students from Eindhoven have been working in the small, non-aggressive tumours in place and monitor their gallery.me.com/ first choice.” His research is funded by the Cure for Cancer urology department in Amsterdam’s AMC for a while development because an operation and the potential loss h.wijkstra/100181 The AMC has been experimenting with using foundation, as well as by NWO. In addition to TU Eind­ now. They are present during operations to remove of quality of life would be a greater risk than leaving the ultrasound to detect and produce images of tumours hoven and AMC in Amsterdam, the Catharina Hospital prostates in order to gain insight into the dilemmas and tumour where it is.” More: for a long time. The patient is given a contrast and various ultrasound companies are also involved problems facing the doctors. “The breakthrough would www.tue.nl medium, which is a harmless substance that reacts in the research. never have been possible without this cooperation Hessel Wijkstra differently to blood when subjected to acoustic Mischi presented the first results of his research at and the contact with a real-life medical environment,” vibrations. This enables the doctors to see deviant a science conference in Chicago in September 2010. Mischi acknowledges. “That enabled me to transfer the patterns in even the smallest blood vessels in the “They’re closely following what we’re doing in the algorithms from my study to a hospital setting.” prostate. “We had images before, but we couldn’t tell United States because prostate cancer is a major Mischi has lost people close to him to cancer. “I could what we were looking at on the film,” says Wijkstra. public concern over there – maybe even more so certainly relate. But I was reminded of what we’re doing A calculation system has now been developed in than it is in the Netherlands,” Mischi explains. “The when patients started calling me as soon as news of cooperation with researchers from the Electrical doctors at the conference were very enthusiastic our results became known. That’s what gives me the Engineering Faculty at TU Eindhoven to quantify the about our ultrasound-based imaging technology motivation to continue improving and refining data from the images. It is now not only possible to because it is more patient-friendly, less expensive our method.”

28 MADE IN HOLLAND www.hollandtrade.com 29 Alumni

Get in touch Dutch Alumni & Business Society is a business networking tool for international alumni, students and Dutch compa- nies. Join and be (virtually) connected to the opportunities the Dutch and their alumni have to offer worldwide. www.dab-society.com

Bram Moolenaar Viktor & Rolf Willem Beverloo Marja van Bijsterveldt Aukje Doornbos Haldun Unalan Studied Electrical Engineering Studied Fashion at the Works as Foreman and Studied Nursing (level A) Studied Chemical Engineer- Works At the Hago clean- at Delft University of Technolo- ArtEZ fashion academy in supervisor at carpentry com- Is now Dutch Minister of ing and Chemistry at Eindho­ ing company Outstanding gy Is now Google employee in Arnhem Are now World- pany Plegt-Vos Outstanding Education, Culture and ven University of Technology achievement Named best Zurich Outstanding achieve- famous fashion designers achievement Named best Science Outstanding Is now Demand Supply Chain cleaner in Europe ment Developed VIM, the Outstanding achievement carpenter in Europe achievement Was the Manager at DSM Outstand- most popular open source text Designed the wedding gown youngest mayor in the ing achievement Named editing program for Princess Mabel of the Netherlands aged 33 Young Professional of the Year Netherlands 2009 by Dutch newspaper De Volkskrant

Danny de Vries Paul Verhoeven Hans Wijers John Körmeling Arjan van Hessen Rem Koolhaas Is studying Mechatronics at Studied Mathematics at Leiden Studied Economics at the Studied Architecture at Studied Geophysics and Ital- Studied At the Dutch Film and Mondriaan Regional Training University Is now Film director, University of Groningen Eindhoven University of ian, earned a PhD in Phonetics Television Academy in Amster- Centre in The Hague Out- screenwriter, and film producer Is now CEO of AkzoNobel Technology Is now Architect, Is now Researcher in language dam Is now Architect and own- standing achievement in the USA Outstanding Outstanding achievement urban planner and sculptor and speech technology at the er of the Office for Metropolitan Named best mechatronics achievement Directed world- Served as Dutch Minister of Outstanding achievement University of Twente Architecture (OMA) in New York engineer in Europe famous film ‘Basic Instinct’ Economic Affairs Designed the Holland Outstan­ding achievement Outstanding achievement Pavilion Happy Street at the Developed practical applica- Designed the massive Central World Expo in Shanghai tions based on language and China Television Headquarters they studied in holland speech research building in Beijing, China

André Rieu Neelie Kroes Andre Geim Jan Visser Maggie Muurman Sylvester Keus Studied At the Maastricht Studied Economics Was a PhD supervisor at Radboud Studied Plasterwork at Studied Wildlife Management Works At Keijsper-Reus Academy of Music Is now at Erasmus University University Nijmegen Is now Zadkine in Rotterdam at the Van Hall Institute in Leeu- Outstanding achievement Dutch violinist, conductor, Rotterdam Is now European Professor of Innovative Materi- Is now Plasterer at warden Is now Co-founder and Named best tiler in Europe and composer Outstan­ Commissioner for Digital als and Nanoscience (endowed Smaal Stukadoorsbedrijf Conservation Programme Direc- ding achievement Playing Agenda Outstanding chair) Outstanding achievement Outstanding achievement tor of Yayasan Pulau Banyak in the Waltz all over the world achievement Ranked 38 in Won the Nobel Physics Prize for Named best plasterer in Indonesia Outstanding achie­ for thousands of visitors Forbes magazine’s World’s research into the properties of Europe vement Winner of the Future for at the Johann Strauss 100 Most Powerful Women graphene, one of the strongest Nature Award and the Woman of Orchestra concerts materials in the world the Earth Environment Award

Frans van der Hoff Evita Parinussa Mark Rutte Marc Bolland Fenna Janssen Li (Lidewij) Edelkoort Studied Political Economics Is studying Design and Studied Dutch History, Studied Business Adminis- Studied Industrial Design Studied Fashion and Design at Radboud University Product Presentation at St. University of Leiden Is tration at the University of at the University of Twente at the ArtEZ fashion acad- Nijmegen Is now Employee at Lucas in Boxtel Outstanding­ now Prime Minister of the Groningen Is now CEO of Is now Master’s student of emy in Arnhem Is One of the coffee cooperative UCIRI and achievement Named best Netherlands Notable Guest Marks and Spencer Out- Emerging Technology Design leading­ trendwatchers in the priest in Mexico Outstanding window-dresser in Europe lecturer at the Johan de Witt standing achievement at the University of Twente world Outstanding achieve- achievement Launched Max Varias College for preparatory Made struggling Morrisons Outstanding achievement ment Named one of today’s Havelaar, the first worldwide secondary vocational education, into the top supermarket Won the Student Research 25 most influential fashion fair trade label lecturing in Dutch and Social chain in the UK Award 2010 for her ‘solar experts by Time magazine Studies. cooker’

30 MADE IN HOLLAND www.hollandtrade.com 31 International cooperation “Good but also while the study Best practice programme is in progress vocational “We train hundreds of – especially in the form of Indonesian doctors” Innovative Indonesia traineeships. “Traineeships people are have not yet developed “We had been receiving invitations to sufficiently in certainly needed organise courses in Indonesia every year Indonesia. They are often for many years. We therefore applied for – finds inspiration really short and don’t have in addition to and were granted – a European subsidy to that much substance. We support our work. We now organise courses Indonesia – named by President Obama as one of the most innovative countries in the advise organising traineeships good scientists” for hundreds of trainee doctors every year that last for at least three months world – likes to draw inspiration from the Netherlands on educational matters. The in which we teach them how to use research and involve giving the students real, results. AsiaLink also offers a wide range VAPRO knowledge centre, for example, helps the Indonesian vocational education substantive assignments.” of study programmes at various different De Jong also sees a role for businesses at the sector to improve the alignment between its study programmes and the needs of the levels,” says Yolanda van der Graaf, ‘back end’ of the study programme. “I’m thinking Professor of Clinical Epidemiology at UMC. business community and the teaching hospital in Utrecht helps with the training of in particular about organising a practical assessment at the company where the student’s traineeship takes The University Medical Centre (UMC) in Utrecht medical professionals. www.asialink-ce.org, www.umcutrecht.nl/research place, because then you know for certain that the study is part of the EU-backed ‘AsiaLink Clinical Epide- programme is properly aligned with real-life needs.” miology and Evidence Based Medicine’ initiative There is little wrong with the content of the this benchmark with European standards. Not together with the Oxford, Kuala Lumpur and Indonesian vocational education system, because education in Europe is by definition better, National interest Jakarta teaching hospitals. The aim of the initia- given that students are taught well in a but because the alignment between education and Although VAPRO offers advice, the schools themselves tive is to increase the knowledge and skills of “Companies broad range of subjects. However, as the needs of the business sector is better there.” The contact the businesses which – given the nature of the medical professionals in Indonesia en Malaysia. both the schools and the Indonesian benchmark results in advice and adjustments, such schools’ study programmes – are mainly companies can play a ministries of Education and Industry as splitting up one broad study programme into two from the processing industry. They might be chemical Reducing the burden of disease observed, the study programmes more specialised programmes. companies or factories that mass-produce a particular The training on offer consists of basic training­ major role are not ideally suited to the needs product, for example. All of the schools are currently (including an Evidence Based Medicine Work- of businesses. The ministries Substantive traineeships talking to businesses in their region, varying from small shop), advanced training (such as Clinical Trials) by offering are therefore supporting the VAPRO is also helping the different departments in local companies to multinationals. and post-Master’s programmes (such as cooperative arrangement between these schools to build a good relationship with the A good alignment between the study programme Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis). “We traineeships, the Dutch knowledge centre business community because businesses are where and the real-life working environment is extremely provide financial support for these courses and VAPRO and Indonesian vocational the students are being trained to work. “Ideally, there important for the students because it increases their we visit Malaysia and Indonesia twice a year. for example” education schools. VAPRO has should be three main aspects to that relationship,” chances of finding a good job. Furthermore, the country We also have local epidemiology units, because signed contracts with SMTIs (industrial says De Jong. “First of all, there should be regular as a whole benefits because the Indonesian economy otherwise you’re too far away and the progress engineering schools, which train students discussions with businesses about their needs. is doing well, for example, and there is a lot of demand of your work as a whole is at risk.” What does to be industrial operators) in places such The main question is what skills students need to for highly trained people. Many Indonesians strongly Van der Graaf consider the biggest advantage as Yogyakarta and Makassar and with SMAKs become good employees, because once you know prefer research university education, which in itself of AsiaLink? “The burden of disease in these (laboratory assistant schools, which train students to the answer – and you adapt to changes in the answer is understandable, but the country needs more than countries will be reduced by increasing the be laboratory assistants) in Bogor and Padang. as they happen – you can focus your curriculum good scientists. “There is a shortage of well trained and knowledge level of the local medical professio­ So what can VAPRO offer the study programmes in accordingly. We advise schools to invite businesses to immediately employable vocational people,” explains nals. We therefore give our colleagues in these schools? “We start at each school by taking a join an advisory committee to ensure that discussions De Jong. “That’s why we are getting support from the Indonesia and Malaysia access to all of the benchmark of the curricula, the teaching materials between the two sides take place on a regular basis.” ministries of Education and Industry to improve the knowledge at our disposal.” and the teaching methods,” explains International Such a forum is important because business input is alignment between vocational education and the job Affairs Manager Mirjam de Jong. “We then compare needed not only at ‘the front end’ of the curriculum, market. There is a clear economic interest involved.”

32 MADE IN HOLLAND www.hollandtrade.com 33 The Dutch abroad

A medical traineeship in a China is an non-western country Studeren increasingly popular teaches prospective aan een groot- destination for international doctors how to schalige Chinese student exchanges. The improvise. universiteit. Een country’s rapidly growing internationale economic power attracts Dutch The chance kans! students with a pioneering to study at a large spirit. Chinese university is a valuable international opportunity!

Dutch students often spend part of their study period in a foreign country. Some attend lessons at a foreign school Dutch students are especially popular in other countries because of their practical knowledge of subjects such with the local students, for example, while others might spend a period as a trainee, learning about their chosen as paediatrics or water management. Expertise in both areas is needed everywhere, even if the Netherlands and profession in a different real-life environment. countries like Abu Dhabi look as if they have nothing in common.

Photo: Marijke Volkers

Politics Students Dutch students in student broadens having a drink the United States know her horizons with outside in San the power of a good a traineeship in Francisco. network of contacts. They Rome. return to the Netherlands with contacts from all over the world.

34 MADE IN HOLLAND www.hollandtrade.com 35 Foreigners in Holland Photo: Edith Paol (OCW) Photo: Marijke Volkers Photo: Marijke Volkers

This Irish Foreign students student is appreciate the spending a year at practically oriented the Amsterdam focus of the Dutch School of the education system. Arts.

Of all the students at research universities and universities of applied sciences in the Netherlands, 13% are from other A lot of students in the Netherlands live alone on campus in brightly-coloured container homes, for example, or in a stu- countries. They attend lectures in English. The Netherlands was the first country to offer that option. Foreign students work dent house in the city centre. Almost everyone has his or her own room. There are a lot of clubs for international students with their fellow Dutch students on the practical assignments that are a typical feature of the Dutch education system. which Dutch students also like to join.

Photo: Edith Paol (OCW)

A Kazach The Netherlands has Economics student the highest bicycle density walks past the Rietveld in the world at more than one Schröder House in bicycle per inhabitant! Foreign Utrecht on the way students also join in with our bicycle to a lecture. culture and move around on bicycles. It is traditional for students to have an old bicycle and spray-paint it all kinds of bright colours.

36 MADE IN HOLLAND Photo: Marijke Volkers www.hollandtrade.com 37 Meet the Dutch Photo: HH / Jan Boeve www.hollandtrade.com

Improving the world The Global Entrepreneurship Week 2010 in the Netherlands revolved around the competition to find new ideas called ‘Get Started for a Great Challenge’. Young Dutch entrepreneurs competed for the title of ‘Most Enterprising Team or Person’. The theme of the competition was an idealistic question: ‘How can you improve your world?’ Ideas ranged from thoroughly cleaning up the playground to reducing the amount of plastic packaging in a supermarket. Contestants presented their ideas in a minute-long video clip that they had recorded themselves. All of the clips were bursting with creativity!

Exchange with Turkey The Rotterdam Entrepreneurship Week (REW) 2010 was given an international flavour by the Educational International Trade Mission. A competition was organised during an exchange involving Turkish and Dutch students to see who could write the best business proposal. One of the tasks for the student teams was to present their proposal to the ‘dragons’ from the famous television programme ‘Dragons’ Den’.

Basis The Global Entrepreneurship Week was founded by the Kauffman Foundation from the US and Make Your Global entrepreneurs­ Mark from the UK. These two organisations aim to use educational projects to encourage young people to be come together economically independent. Success The facts and figures speak for themselves with 7.5 million The Netherlands has participated in the Global Entrepreneurship Week young people participating in 88 different countries, in every year since 2007. Centred around the themes of innovation and excess of 10 million participating entrepreneurs, more than 32,000 activities and the support of heads of state, entrepreneurship, the week sees the business community and government presidents and government ministers from 16 countries, jointly organise countless activities for the younger generation. The aim is including Nicolas Sarkozy, Gordon Brown, Hillary Clinton, the King of Morocco and Her Royal Highness Princess to bring out the entrepreneur or innovator in 10-to-30-year-olds. Máxima of the Netherlands.

More information: www.GEWNederland.nl, www.unleashingideas.org

38 MADE IN HOLLAND www.hollandtrade.com 39 Addresses

VSNU represents the shared interests of the fourteen research universities in the Netherlands in the fields of research, education, knowledge transfer, funding, personnel policy and international affairs. VSNU functions as an employers’ organisation, promotes the universities’ interests and provides a forum for the development of common viewpoints. www.vsnu.nl/english

NVP (Dutch Association for Personnel Management and Organisation Development) is the network for Human Resource professionals who are engaged in issues such as HR strategy, employment relationships, re­cruitment and selection, HBO-raad (Netherlands rewards systems, conditions of Association of Universities of employment and training plans. Applied Sciences) brings together www.nvp-plaza.nl/site/en all the 39 government-funded Universities of Applied Sciences NVO2 is the professional (UAS) in the Netherlands. association for Human Resource The association focuses on Development (HRD). Drawing on strengthening the position of a dynamic network of some 2,000 these institutions in society, acts Human Resource Development as the knowledge centre for professionals, NVO2 focuses applied sciences and is a platform on further enhancing the for collaboration. The association professionalism of this specialist MBO Raad (Netherlands functions as an employers’ area. www.nvo2.nl Asso­ciation of VET Colleges) organisation on the universities’ represents all government- behalf. www.hbo-raad.nl/English NL EVD International is a division funded senior secondary of the Ministry of Economic vocational education and Nuffic is the Netherlands Affairs, Agriculture and Innovation. training and adult education organisation for international It is the central organ of the colleges in the Netherlands. cooperation­ in higher education. Dutch government responsible On behalf of its members, Nuffic supports internationalisa- for promoting the international the association promotes the tion in higher education, research presence of Dutch companies and collective interests of the and professional education in the organisations in foreign markets sector, supports the colleges’ Netherlands and abroad and and for supporting private sector common activities and acts as helps to improve access to higher development in emerging markets. Photo: OCW an employers’ organisation. education worldwide. www.hollandtrade.com/ www.mboraad.nl www.nuffic.nl skillsandknowledge 40 MADE IN HOLLAND