The Digital Industry Boost (DIB) consortium will invest seven million euros over the next four years in improving the connection between education and business. In particular, in-service and retraining for technical professions in the region around Eindhoven will be strengthened.
This partnership of Fontys University of Applied Sciences, Mikrocentrum, Summa College, Brainport Industries, EdiH partners (European Digital Innovation Hubs) and the province of North Brabant has received a grant from the Ministry of Economic Affairs for that amount.
The aim is to give an impulse to the manufacturing industry in the Brainport region, where changes are taking place at a rapid pace. In four years' time, a knowledge ecosystem should be created in which cooperation between education and business is commonplace. Within that system, professionals can develop their knowledge flexibly and in response to demand, as educational institutions cooperate across their own borders.
Ella Hueting, director Fontys Engineering, notes that fewer and fewer young people are choosing engineering. As a result, hbo will focus more on retraining and upskilling workers. The various education partners are developing a continuous learning line from secondary education via mbo and hbo to master's programmes. By offering both public and private training opportunities, the cooperation partners are experimenting with a faster, more flexible and demand-oriented response to business needs. Besides the training opportunities, students work together with companies on practice-oriented innovation projects in hybrid learning environments.