4th Transnational Meeting in Wageningen

The Pro-VET team pose in the UFO-like building of AHW

Wageningen was the setting for the 4th transnational meeting for the ERASMUS+ co-funded project, Pro-VET, which took place from 27th to 31st January, 2020.

Prof Frank de Jong of AHW welcomes all delegates to the Netherlands

Pro-VET project manager, Graham Burns, presents AHW Director Madalon de Beus with a token of appreciation

Dr Pieter Seuneke leads a group on a tour of AHW facilities

The central Dutch university city welcomed over 30 delegates from 12 university partners across Europe, Russia and Serbia. The host institution was Aeres Hogeschool Wageningen (AHW) and delegates made its unique UFO-like building their base of operations for the week. AHW’s director, Dr Madalon de Beus, welcomed delegates before they embarked on a tour of the university’s facilities.

The Aeres Hogeschool Wageningen campus building, or 'Cake Tin' as it is affectionately known. — The Aeres Hogeschool Wageningen campus building, or ‘Cake Tin’ as it is affectionately known.

Pro-VET delegates busy working on a group task in the main meeting room

Bevy of Serbian beauties, Slobodanka, Vera and Svetlana pose with some colourful animals

Clear objectives and a work plan were unveiled and discussed after the tour. Following all the training delivered in previous transnational meetings in Serbia, Finland and Russia, it was decided that this week would focus more on deliverables with various ‘inspirational sessions’ sprinkled throughout.

Roy van Bussel, AHW alum, does the first inspiration session

Marije Bent talks about the Visual Project at AHW

Prof Urs Hauenstein and Dr Maria Dremina lead a workshop on creativity using art

The first inspiration session was provided by Roy van Bussel from Craft Education, who shared his experience of starting up an e-learning initiative and what questions and dilemmas he had to resolve.

Dr Julian Ng presents an inspiration session on interactivity in online courses

Dr Andreas Saniter from Universitat Bremen talks about EU Policy on VET

Dr Tatiana Trebugova lays out the process for alpha testing of the VOOCs

Warnborough’s Dr Julian Ng kicked off the second day with a lesson on Interactive Learning, using an online platform as an example while controlling how the delegates could interact with the content and each other. Universität Bremen’s Dr Andreas Saniter led a policy-debunking session amusingly titled “Sense and Non-Sense of EU VET Policies”. Warnborough’s Prof Urs Hauenstein inspired participants with a session entitled “Key and Core Skills for the 21st Century” focusing on sustainability, ethics, authenticity, holistic development, integrity, mindfulness and gratefulness. AHW’s Marije Bent shared with delegates the whizz-bang technology-aided visual statistics of learning.

All hands on deck - making Pannenkoeken (Dutch pancakes) for our lunch — All hands on deck – making Pannenkoeken (Dutch pancakes) for our lunch

Prof Urs Hauenstein involved the delegates in a hands-on workshop on 21st century skills

Throughout the week, delegates worked in their respective groups to create an initial draft of their Vocational Open Online Courses (VOOCs). Various parts of AHW’s campus were co-opted by the groups to form hubs of brainstorming, debate, discussion and design. It wasn’t all work and no play.

On the bus for an excursion to Doorwerth Castle

Doorwerth Castle in all its splendour — Doorwerth Castle in all its beautiful splendour

Some of the group having lunch at Doorwerth Castle

Delegates visited the historic Doorwerth Castle for a tour and lunch, cooked Pannenkoeken (pancakes) the Dutch way, and were treated to a fine-dining dinner at the Rijn Ijssel VET Hospitality Training College.

At the Hotel Nieuwe Wereld hospitality school, delegates were treated to a fine dining expereince,

The VET college is known for its bakery section, seen above.

Part of the Serbian team enjoying the hospitality of the simulated airplane

It was another wonderful transnational meeting with wonderful memories for all delegates. The next meeting will take place in Bremen, Germany in March.