Working together to ensure a smooth transition to further education
For many pupils, the transition from secondary education to vocational education, higher professional education or university is more significant than it might appear at first glance. Pupils are confronted with new learning environments, different expectations and a way of working that requires independence, collaboration and research skills. In the Brainport region, educational institutions are therefore working together to improve the connection between these levels of education. The aim is to better prepare pupils for technology and to get them more enthusiastic about it.
Within the Beethoven Project, five partners (Brainport Development, Summa, Ter AA, Fontys and TU/e) are joining forces in a working group that focuses on this transition. The approach is not to reinvent education, but to better connect, strengthen and, where possible, scale up existing initiatives.
Coherence and coordination
Both secondary schools and further education institutions already have transition programmes and activities, such as career orientation or introductory modules. The challenge lies mainly in coherence and coordination. That is why we first mapped out what is already happening and where there are opportunities to reinforce each other.
On a practical level, existing teaching materials are made accessible via the Brainport for Education platform. By making materials easier to find and label, schools can more easily connect with current technological themes in the region.
FIRST programmes
In addition, the focus is on concrete programmes that directly support schools. An example of this is the upscaling of FIRST programmes, such as First Lego League and First Tech Challenge. In these programmes, pupils work in teams on technical issues and experience technology in an accessible and inspiring way. The programmes can be used at different levels and reach a broad target group, including a relatively large number of girls. Schools receive support in their implementation and can use existing and/or new resources from Techkwadraat for materials. Techkwadraat is a national programme for promoting technology in education, which is implemented regionally, including in the Brainport region. The programme supports schools with knowledge, networks and subsidies to strengthen technology education in a sustainable manner.
Profile assignment
A second line of development focuses on the profile assignment. Because every student has to deal with this, it offers an opportunity to develop research and collaboration skills more strongly. By enriching profile assignments with technical challenges, guidance from further education programmes and collaboration with external partners, they are better aligned with forms of learning that pupils will encounter later, such as challenge-based learning. Schools are supported in this with tools and examples, while the details are worked out in collaboration with secondary education.
The common goal is to achieve a sustainable improvement in the connection between educational levels. This will make the transition less daunting and give pupils a solid foundation for their next step in education and technology.