ROC West-Brabant

ROC West-Brabant is comprised of nine vocational education and training colleges in the South of the Netherlands. The ROC aims to be a training provider of high quality education for all people, irrespective of their age, background or social position. The education and training we offer aims to qualify people for the demands of the labor market, thus enhancing their opportunities for a better position in society; to contribute to people’s personal development; to prepare people to function better in a multicultural, diverse and complex society.

ROC West-Brabant has about 26,000 students in vocational education, 20,000 in general education and 2,500 staff members.

Study Programmes

The 9 colleges have been structured in such a way that each college offers courses/programmes relating to specific subject/employment/industry sector areas. These are:

Radius College, Breda see www.radiuscollege.nl

Vitalis College, Breda see www.vitaliscollege.nl

Zoomvliet College

Vocational education and adult education

Vocational and adult education is regarded as complementary provision: adult education can have an independent function as well as act as a stepping stone towards employment, continuing education and training. Preparatory provisions leading to vocational and/or adult education are offered within the college.

Adult education is regarded as:

A step towards employment, continuing education and/or training.

A key factor in assisting the learner to meet their social aspirations through education.

A positive and effective tool, contributing to the personal development of the learner.

An improvement of Employability, Employability Skills and Employee Skills – the focus of this is establishing the areas where there are employment gaps or likely future shortages, looking at what skills the Employer is looking for i.e soft skills; communication and finally the training/education required to be undertaken by the learner ( the employee skills) to meet the needs of the workforce and to be fit for purpose.

Educational routes

The college offers its participants a coherent structure of both horizontally and vertically flexible, educational routes. There are about 325 educational routes. The college is capable of developing and offering adapted educational routes aimed at specific groups of participants (e.g. both for current employees and for those seeking employment).The college is capable of developing and offering tailor-made training courses demanded by the (business) community.

Learning environment

The learning environment is well equipped with a wide range of learning materials including the use of ICT and practice based equipment. Learning and teaching methods used contribute to the high quality of education and training received by the learner and enhances their opportunities for employment. All of the programmes have a practical practice based element to them – this is either within a simulated situation within the college e.g. training restaurant or in an actual work place e.g a nursery school. Employer engagement is a major focus with all courses and employers significantly contribute to the development of the learner.

Internationalization

The international projects of ROC West-Brabant are organized around six areas:

Mobility projects: for both students and teachers – (this includes both sending our students and staff as well as receiving students and staff from other countries)

European Framework: Euro CV, Certificate Supplement, EQF, EFR.

Language training programmes;

Intercultural communication in the Colleges;

Participation in international innovative projects – development of educational materials;

Export of knowledge: offering education in English language for (overseas) students.

The college works together with colleges abroad. There is teacher and student participation in European programmes such as Leonardo da Vinci, Grundtvig, BAND, Phare, ESF and Equal. We are also co-operating with schools and companies in Europe. ROC West-Brabant works together with schools in Spain, Italy, France, Belgium, Germany, Poland, Estonia, Finland, Sweden, Denmark, United Kingdom, Ireland, Romania, Cyprus and Turkey. ROC West-Brabant is a member of the European Forum for Vocational and Educational Training (EFVET). ROC West-Brabant is also currently involved in other important projects that at the moment in the United States, Mexico, Ghana and Kenya.

ROC West-Brabant

internat@rocwb.nl

tel + 31 76 504 80 00

telefax + 31 76 504 80 10

Trivium 76 NL - 4873 LP Etten-Leur

P.O. Box 699 NL - 4870 AR Etten-Leur

The Netherlands

www.rocwb.nl

www.letsgoabroad.nl