ROC Mondriaan spreads its wings around the world
DATE
30 August 2022
TEXT
Jasper Gramsma
IMAGE
Brian Mul
Blood is thicker than water for Hans Schutte. After a career as director-general at the Ministry of Education, Culture and Science, he is back in the mbo. "Like the world, ROC Mondriaan is becoming increasingly international," he says.
Geplanded a one-on-one interview with Hans Schutte, about his new role as chairman of the ROC Mondriaan board of governors. "But Sanne, you have something to say too, don't you? Just slide in!"
Hans Schutte: 'People like Sanne are real professionals and we need them desperately in the years to come'
Of course, 18-year-old Sanne van Winden, a third-year student at the International Hotel and Management School, does not turn that down. It typifies Schutte as an administrator who is close to his students. "People like Sanne are real professionals and we need them desperately in the coming years. She is a wonderful ambassador for her programme, we speak to each other a lot from her role in the student council," he proudly introduces the student.
'Our message is: choose with your heart, and you will be fine'
When Schutte swapped the mbo for the ministry in 2012, the flag was flying slightly differently. "Ten years ago, there were future studies stating that the world would digitise so that fewer and fewer mbo graduates would be needed," he recalls. "Now, on the contrary, the forecast is that 65 per cent of the labour market will consist of MBO jobs. So there is a glaring shortage looming."
Energy transition
The board chairman cites technology as an example. "All the major issues in the world, such as energy transition, we as a society can handle in terms of investment and innovation, but we don't have the professionals to do it. "So it's a challenge for Schutte to put ROC Mondriaan in the shop window in its full breadth. "Our message is: choose with your heart, then you'll do well. That's why we really get people interested in a subject. And if you do make the wrong choice once, switching should be easy."
'Hospitality is so much more than pouring a beer on a terrace'
Sanne agrees that ROC Mondriaan made her enthusiastic about her course: "Hospitality is so much more than serving beer on a terrace. We learn about sustainability from chef Pierre Wind, can take on extra challenges by choosing Spanish or Chinese as an extra subject, not to mention gaining international experience with competitions and internships."
The latter aspect is becoming increasingly important as far as Schutte is concerned. "Like the world, ROC Mondriaan is becoming increasingly international. Especially in a city like The Hague, where many expats also live, you have to put that firmly in place." That focus on the region with its unique characteristics also lured Schutte back to the mbo. "In Twente, I got infected with the ROC virus because the interaction with society is very big," he explains. "You are in the middle of a network with companies through internships, collaborations and vacancies. Everywhere I go, I also talk to people who came from the ROC and still enjoy it a lot."
ROC Mondriaan
The International Hotel and Management School at Koningin Marialaan - "I like meeting here because of the great dynamic and because everything here breathes hospitality" - has a prominent place in ROC Mondriaan's internationalisation. "People from this course often end up all over the world, sometimes in very different sectors, such as banking. But what they have in common is that they have learned to present themselves and be hospitable. That too is becoming increasingly important in the international world; what they learn here eventually works through on all fronts."
This academic year saw the launch of the Mondriaan International College. This exchange with vocational colleges on the Antillean islands culminates in a new International Hospitality Center, a hotel building with real guests on Curaçao. Schutte: "Many students from there come to study in the Netherlands, but drop out because they are so far from home. Many students from the Netherlands also go that way. So very good to seek cooperation." According to Schutte, the project has gained momentum because of corona. "The islands are struggling and benefit most from well-trained people in the tourism sector."
Curaçao
Sanne is keen to go to Curaçao for five or ten months this year as well. 'I actually wanted to go to Spain for my internship, but when I saw this pass by, I started having doubts; it's really cool." The hotel is partly operated by the students themselves, and a party on the beach after working hours does not sound unattractive either. "A nice bonus of this new hotel is that we can use 50 rooms to accommodate trainees," says Schutte. "They act as trial guests and immediately have good accommodation for their stay as well."
Circular
Back to The Hague, where corona rocked education considerably. For the better, Sanne thinks. "I notice that Hans and the rest of the board want to know what's going on. We really have a say, not twice a year, but every month." That includes more online classes. "We have gained a lot of experience with that," Schutte said. "And using those in a good way leaves more time for tutoring in smaller groups. That makes teaching even more fun. Who knows, maybe Sanne will also come back in twenty years to pass on her profession. Then we will have come full circle."
text Jasper Gramsma / image Brian Mul
Blood is thicker than water for Hans Schutte. After a career as director-general at the Ministry of Education, Culture and Science, he is back in the mbo. "Like the world, ROC Mondriaan is becoming increasingly international," he says.
Geplanded a one-on-one interview with Hans Schutte, about his new role as chairman of the ROC Mondriaan board of governors. "But Sanne, you have something to say too, don't you? Just slide in!"
Hans Schutte: 'People like Sanne are real professionals and we need them desperately in the years to come'
Of course, 18-year-old Sanne van Winden, a third-year student at the International Hotel and Management School, does not turn that down. It typifies Schutte as an administrator who is close to his students. "People like Sanne are real professionals and we need them desperately in the coming years. She is a wonderful ambassador for her programme, we speak to each other a lot from her role in the student council," he proudly introduces the student.
'Our message is: choose with your heart, and you will be fine'
When Schutte swapped the mbo for the ministry in 2012, the flag was flying slightly differently. "Ten years ago, there were future studies stating that the world would digitise so that fewer and fewer mbo graduates would be needed," he recalls. "Now, on the contrary, the forecast is that 65 per cent of the labour market will consist of MBO jobs. So there is a glaring shortage looming."
Energy transition
The board chairman cites technology as an example. "All the major issues in the world, such as energy transition, we as a society can handle in terms of investment and innovation, but we don't have the professionals to do it. "So it's a challenge for Schutte to put ROC Mondriaan in the shop window in its full breadth. "Our message is: choose with your heart, then you'll do well. That's why we really get people interested in a subject. And if you do make the wrong choice once, switching should be easy."
'Hospitality is so much more than pouring a beer on a terrace'
Sanne agrees that ROC Mondriaan made her enthusiastic about her course: "Hospitality is so much more than serving beer on a terrace. We learn about sustainability from chef Pierre Wind, can take on extra challenges by choosing Spanish or Chinese as an extra subject, not to mention gaining international experience with competitions and internships."
The latter aspect is becoming increasingly important as far as Schutte is concerned. "Like the world, ROC Mondriaan is becoming increasingly international. Especially in a city like The Hague, where many expats also live, you have to put that firmly in place." That focus on the region with its unique characteristics also lured Schutte back to the mbo. "In Twente, I got infected with the ROC virus because the interaction with society is very big," he explains. "You are in the middle of a network with companies through internships, collaborations and vacancies. Everywhere I go, I also talk to people who came from the ROC and still enjoy it a lot."
ROC Mondriaan
The International Hotel and Management School at Koningin Marialaan - "I like meeting here because of the great dynamic and because everything here breathes hospitality" - has a prominent place in ROC Mondriaan's internationalisation. "People from this course often end up all over the world, sometimes in very different sectors, such as banking. But what they have in common is that they have learned to present themselves and be hospitable. That too is becoming increasingly important in the international world; what they learn here eventually works through on all fronts."
This academic year saw the launch of the Mondriaan International College. This exchange with vocational colleges on the Antillean islands culminates in a new International Hospitality Center, a hotel building with real guests on Curaçao. Schutte: "Many students from there come to study in the Netherlands, but drop out because they are so far from home. Many students from the Netherlands also go that way. So very good to seek cooperation." According to Schutte, the project has gained momentum because of corona. "The islands are struggling and benefit most from well-trained people in the tourism sector."
Curaçao
Sanne is keen to go to Curaçao for five or ten months this year as well. 'I actually wanted to go to Spain for my internship, but when I saw this pass by, I started having doubts; it's really cool." The hotel is partly operated by the students themselves, and a party on the beach after working hours does not sound unattractive either. "A nice bonus of this new hotel is that we can use 50 rooms to accommodate trainees," says Schutte. "They act as trial guests and immediately have good accommodation for their stay as well."
Circular
Back to The Hague, where corona rocked education considerably. For the better, Sanne thinks. "I notice that Hans and the rest of the board want to know what's going on. We really have a say, not twice a year, but every month." That includes more online classes. "We have gained a lot of experience with that," Schutte said. "And using those in a good way leaves more time for tutoring in smaller groups. That makes teaching even more fun. Who knows, maybe Sanne will also come back in twenty years to pass on her profession. Then we will have come full circle."
