In the Lifeport Arnhem-Nijmegen region, innovations that make a difference worldwide are born every day. From groundbreaking chip technology to sustainable energy solutions, grand ambitions find fertile ground here. But behind every innovation lies a fundamental challenge: the shortage of skilled staff.
Companies in the healthcare, technology and digital sectors are desperately seeking talent, whilst vocational students all too often face obstacles in their search for an internship. This can be improved. The Regional Internship Pact is creating a unique ecosystem in Lifeport Regio Arnhem Nijmegen, where education, business and government work not alongside, but together.
Talent must be given opportunities
“A great many companies are looking for talent; we are seeing shortages across all sectors, yet a great deal of talent remains untapped,” notes Adam Galijašević, programme manager at Human Capital Akkoord. As a refugee child who himself was given opportunities in the Netherlands, he knows better than anyone what it means to be recognised. “Talent must be given opportunities rather than being sorted by ability at primary school. The shortage is too great to let talent go to waste.”
Saskia Jacobs, HR manager at Hyster-Yale Materials Handling BV, also recognises this need for a broader perspective. “There is often a perception that HAVO or VWO offer better future prospects than VMBO. Changing that societal perception is exactly what the internship pact stands for.”
Three pillars, one movement
The Internship Pact is based on three mutually reinforcing pillars. The government invests in project funding, the education sector develops hybrid learning environments, and businesses commit to providing structured support and ensuring the quality of internships. This creates a regional infrastructure in which talent and employers can connect more quickly.
Peter van Mulkom, chair of the board at ROC Nijmegen and ambassador for the Internship Pact, emphasises that successful talent development requires patience. “The key is for vocational training providers, working in partnership with businesses, to identify young people’s motivations and invest sustainably in their talent.”
Talent matching pilots
The strength of the work placement pact lies in working towards a suitable work placement. Concrete pilot schemes are underway at, amongst others, global chip technology player NXP, where students are introduced to the corporate culture through guest lectures and challenge-based learning. “Specific training certificates and company-specific work-based learning (BBL) programmes also help achieve a better match,” explains Van Mulkom. The way in which students and companies are brought together is being revamped. “We organise ‘Choose Your Job’ events – networking events that focus on building a connection between the company and the student at an early stage. By establishing contact early on, companies gain a better understanding of who is a good fit for them.”
Even more striking is the experiment with internship matching. “Internship matching doesn’t look at names or background, but at personal motivations and knowledge. That’s how we break down prejudices.”
2026: from intention to commitment
The Lifeport Regional Work Placement Pact will be officially signed in early 2026. For Jacobs, this marks the start of a long-term initiative. “We need to sit down with vocational colleges and businesses. By sharing knowledge about what vocational qualifications entail, businesses learn better what to look for. This helps them find students who are a better fit, making it more likely that they will continue working there after their work placement.”
The work placement pact is more than just an agreement on paper. It is a regional initiative in which every talent counts. As Galijašević sums it up: “The employment prospects for vocational technical students are better than for many higher vocational education (HBO) programmes. The notion that ‘higher education is better’ is simply outdated.”
The Internship Pact is a collaboration between educational institutions, businesses and local authorities in the Lifeport Arnhem-Nijmegen region, with the aim of finding a suitable internship for every vocational student and every business. If you get the matching and support right, everyone benefits.
Want to find out more or get involved? Get in touch via
arbeidsmarkt@theeconomicboard.com
Regional Internship Pact: quartermasters at work
Lifeport Arnhem-Nijmegen Region is taking an important step towards better work placements for vocational students. In line with the national Work Placement Pact – which includes agreements on sufficient work placement places, proper supervision, fair remuneration and combating discrimination in work placements – the region is working on its own, action-oriented implementation plan. Our aim: a robust and future-proof system of work placements and work-based learning opportunities from which both students and employers in the Arnhem-Nijmegen region can benefit to the full. After all, good work placements offer much more than just a learning experience: they bring in new talent and fresh ideas, and strengthen the regional economy.
The process is being led by project managers Julia Verlaat and Henno van Horssen from consultancy firm De Selectie. Julia says: “Companies that get on board now will help shape how we organise work placements more effectively. You’re not just investing in good support for students, but also in the talent of the future – for your own organisation and for the region.” Are you an entrepreneur or HR professional in the Lifeport Arnhem Nijmegen region? Then send an email to julia@deselectie.nl and join the Internship Pact – where talent and opportunities come together!
*Published on Kijk op Arnhem Nijmegen
