Every two months, the members of The Economic Board meet to discuss the work being done at Lifeport to promote a healthy and sustainable life. The board meeting at the end of September took place at ROC Nijmegen. With 150 different courses on offer, the more than 11,000 students are given the opportunity to participate successfully, both now and in the future. At ROC Nijmegen, you can meet the students in their various training companies at the ROC Plaza. Board member and Chair of the Executive Board of ROC Nijmegen, Peter van Mulkom, provided an explanation –also on behalf of ROC Rijn IJssel – of the strategic programmes for vocational education: 1) Talent development, 2) At the heart of the labour market, 3) Education of the future.
One fine example mentioned by Van Mulkom is ‘Move to Match’, a collaboration between ROC Rijn IJssel and ROC Nijmegen. ‘Move to Match’ has a social mission to help adults develop through suitable training programmes, thereby contributing to the dynamic labour market. The focus is on reskilling, retraining and further training. The programmes have been developed and delivered in collaboration with employers and industry sectors.
Annual plan The Economic Board 2024
The Economic Board is working to strengthen the economy in the Arnhem-Nijmegen region in order to make a contribution to both the economy and society. A shortage of space, energy, clean air and staff highlights the limitations of our current revenue model, which is primarily focused on economic growth. Research shows that overall well-being in the Arnhem-Nijmegen region has been declining for years. The energy, circular and digital transitions, as well as the transition in healthcare, are set to radically change daily life and the future. Accelerated breakthroughs are needed to realise our shared ambitions, which will benefit both our entrepreneurs and our residents. This encompasses both the social and economic spheres. From 2024 onwards, partly through the ‘Healthy Green Growth’ Regional Deal, the key challenges in the Arnhem-Nijmegen region will be tackled to improve the quality of life, housing and work (known as ‘broad well-being’).
In the coming year, 2024, The Economic Board will work on further refining its strategy and approach, with a focus on strengthening broad prosperity and addressing societal challenges in the region. We want to ensure that the innovations arising from these collaborations truly benefit our residents and businesses. Through its initiatives, programmes and projects, The Economic Board will continue to work in 2024 towards achieving significant breakthroughs within the themes of Energy, Health, High-tech and Food, as well as the cross-overs between them.
In 2024, too, stimulating new combinations of technology and market opportunities to address societal challenges will remain a key ambition. In this way, The Economic Board contributes to solutions that can serve as a model for the whole of the Netherlands and beyond.
Focus coming years
Besides discussing the Annual Plan and Budget 2024, we also looked further ahead, at a focus for The Economic Board for the coming years. What interests does the Board ecosystem provide? And what contribution does the individual Board organisation make? Important is strengthening the talent ecosystem. We need the cooperation of governments, knowledge and educational institutions and entrepreneurs, so-called triple helix, to be strengthened. In the coming years, The Economic Board is committed to moving from strategy to impact on the three main lines: 1) Innovation, technology and entrepreneurship, 2) Talent 3) Regional prosperity and welfare.
