View on Talent (Talent in Beeld): update monitor energy education North Netherlands
The 2nd edition of ‘Talent in Beeld’ (View on Talent), a monitor providing insight into the number of energy-focused students in the Northern Netherlands, was recently published. Compiled by NOM and New Energy Coalition, the overview is an inventory of the ‘energy students’ at vocational up to university level in the Northern Netherlands. It provides a useful picture of the available potential for the energy-related labour market and thus supports the business climate for energy-related activity in the region. Standing out is the increase of the number of UAS-students with focus on energy in their studies.
The Northern Netherlands is the energy region of the Netherlands. The production of Groningen natural gas has long since given way to knowledge and expertise on hydrogen, renewable energy and more related to the energy transition. Dina Boonstra, director of NOM: “Energy-related education is crucial for the development of a sustainable future. The many energy students in the Northern Netherlands contribute to this. Gaining knowledge and thinking in terms of opportunities support a stable energy supply for future generations’. Marieke Abbink, CEO of New Energy Coalition, put Human Capital on the map for her organisation: ‘We have to prepare young people, especially in this region, for the energy jobs that await them. Already, progress is stalling for lack of people with the right education and background. Next to that, there are also great opportunities for people who are already working but want to retrain or upskill to work in the energy sector.’
Biggest growth in UAS
In the 2021/2022 survey period, the number of students interested in energy-related studies was found to have grown by some 5,000 from 17,383 to 24,256, an increase of 29%, compared to the previous poll (academic year 2019/2020). The biggest growth was among UAS-students (University of Applied Sciences): the number of students doubled.
We also see an expansion in the number of energy bachelors, both in studies and number of participants, at both Hanze University of Applied Sciences Groningen and the University of Groningen. At Hanze UAS, 12,308 students followed an energy track (before 6,467) mainly in studies such as Law, International Business and ICT, and at the University of Groningen the number rose from 2,875 to 3,355, mainly in Physics and Spacial Planning & Design. The number of Minors remained almost the same and the number of Masters saw a slight increase.
Students are key
By working together smartly, doing the smart things, inventing smart solutions and putting them into practice, we are on our way to a sustainable and climate-neutral energy system. The Northern Netherlands is doing all this on a unique scale, with large and small companies (SME), governments and educational institutions all playing their part in the search for energy solutions. The energy transition is comprehensive, the tasks are diverse – only by tackling the issues at hand from every angle can lead to -new- solutions. That is exactly what is happening in the Northern Netherlands region. The ecosystem that is already in place is continuously growing in strength. And student expertise is desperately needed. Herein lies the value of the View on Talent monitor: providing insight into the available potential for energy-related issues, with which the necessary steps for the energy transition can be taken.
