This measure consists of three elements:
-
Firstly, to offer older employees without a higher education background and with plenty of work experience either an RPS (Recognising Prior Skills) or portfolio programme. This will allow such employees to obtain a certificate for the experience and expertise they have gained. The RPS/portfolio programme recognises their expertise and lowers the threshold for older employees who could be asked to (re)do a course and undergo further training. At the same time, this saves them from having to unnecessarily undergo training for the expertise they already have. The further training programme is a tailored one (with exemptions granted for subjects already passed).
- Secondly, to ask the participants of the (customised) further training programme to complete an apprenticeship in order to achieve a secondary vocational education (MBO) diploma.
- Thirdly, to assign a practice coach from an accredited training company. Such a practice coach should be an older, experienced employee, who occupies a senior position and who must be able to communicate his or her professional knowledge to the course participant.
Elective or optional course units of the MBO programme curriculum will be used to tailor the training, thereby responding to employers’ needs and making the programmes aviation-specific. Teaching will be provided by visiting lecturers from the industry, with the lecturers visiting the actual workplace and ensuring the proper matching of educational background to company needs.
Objectives
To ensure employees obtain appropriate qualifications, to value expertise; to enhance the knowledge and skills of older employees and thereby to promote career progression opportunities, so that older employees are able to move to jobs that better reflect their physical capabilities.
In the first project period (16 August 2013–15 August 2015): 370 employees occupying MBO-level posts who have attained an MBO diploma.
In the second project period (12 June 2015–11 June 2017): 160 employees occupying MBO-level posts who have attained an MBO diploma.