Projecten WATERSTOF WERKT

WATERSTOF WERKT

Continuous learning, working, and doing researching in the hydrogen economy.

Hydrogen has an increasingly important role in the energy transition. It can replace fossil fuels and serve as a storage solution for renewable electricity. The northern part of the Netherlands is declared by Europe as the first hydrogen region. This creates big opportunities for Groningen: growth, innovation and employment. The availability of sufficiently trained expertise in the region is essential. The ‘Hydrogen Works: H2 Train and Learn Hub’ project, in collaboration with education and businesses, ensures the availability of qualified labor to meet the hydrogen challenges.

Desired results:

A significant impulse for regional education to align with the emerging demand for knowledge for jobs in the sustainable energy sector and the hydrogen economy in particular, and for profiling Groningen as a hydrogen region.

More attention for the energy transition and hydrogen throughout the entire Groningen education chain (primary, secondary, vocational, higher professional, university, and post-initial education), through the expansion and adaptation of the curriculum, and the offering of learning pathways with businesses and other stakeholders.

Reskilling and upskilling of approximately 325 existing energy experts and their trainers. This also contributes to offsetting job losses due to the phasing out of gas extraction in Groningen.

The facilitation of at least 200 hydrogen-related internships for MBO students, 80 traineeships for HBO students at participating companies and organizations, 100 working student positions for students in the energy sector, and 250 students working at the Innovation Hub at Entrance.

Strengthened collaboration between Groningen’s educational institutions and businesses to achieve a more demand-driven knowledge supply and to boost hydrogen investments, applications, and acceptance in Groningen. This should culminate in a “learning community.”

Expansion of practical research and training activities (MBO, HBO, university, and post-initial) to provide regional investments with the necessary knowledge.

Approximately 60 public activities and 20 networking activities to increase involvement and support for hydrogen in the region.

The training of over 1,000 experts in the hydrogen economy.

Collaborating is crucial

Collaboration between the private sector, social organizations, knowledge institutions, and government is crucial for success. The project’s goal is to become a leading European knowledge system in hydrogen education and applied research. The collaboration consists of: ROC Alfa-college, ROC Noorderpoort, Hanze University of Applied Sciences, Drenthe College, NHL Stenden University of Applied Sciences, University of Groningen, and New Energy Coalition.

The role of Entrance

Entrance contributes to the program by expanding and changing the education provision (ex. With a minor in hydrogen and the implementation of hydrogen-assignments in various majors), educating experts, offering (graduation) internships, offering knowledge through a Learning Community and the organization of activities.