HELMOND - The president of employers' organization VNO-NCW, Ingrid Thijssen, will open the new building of Summa Automotive & Smart Mobility at the Automotive Campus in Helmond on October 6. She will receive an explanation of the innovative educational method of the program.
The program also includes a panel discussion on knowledge development and employment and the role of secondary vocational education. Chaired by Mark Haans, the panel discussion will include Harry Wolters (President of DAF Trucks NV), Albie van Buel (Managing Director of RAI Automotive Industry) and Catalijne Dortmans (Helmond alderman for education).
Ingrid Thijssen, president of VNO-NCW, says in a reaction: "For entrepreneurs, well-trained employees and real professionals are of great importance. The business community and the mbo need each other for that. Summa Automotive in Helmond is for me the perfect example of how the business community and vocational education can strengthen each other through intensive cooperation."
Director Lex Boon of Automotive Campus is very pleased with the definitive establishment of Summa Automotive on campus. "With the arrival of Summa, we strengthen the bridge between education and industry. I am confident that more fruitful collaborations will soon follow."
Innovative learning concept
At Summa Automotive & Smart Mobility, a new innovative, self-developed educational concept is applied. Both teachers and students have a day start at the beginning of the teaching day, looking at what activities will be done that day. "There is no longer a fixed class schedule," says director Roel Akkerman. "If a student needs more or just less time than average for an assignment, that's totally fine. The student is more in control. He sets his own pace." A personal study path is drawn up with a study career counselor.
The building on the Automotive Campus in Helmond was built on the basis of the latest insights in the field of construction, architecture and education. In addition to structural engineers and architects, teachers and students were also involved in the design process of the building.
"We let go of many things," says Summa Automotive & Smart Mobility director Roel Akkerman. "For example, no canteen is needed anymore, because the project rooms are the central space for the students. We experienced this during our temporary stay at the Panovenweg. In addition to the large practice area for practicing vocational skills, there are also innovation labs for experimentation and prototype development."
Summa Automotive & Smart Mobility's new building on the Automotive Campus accommodates 550 students from the Automotive Engineering, Technical Specialist and Sales Manager programs. In addition to the large practice hall, classrooms and offices, the building also has a showroom that includes luxury cars from a German car brand.
About Summa College
Summa College is with 26 schools, over 18,000 students and more than 300 courses the largest institution for intermediate vocational education in the southern Netherlands. The educational institution offers more than 300 vocational trainings in different learning paths and on different levels.
Photo: Leonie Voets
