With a new tailor-made programme, the uu77, together with Stichting Werken in Gelderland, is leading the way for challenging work in the region. The first batch of trainees have started; meanwhile, the second batch is welcome to contribute to numerous spatial challenges. “Your work can make the difference.”
In February, the first batch of 29 graduates started on this special traineeship, which aims to bridge the gap between studying and working. To this end, the uu77 is cooperating with the Province of Gelderland and Stichting Werken in Gelderland, a platform of 95 regional government departments in the province. Participants immediately start paid employment at one of the government departments by tackling spatial problems; in other words, by addressing issues such as the environment, housing, the Environment Act and the energy transition.
Jorn ten Brink from the uu77: "As a new professional in the spatial domain, you get to deal with the complex, challenging issues that are featured in the newspapers every day." Francesca Hendriks from Stichting Werken in Gelderland: "The first batch of trainees are positive about the programme. We are hearing that they feel they can really make a difference; that this work is important." And participants need not worry about their future careers: there were almost 900 vacancies in the spatial planning and environment domain in government departments across the Netherlands in the first quarter of 2022. "That is even higher than in ICT," says Hendriks. Ten Brink stresses the urgency of the programme: "Government departments are very keen to have someone who can be deployed quickly." Thankful work, says Hendriks: "You contribute towards an environment in which people work, live and do leisure activities. Your work is thus very tangible."
Immersion
The crux of the one-year programme is immersion in the field, combined with a training programme on Fridays. “The transition between studying and working is major”, says Ten Brink. "When studying, you are mainly responsible for yourself. But when working, you deal with a whole host of responsibilities, including towards your department and towards residents." Hendriks: "You have to deal with new situations, new challenges. That's why we teamed up with the uu77 to create this training programme, which also focuses on peer support and coaching. It is of great value to be able to discuss everything with a group that is facing the same challenges. What do you do when your colleague makes a decision you don't agree with?" The gap between studying and working involves a range of skills, from which Hendriks highlights one: communication. "Graduates are used to writing at an academic level. They have to learn to make texts easier to read for the general public, who are often much less literate." Ten Brink cites self-knowledge as an important learning material in the gap between studying and working. How do you respond to angry residents? Do you know what your pitfalls are? "As a new professional, you have to find the balance between staying true to who you are and adapting to your organisation: between fitting in and standing out. All sorts of qualities are called upon that you don't think about so much during your studies. Political sensitivities, residents who can react very violently towards you at participation evenings. You have to learn to take this seriously, and at the same time let it go.”
Want to know more about this program?
The (tailor-made) Young Professional Program gives recent graduates the opportunity to take steps in their professional and personal development by working on talents, motivations, skills, self-confidence and resilience, among other things. Do you have any questions about this traineeship? Then please contact us.