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From idea to market launch in 3 months

Professionals are experts in their field and bring a wealth of experience. They are critical, used to working independently and expect education to be directly applicable in their daily practice.

How do you translate your academic knowledge into a short, powerful programme that meets their needs and makes a social impact?

Contents

During this training course, in three half-days you will work on:

  • Focusing on your idea and target audience.
  • Choosing a suitable format and describing the programme and content.
  • Drawing up a business plan, including finances and risk analysis.
  • Developing a marketing strategy and positioning.
  • Testing your concept against market needs.
  • Planning and publishing your programme.

Result
Upon completion of the LLL Accelerator training, you will have transformed your idea into a concrete programme for professionals, including publication on the VU website and a concrete promotional plan to attract participants. This way, you will offer your knowledge to professionals in a sustainable and market-oriented way and increase the impact of your research and education.

Programme and procedure
In the LLL Accelerator, you receive intensive guidance from Life Long Learning experts for three months. They guide you in developing your idea for a short programme into a concrete and market-oriented offer, writing your business plan and establishing links with social partners.

Topics per meeting

Intake

  • Starting point
  • Sharing an idea
  • Discuss expectations & commitment

Session 1 - Shaping idea

  • Discuss idea
  • Determine target audience
  • Devise format
  • Describe programme and content
  • Draw up business plan

Session 2 - Market potential check

  • Determine approach of target audience(s)
  • Competition
  • Marketing strategy
  • Price
  • Positioning
  • Placing the first teaser

Session 3 - Programme design

  • Refining target audience
  • Align learning objectives with market needs
  • Establish programme design
  • Link with A Broader Mind

Deliverables

Deliverable 1

  • Explore your idea
  • Write first version pitch
  • Check support
  • First part template business plan

Delivery 2

  • Testing with potential target audience
  • Market research
  • Complete second part of business plan template

Delivery 3

  • Programme planning (dates/location)
  • Follow up reactions to teaser
  • Third part template business plan

Delivery 4

  • Programme on website
  • Start recruitment
  • Follow up leads
  • Finalisation of business plan for approval

More information
Curriculum content
Dates and contact

VU Centre for Teaching & Learning
Overview CTL courses

for professionals in higher education

Erik Saal

Erik Saal

Erik Saal is Trailblazer Lifelong Learning Development.

Susan Nuijten

Susan Nuijten

Susan Nuijten is SOZ policy officer Lifelong Learning Development.

Gonne Dorrepaal

Gonne Dorrepaal

Gonne Dorrepaal is head of marketing and communications at SBE for Professionals.

Wesseline Hartzema

Wesseline Hartzema

Wesseline Hartzema is senior marketer of Lifelong Learning Development.

Wesseline Hartzema

Wouter Buursma

Wouter Buursma

Wouter Buursma is teacher trainer at the Centre for Teaching & Learning.

Susan Voogd

Susan Voogd

Wouter Buursma is teacher trainer at the Centre for Teaching & Learning.

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