"We cannot afford to leave first-generation professionals by the sidelines," says initiator and VU dean Gregor Halff.
"Let's be honest, companies and organisations also have a self-interest to enable 'lifelong development' for their employees. And we simply cannot afford to overlook groups of people in this regard. The labour market issues are too significant for that." Gregor Halff is clear about it: academic education for professionals, for whom it is not immediately obvious, or for those who cannot afford it, is indispensable in this day and age. Gregor is dean of the Faculty of Social Sciences and Humanities and initiator of the project to enable participation in professional education. VUfonds is launching a donation campaign for this purpose.
Talent scarcity
"We live in a time when the labour market, particularly the high-end service sector, is already facing talent scarcity," Gregor explains when asked. "And this is only increasing, as smaller and smaller cohorts of schoolchildren and students flow into the labour market. On top of that, we are all working longer and longer in an increasingly fast-changing society. So, in order to keep up, you will have to keep educating yourself."
"The talent scarcity in the labour market is only increasing"
Inequality of opportunity
"Recent research by VU economist Sander de Vries shows that opportunity inequality in the Netherlands is greater than in many other Western countries. Parents' incomes appear to be a stronger predictor of their children's later income in our country than in countries such as Germany, Australia and Canada. Between the ages of 30 and 40, children of wealthy parents often make an income jump, while children from less privileged families have to fight a lot harder for the same step. That kind of structural inequality continues, including in the labour market."
New gap
"And that's where I think the new divide is: between people for whom this goes without saying, and others for whom this is not obvious for financial or cultural reasons. Think of the latter group as first-generation professionals or employees with a cultural background, for whom the social and organisational codes are not self-evident. Often they already spend so much time and effort adjusting and fitting in that there is little room left for professional development. So, if you are serious about the task and identity of VU Amsterdam, you have to look at those groups, do something about that inequality of opportunity and continue to develop your curriculum and modules to give everyone future-proof tools in the job market."
"There is a gap between people for whom continuing education is natural and for whom it is not obvious."
Proud
That's why VU for Professionals is targeting VU alumni for this project to collaborate with companies and organisations and alert talented professionals for whom continuing education is not a given to our project. Consider, for example, the huge demand from status holders. "VU Amsterdam is unique in this approach to 'lifelong development'; that suits VU Amsterdam and I am proud of it. I will be even prouder if we later see that the participants become at least as successful as they hoped at the start of their careers. So come back to me in twenty years!" concludes Gregor.
