KLM becomes partner at Luchtvaart College Schiphol

KLM has now joined Luchtvaart College Schiphol (Aviation College Schiphol, formerly Schiphol College) as a partner, enabling the college to further enhance and fine-tune its ability to develop and organise ’working & learning’ activities within the aviation sector. Luchtvaart College Schiphol pools the strengths of aviation businesses, vocational education institutions and the government authorities in the region, giving a boost to the labour market at Schiphol.

New director
Dionne Vorst, whose previous appointments include HR management positions at KLM, has been appointed as the Director of Luchtvaart College Schiphol. She succeeds Jeroen Ankersmit and Judith Kronenburg, who shared the position of Director. Jeroen Ankersmit will continue to remain involved, in addition to his position as chairman of the Management Board of MBO College Airport and MBO College Amstelland.

Dionne Vorst, Director of Luchtvaart College Schiphol: ’The education programmes offered by Luchtvaart College Schiphol demonstrate how it combines “working & learning” within the aviation sector. As Luchtvaart College Schiphol we aim to become the main point of contact where anybody working or planning to work in the aviation sector can go for personal growth, and to engage in professional development through on-the-job learning.’

Knowledge centre for ’working & learning’
The involvement of KLM, with its ever-growing network and programme expansion, means that Luchtvaart College Schiphol can now rightfully call itself the knowledge centre for ’working & learning’ in the aviation sector. With the employment and study programmes that are developed for companies, it is the aim of Luchtvaart College Schiphol to set people in motion. These programmes give aviation sector employees a means of retaining the required knowledge and skills, while also ensuring that the influx of new workers matches the needs of the industry in both a qualitative and quantitative sense. The Employers’ Service Desk for Greater Amsterdam (Werkgevers Service Punt Groot Amsterdam) works directly with Luchtvaart College Schiphol to facilitate the placement of jobseekers who set to work as part of a specific, airport-oriented (vocational) training programme.

Recent achievements
Luchtvaart College Schiphol has been developing employment and study programmes for the aviation sector since 2007, including eight new senior secondary vocational (MBO) training programmes for airport security officers, air cargo and facilities employees, two custom-designed accelerated MBO programmes for airport retail staff and management assistants, and three tailored education portals for companies. Each year the college teaches 600 students, provides work experience placements for 300 students and gives training or instruction to 1,000 employees.

Camiel Eurlings, President & CEO of KLM: ’I believe that by bringing the aviation workplace and professional education together, we are helping to promote the sustainability of the labour market at the airport.’

Jos Nijhuis, CEO of Schiphol Group: ’By welcoming KLM as a new partner at Luchtvaart College Schiphol, our sector is clearly demonstrating a desire to unite our strengths and bear the responsibility for creating long-term employment stability in both the region and the Netherlands.’

Edo de Jaeger, Chairman of the Executive Board at ROC Amsterdam: ’Having KLM on board enhances Luchtvaart College Schiphol’s ability to cater for the employment and educational needs within this diverse labour market.’

Andrée Van Es, member of the Amsterdam Municipal Executive: ’This collaboration between the City of Amsterdam and Luchtvaart College, KLM, Schiphol Airport and the Amsterdam Regional Training Centre (ROC) is a good example of cooperation between the local authorities, education institutions and the industry. Together we are working to build connections between jobseekers in the Amsterdam area and the employers at the Mainport.’


Note to editors: Luchtvaart College Schiphol (formerly Schiphol College) is an initiative of Schiphol Group and ROC Amsterdam that was launched in 2007, with the aim of facilitating ’working & learning’ in the aviation industry.