The Local Community College

A learning opportunity for

rural communities

Finding Drenthe

Finding Drenthe

Amsterdam

Finding Drenthe

Harlingen

Amsterdam

Finding Drenthe

Harlingen

Drenthe

Amsterdam

Finding Midden-Drenthe

Midden-Drenthe

• 340 km² / 131 square miles – population 33.000

• 21 villages of < 3.000 inhabitants

• 4 villages between 3.000 and 10.000 inhabitants

Rural county (by Dutch standards)

The Dutch educational system Compulsory education: age 4 –16

No diploma? Also from 16 – 18

Then: Vocational education University Adult education (government policy)

18 years and older Second chance to obtain certificate or learn skills or

profession

Local Community College (LCC) Midden-Drenthe

Started with two villages as a pilot-project in 2005

The project participants: each participating village supplies a group of

volunteers (e.g. LCC Hooghalen) City Council Midden-Drenthe Regional education centre “Drenthe College” Local social organisation “Welzijn Midden-

Drenthe”

Local community college now

2011: participation of 17 villages 13 small (villages < 3.000 inhabitants)

4 larger ones (villages 3.000 – 10.000 inhabitants)

Future plans: Budget cuts (due to the credit crunch)

Local Community College ‘plus’: LCC +

Our aim with the LCC is:

To facilitate courses/workshops/lectures in the local community centres

Courses to enable people to participate in the present society (subsidised)

Courses which meet the demands/requests/ideas of the local community

LCC: how do we get there?

Form a local group of enthusiastic volunteers

Professional organisations facilitate and support the local LCC-group of volunteers

Investigate the educational demands / questions through the network of the volunteers

Make use of skills of people in the village

LCC: how do we get there?

Make proper arrangements with the local community centre and other local facilities

Find your ‘partners’ in local organisations (e.g. women’s institute or neighbouring villages)

All 17 LCCs and the supporting professional organisations meet twice a year

LCC: how do we get there?

Students pay a small amount per course

Subsidised courses

Non-subsided courses

LCC: how do we get there?

Subsidised courses Budget available through the city council for the

use of qualified teachers Budget 2010: € 160.000 Average price per course

€ 3.000 ca. 50 courses in 2010 (17 LCCs)

e.g.: How to chair a meeting

LCC: how do we get there?

Non-subsided courses local talent courses, each village 3 to 5 courses a

year average

e.g.: Wine tasting

Conditions for success Volunteers are in tune with the local situation

The volunteers are in charge and proud of their LCC

Support from the community development advisors

Drenthe College (regional educational centre) supplies teachers when needed and helps to indicate the learning questions

For the subsidised courses quick decision making to facilitate the course

Results in the villages The LCC is very accessible

Target groups are easily met and dealt with

People enjoy learning together

Considerable increase in social cohesion

Threats

More and more citizens have to fend for themselves due to government policy

More volunteers are needed in the future                   

Greater responsibilities for the LCC as finances are concerned

In larger villages finding volunteers is a problem

Challenges for the near future

To deal with a lower budget

Be creative

Improve the concept of demand orientated approach

Challenges for the near future

To develop LCC+ Provide for all age groups (0 to 100) Budget for each LCC for all educational demands

Expanding the concept of the LCC towards the whole of the province of Drenthe and more

Thank you for your attention!

Questions?