Chair of Vereniging Hogescholen visits Netherlands Police Academy

Yesterday, Maurice Limmen, the Chair of Vereniging Hogescholen (The Netherlands Association of Universities of Applied Sciences) visited the sector Higher Police Education of the Netherlands Police Academy. The Netherlands Police Academy has been an associated member of the association since 2018. Both organisations place great importance on their cooperation, so this working visit was greatly appreciated.

Vereniging Hogescholen is committed to ensuring that 36 universities of applied sciences offer high-quality education and research. The association also acts as a partner in discussions with civic organisations and the government, and influences political decision-making on higher education. 

The Netherlands Police Academy, like the other universities of applied sciences represented by the association, offers bachelor's and master's courses and conducts practice-based research. However, the Netherlands Police Academy's position differs from that of the other members, as its educational programmes are funded by the Ministry of Justice and Security, and not by the Ministry of Education, Culture and Science. For this reason, the Netherlands Police Academy is an associated member of the Vereniging Hogescholen.

The Netherlands Police Academy cooperates with several universities of applied sciences

Director Leonard Kok: 'It is important to strengthen the connection between police education, higher education and senior secondary vocational education. For in the coming years, there will be an increasing demand for smart learning pathways, in which police education and higher or senior secondary vocational education complement each other and share educational capacity.'

Erie Braakhekke, sector head of Higher Police Education, believes that as a result the Netherlands Police Academy will be better able to keep up with developments in higher education, such as practice-based research and its effects on police practice and police training, and the digitalisation of professions, education and learning on the job.'

Practical lesson, discussion with a lecturer and experience exhibition visit

As part of the working visit, Maurice Limmen visited the experience exhibition 'MensenWerk' together with students. At the shooting range, Professional Skills trainer Mark ten Broeke taught a practical shooting lesson. Afterwards, Limmen and Teun Meurs, lecturer on Community Policing, discussed the Local Policing Knowledge Centre and the connection between education and research within this centre. At the end of his visit, Limmen concluded that 'education, research and police practice are closely connected' at the Netherlands Police Academy.