Based on the roadmaps, the six Dutch regions will set to work mapping out and developing knowledge on the application of green hydrogen. But how will that knowledge reach today’s professionals and those of the future? To achieve this final step, the GroenvermogenNL Human Capital Agenda (HCA) is establishing the National Knowledge Platform.
Based at the Hanze University of Applied Sciences Groningen, Marcel Koenis is project lead for the National Knowledge Platform. Roeland Hogt, senior skills instructor at ROC Noorderpoort, represents secondary vocational education (MBO) on the Knowledge Platform. Both are also members of the team that heads up the HCA north region, which explains why they were so busy organising and attending the HCA Safari Days.
Sharing knowledge
‘What I thought about the Safari Days?,’ asks Hogt. ‘It’s impressive seeing how the regions are accelerating the process and what initiatives they already have up and running. I also appreciate the openness within GroenvermogenNL and the willingness to share knowledge.’
Regional differences
Koenis nods his head in agreement. ‘We have a very constructive group of people from the regions, each focusing on their different themes. That gives you an idea of how they differ as well as what they have in common. We all acknowledge the urgency of the hydrogen issue. That makes it easier to help each other with knowledge and facilities.’
National Knowledge Platform
An important way of sharing and enabling access to knowledge will be the future National Knowledge Platform. ‘You can compare it to a newspaper with a team of editors across the regions gathering, authorising and providing access to knowledge to current and future professionals across the country,’ explains Koenis.
Research, education and practice
‘There is already a lot of knowledge out there spread across the regions,’ says Hogt. ‘But the ever-changing field of hydrogen certainly cannot be considered as standard. Think about working with electrolysers, for example. People from research, education and the practical world will join forces in learning communities in developing this new practice. Ideally, the Knowledge Platform will become the centre where all of the knowledge about hydrogen ends up.
Compulsory certificates
For (aspiring) professionals, the Knowledge Platform will ultimately serve as a key source of information on green hydrogen. If they want to work with a fuel cell system or carry out maintenance on a hydrogen network for their work or study programme, they will then view an easy-to-follow instruction video or use some other good-quality educational resource. ‘But hydrogen is different from a bicycle,’ warns Hogt. ‘It’s all about safety. That’s why I can imagine that the Knowledge Platform may also ultimately offer something like Edubadges for professionals to obtain compulsory certificates.’
Prototype
‘The National Knowledge Platform is set to offer a real solution for the large number of people who will be working with hydrogen,’ says Koenis. ‘It will make it possible to offer very practical learning programmes for a range of hydrogen applications. In the period ahead, we’ll be developing a prototype for what the Knowledge Platform should look like. It will be based on an organisational plan to ensure that the Knowledge Platform can continue to exist while also being closely interwoven with business and industry, knowledge and education institutions in the regions.’
