Dutch winners in fashion and creation of Skills Heroes competition honored

The fashion and creation category of the Skills Heroes competition awarded 15 winners with gold to bronze medals. About 650 Dutch MBO students showed their works during "Skills The Finals", the national championship of Skills Heroes, which took place from 15 to 17 March in the IJsselhallen in Zwolle and at MBO teaching locations in Overijssel. Skills Heroes are secondary vocational competitions, from automotive technicians to graphic designers. Through these competitions, up-and-coming vocational talent receives a platform to show what the Dutch MBO education has to offer and lift vocational education to a higher level.

National champion painter Rutger van Antwerpen of ROC Da Vinci College said: "I wanted to win because I had finished second last year. Now I have been practicing for three weeks and I looked where I could improve, my parents and teachers were behind me and that has also helped to become first, I am very happy."

European Championships 2018 Budapest

Skills Heroes gives the Dutch champions an impetus in their talent development. "I take so much with it: more focus and self-confidence", says fashion designer Ivana Thies of ROC Amsterdam, a gold medal winner. Several winners can qualify for the next challenge: EuroSkills 2018, the European Championships for professions. This event takes place from 26 to 28 September in Budapest. Around 500 young people up to the age of 25 years face colleagues from 28 countries. The Dutch winners joining the European Championships will be announced soon.

"Today's students need more incentives and challenges," said teacher Conrad Berghoef. "Professional competitions offer MBO students an extra challenge in education, which is why it is very good that they are part of the curriculum."

Photo by bruce mars from Pexels