A successful fifth edition of the national Ad Day (Associate degree, European level 5) took place at Aeres University of Applied Sciences on Friday 11 April. The National Ad Day is an initiative of the Consultation Platform Associate degrees. Ad courses are popular: a growing group of Secondary Vocational students choose to continue studying for two years after obtaining their diploma on European level 4. Students from General Secondary Education are also choosing this route more often. Elsbeth Kauffmann, coordinator of Ad courses at Aeres University of Applied Sciences: “Ad students are the connecting link between strategy and implementation for companies.”
Ad Talent Awards 2025 presentation
During the national Ad Day at Aeres University of Applied Sciences, the Ad Talent Awards 2025 were presented. Erna Nieuwenhuizen and Marin Kalkhoven were the lucky winners and have been appointed national ambassadors of Ad education. The theme of the national Ad Day was the Ad as a change agent.
Prior to the presentation of the Ad Talent Award, the Impact Makership Guidelines at level 5 were launched. This presentation marks an important step in training resilient, sustainable and future-proof Ad professionals.
Two panel discussions then started. The first panel discussion focused on the impact an Ad-student makes on the labour market. What distinguishes level 5? And how is this reflected in the field? Werner Klaassen, CEO Randstad Netherlands (employment agency), is a big fan of the Ad programme. “It fills the gap between secondary vocational education and higher professional education. Randstad employs 100 intermediaries from Ad. Many competitors also employ Ad-students. We need to work together with entrepreneurs to find solutions in the labour market. The strength of an Ad’er lies in the type of student: They all have something entrepreneurial and we need to cherish that.”
After the panel discussions there was a tour and former student Adriaan Boudeling talked about his experiences with Ad education. More than ten years ago he obtained his Ad diploma in Agricultural Entrepreneurship Horticulture & Arable Farming. He now runs a large arable farm where the focus is on seed potato cultivation. After obtaining his Secondary Vocational diploma, Adriaan felt that he was not finished yet. ,,I felt like a farmer, but not yet an entrepreneur. The Ad Agrarian Entrepreneurship was a nice addition.’’ During his studies he learned more skills to think in opportunities and possibilities and not just in limitations. ‘’It helps me to position my company as a
professional organization. The theory that I learned during the lessons, I could immediately apply in the company. This was super valuable.’’
(Text: Jan-Willem Noom / Aeres, Photo: Aeres)
