COVID-19 series: Netherlands - Jet-Net&TechNet (JNTN): virtual company tours, guest lectures and webinars

The Jet-Net&TechNet (JNTN) programme is one of the flagship programmes of the Dutch national STEM Platform (PTvT). The programme is focused on increasing STEM uptake in primary and secondary education through school-company partnerships and covers the majority of Dutch primary and secondary schools and over 2000 companies. The programme also inspired 'spinoffs' in Denmark and the Basque country. For more information about the programme and its results, please see the full programme profile in the 'programmes' section.

In response to the COVID-19 measures the JNTN programme has developed online / remote formats of several of its key activities. These include the company tours, which now take place digitally utilising existing video materials developed by companies for new employees (available via the Ozone platform). 

The popular webtool for matching company professionals and schools for guest lectures (GastlessenZoGeregeld) now supports teachers and schools with special challenges and assignments inspired by companies that teachers can use in remote learning activities. 

Finally, the JNTN programme makes extensive use of webinars. These include a webinar on the 'BètaTechMentality'-model for teachers and other stakeholders which explains how students can be triggered by STEM in various ways. This special course is now also available in webinar format and has seen a strong uptick in popularity since the COVID-19 measures were imposed. The BètaTechMentality model is based on periodic research by the Dutch national STEM platform and is available in English and Dutch (see the publication pages for a full description).