Department of Instructional Technology

INTERNSHIP WITHIN PROJECT
PROFESSIONAL GROWTH IN THE INNOVATIVE MANUFACTURING INDUSTRY (REGION ZWOLLE):
INSIGHTS, OPPORTUNITIES AND EFFECTIVE LEARNING PROVISION

IN COOPERATION WITH

University of Twente
Hogeschool Windesheim
Perron038

Period of project: Oct 2025-Dec 2026
Period of internship: Q4-2026

ORGANIZATION

This initiative is a collaboration between the University of Twente, Hogeschool Windesheim, and Perron038, a regional network connecting companies in the innovative manufacturing industry in the Zwolle region. The partnership focuses on strengthening the learning culture within the manufacturing sector by improving structural alignment between industry and educational institutions.

Within Perron038, strong connections already exist between education, innovation, and companies in the manufacturing industry. Through ongoing collaboration, including regular R&D, HR, and management meetings, a continuous dialogue has been established around innovation and professional development. Building on this foundation, the initiative explores how Lifelong Learning (LLL) can be shaped in a sustainable and effective way, aligned with the evolving needs of companies in the region.

The initiative started on 1 October 2025 and serves as a platform for experimentation, learning, and further development through targeted pilots.

INTERNSHIP ASSIGNMENT

As an intern, you will contribute to a project aimed at strengthening collaboration between companies and educational institutions in the innovative manufacturing industry. Your work will focus on gaining insight into learning and development needs within companies and translating these needs into effective educational offerings.

Your tasks may include, among others:

• Mapping existing educational offerings (such as traineeships, masterclasses, and other LLL formats) from the University of Twente and Hogeschool Windesheim. Meetings with LLL coordinators, as well as policy and planning documents will provide this information.
• Exploring opportunities to better align company needs with current and future educational formats.  
• Analyzing the educational needs of companies in terms of topics within the innovative manufacturing sector. Participation in stakeholder meetings of Perron038, as well as contact with involved company representatives and educational institutions, will serve as sources for this information.
• Analyzing the development procedure and execution of the pilots running in the internship period.
• As the project is ongoing with the design, execution, and evaluation of pilots related to Lifelong Learning (LLL) during the internship period, you will participate and support the team in developing recommendations for sustainable and effective cooperation between industry and education.

The assignment can be further detailed or adjusted according to your background and/or preferences.

 REQUIREMENTS

• Affinity with education, innovation, and/or the manufacturing industry
• Strong analytical and communication skills
• Interest in Lifelong Learning and collaboration between education and industry
• Dutch language skills are preferred, given the regional and company-oriented context

CONTACT

If you have any questions about this internship, please contact Wilma Dierkes via w.k.dierkes@utwente.nl, 053-4894721.