International study tour 'Sustainable employability in the Netherlands'

From November 4th till November7th Blik op Werk will conduct a 4-day programme for an international group of policy makers, advisors/consultants, researchers, HR directors, managers, experts and other representatives of organisations (corporate and SME), branches and government. We warmly invite you to participate in this study tour to learn from the Dutch approach, company visits, best practices, interactive sessions and the network of all the international participants.

The Blik op Werk foundation is a joint venture, set up in 2006 by employer and employee organisations, municipalities, service providers, the UWV benefits agency and client organisations. The foundation is a quality institute with the objective of contributing to a lifelong healthy and happy career, continued employment and finding a job. To that end, Blik op Werk provides information about the quality of services provided by service providers  that work in the area of  sustainable employability. This information may assist contracting parties and clients to select a high quality service provider.

The most important tools used for this are the Blik op Werk Quality Certificates  for service providers and the (licence for the) Work Ability Index (WAI). Blik op Werk has been an independent foundation since 1 June 2010. More information is available on the website (in English): http://www.blikopwerk.nl/work-ability-index/wat-is-de-wai/about-wai-english

Background
Blik op Werk organises training modules, workshops and informative meetings about work ability. Besides that, from 2009, each year a special study trip to Finland takes place. In 2012 Blik op Werk decided to establish a new study trip programme. Part of this new programme is an international Study Tour about sustainable employability in the Netherlands.

Study Tour Sustainable employability in the Netherlands
From November 4^th till November7^th  Blik op Werk will conduct a 4-day programme for an international group of policy makers, advisors/consultants, researchers, HR directors, managers, experts and other representatives of organisations (corporate and SME), branches and government. We warmly invite you to participate in this study tour to learn from the Dutch approach, company visits, best practices, interactive sessions and the network of all the international participants.

Blik op Werk has built up a lot of knowledge, experiences, best practice and data in relation to work ability since its inception in 2008. Because of a close collaboration with Prof. Dr. Juhani Ilmarinen (founder of work ability and WAI), a large network of experts and a group of frontrunners, Blik op Werk has become the national expert on work ability. Additionally, Blik op Werk has regular contact with representatives from Finland, Germany, Austria and Belgium to discuss potential collaboration and exchange. At the end of 2009 Blik op Werk has started building a national WAI database. In 2012, the databank consists of more than 130.000 WAI questionnaires and form a valuable and important national benchmark.

Programme 4-day studytrip

The programme starts in The Hague on Sunday November 4^th with a networking dinner/ meet and greet dinner. The tour starts on monday with a kick off at the Ministry of Social Affairs and Employment. Then we travel southward to Zeist and Maastricht and on the following days to Gulpen, Den Bosch and back to Amsterdam/Utrecht. We visit different “best practice” organizations and hear directors, managers and employees about their approach to improve sustainable employability. You will hear the perspective of small, medium and large (international) organisations and a regional network of health care organizations. The programme also includes lectures on recent research on workability, age management and vitality from prof. dr. Lex Burdorf, prof. dr. Tinka van Vuuren and dr. Marjo Wallin from the Finnish Institute of Occupational Health (FIOH). The Dutch visit will end on Wednesday afternoon at Schiphol International Airport for lunch, reflection and conclusion. Experience has taught us that after such a trip, the participants continue to form a network. Here you can find the complete programme.

Costs and participation

The 4-day programme costs € 2.850. The price includes the complete programme, transfers in the Netherlands, hotels and all meals and drinks. Your trip from home to The Hague and back is not included. If you want to participate in the study tour, please fill in the registration form. The easiest way is to fill it in, sign, scan and email it back to wai@blikopwerk.nl.

Questions
If you have questions about the study tour, please contact Blik op Werk, Yvonne van der Salm or Sietske van Rossum, 0031-30-2916023 or wai@blikopwerk.nl.

We look forward to meeting you in The Hague!