EUKN - European Urban Knowledge Network - Heerlen: Agricultural college gives boost to neighbourhood

Heerlen: Agricultural college gives boost to neighbourhood

Introduction

The URBAN II programme is making a substantial contribution to the integrated approach to strengthening Heerlen as an education city. Efforts are also being made to improve business activity, quality of life and social cohesion in the neighbourhoods. The "Eigen huis en tuin" ("Own home and garden") project brings together all these elements.

Problem

The project is aimed at strengthening the link between the Agricultural Education Centre (AEC) Heerlen and the neighbourhood. The AEC will grow to be an innovative knowledge centre where education and the labour market are closely linked.

Description

The college will be rebuilt and expanded with an open learning centre and a garden complex. The activities which will be implemented when the renovated college building is ready are based on the recognition that the college has a lot to offer neighbourhood residents as their "own" facility. In addition to its role as an educational institution, the college will in future also fulfil an important role in contacts with the neighbourhoods and their residents.

Approach

The spearheads within the Heerlen URBAN II programme document are:

Innovative neighbourhood philosophy: links between policy levels (regional and local level) in the approach to problem areas.
Neighbourhood development programmes: promoting self-activation in the neighbourhoods.
Following on from and fitting in with the developments and innovation pilots from government.
Station district Centrum-Noord: station district is pilot point between the privileged and the under-privileged.
Working on self-awareness and improving one's image.

Results

An enhanced bond between the college and the neighbourhood will improve the link between education and the labour market. Students are prepared better for the labour market. Neighbourhood residents are encouraged to participate in vocational activities. The quality of life and social coherence in the neighbourhood will also be improved.

EU involvement

URBAN II is an initiative of the European Commission. The aim is to support innovative projects in the field of urban regeneration in disadvantaged neighbourhoods. The URBAN II projects will set an example for national urban policy. In the Netherlands, areas in Amsterdam, Rotterdam and Heerlen have been allocated for the period 2000-2006. In Heerlen the URBAN II project involves six neighbourhoods with a total of 43,806 inhabitants, in the north and east of the city.

Financing

European subsidy: € 151.432
Total cost: € 409.033

Contact info

The local programme management
Phone: +31 45 5604209

Project start date

03/06/2004

Document type

case

Themes

Urban Policy > Social inclusion & integration > Education

Keywords

Higher education