Platform Bèta Techniek: A European Good Practice in Search of Exposure and Cooperation

On November 10th and 11th 2008 The Platform Bèta Techniek (Platform Science and Technology) organised an international summit on Math, Science and Technology: The Dutch Experience in Amsterdam, The Netherlands. At this summit three objectives were addressed: The Netherlands presented The Dutch Approach toward getting more young people interested and choosing MST in Holland; the summit provided opportunities to people working in that field from different countries to connect, and the basis was laid toward a new international political agenda. At the end of the day The Platform shared their intention to present a working paper as a follow-up of this summit.

This working paper is aimed at the participants and other interested parties. The Platform Bèta Techniek is described first: it’s goals and strategy are described, as are the programmes, activities and the results that were obtained up till now. The chapter closes with a paragraph on what The Platform considers to be the remaining challenges for the future. Next the Platform presents its international ambitions: what added value can the Platform Bèta Techniek give to the goals and challenges Europe is facing in terms of innovating the MST education and getting more young people interested in MST careers? And what goals has the Platform set towards creating an exchange of knowledge and experience between The Netherlands and other European countries. This paper closes with an invitation to collaborate and join in deliberation in the remaining challenges.