Using digital technology to bridge the gap in basic skills

Stichting Expertisecentrum Oefenen.nl and Eindhoven Engine have signed a cooperation agreement with a joint mission to make effective use of digital technology to bridge the gap between individuals with limited basic skills and society.

Currently, millions of young adults in the Netherlands experience difficulty with language, numeracy, or digital skills. This results in distressing situations, such as being unable to understand letters from the bank or being unable to make an appointment with the doctor because it must be done digitally. Such situations lead to all sorts of negative personal and social consequences, such as living with a medical complaint for too long or incurring unnecessary extra costs due to increased bank fees, simply because you don’t want or dare to ask for help. With the rapid emergence of technological developments such as AI, this group threatens to fall even further behind.

Although many people are motivated to learn, they often seek accessible and practical ways to do so outside formal education. It is precisely this non-formal provision that remains underinvested, including in technological innovation. “This is a great milestone and only the beginning", said Lotte Geertsen, Inclusive Society Program Manager at Eindhoven Engine. "We aim to expand our collaboration with more partners. The more support, the faster we can extend our reach."

Purpose of the cooperation

Stichting Expertisecentrum Oefenen.nl and Eindhoven Engine want to change that. Together, they will update and enhance the learning platform Oefenen.nl with technologies such as artificial intelligence, gamification, and smart onboarding. The goal: to make learning more motivating and accessible, so that everyone can work on their language, numeracy, and digital skills at their own pace and level.

The cooperation is based on their complementary expertise. Eindhoven Engine aims to demonstrate how education, technology, and social impact go hand in hand, bringing technological expertise, innovative strength, and social access to the Brainport network. "The gap in basic skills is growing and that demands action", said Rashid Leonard Azimullah, director of Stichting Expertisecentrum Oefenen.nl. "With the reach of Oefenen.nl and the technological innovation power of Eindhoven Engine, we are building a bridge to the future."

Oefenen.nl offers a learning platform that has a proven reach to the target group. In 2024, more than 65,000 participants actively used the Oefenen.nl programs. The platform was visited over 1.45 million times that year, and more than 35,000 certificates were awarded. Oefenen.nl collaborates with 400 organizations throughout the Netherlands, including libraries, municipalities, and educational institutions, which utilize its resources to support individuals in developing their language, numeracy, financial, and digital skills. Together, the organizations aim to ensure that the learning experience of users is radically improved and the impact on society is boosted.