First ever BARCAMP in the Netherlands

"When I got the opportunity to go to Next Learning Congress 2021 through a networking assignment for the university, I immediately said yes. So cool to meet new people and explore my career options!" Loes van Mierlo is enthusiastic about NLE and about the first-ever Dutch BARCAMP where she closed the congress day. "It was super to end the day in an informal way with a drink."

Loes van Mierlo is studying Educational Science and Technology at the University of Twente. "I'm in my master's year and learning all about learning in the broadest sense, including Life Long Learning. Before this, I took a three-year bachelor's degree in Industrial Design at TU Delft. I think it would be best to combine education and design when I graduate soon.

Besides my studies, I have a side job at Pre-University, a body of the University of Twente in which we familiarize primary and secondary school students with science and invite them to campus. As coordinator of Learning & Development, I take care of the trainings that "our" students take in order to be confident and well prepared in front of such a group of students. Fits perfectly with my master's!"

Invited to the BARCAMP

"Once I had signed up for Next Learning 2021, Evy from Next Learning Valley - one of the partners of NLE 2021 - emailed me to ask if I would be interested in the very first Dutch Barcamp, where learning leader Ben Betts would also be present and we would exchange views over an informal drink. The topic was fixed, only how the conversation would go, that was still completely free. I enthusiastically signed up and found it a pleasant way to end a day full of impressions.

Super fun to talk to other learning enthusiasts about learning and development. During the BARCAMP there was a relaxed atmosphere. You noticed that everyone really recovered after a day of listening and interacted in a relaxed manner. In the beginning I found it quite exciting to give my opinion - because yes, I am still 'only' a student. Yet I got the chance to do so and it was just really nice to notice that everyone treats you as an equal."

Inspiration

"Anyway, I look back on the day with a lot of pleasure. I really got a lot of inspiration and put those impressions directly into practice. To my colleagues at Pre-University I didn't stop talking about the possibilities (developing your own escape box, putting the learner more at the center) and also for myself and my own career I really gained a new insight about the way I look at learning. In fact, I always thought I wanted to do something for primary or secondary schools, but now it turns out that learning within companies, i.e. more the HRD side, is also hugely interesting. Learning is allowed to be really fun. And of course it can be fine within an organization. As long as you focus on the learner. I also find the BARCAMP a great source of inspiration: something I hope to experience or use more often in my working life!"

Recommended

"When I told my fellow master's students that I would miss a lecture because I was going to NLE 2021, I got many jealous looks. And rightly so: it is such a source of inspiration and networking opportunities. Highly recommended!"

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