How a datalake at Defense paves the way for truly personalized learning

The Ministry of Defense faces an enormous challenge. At a time when threats are constantly changing and technology is evolving at breakneck speed, the organization must remain agile. This requires people who can continue to develop their skills at every stage of their careers. Whether it involves onboarding, professional development, reskilling, or upskilling, learning must be relevant, quickly applicable, and tailored to real-world situations.

But that’s also where the problem lies. All too often, employees are presented with learning programs that don’t align with their experience or role. Learning feels like an obligation rather than an opportunity. Time and resources are wasted unnecessarily, and motivation declines.

Defense's vision of learning

In the official Defense Vision 2035, the ambition is clear: an armed force that is information-driven, with people who have the right skills at the right time. Learning is not an afterthought, but a strategic part of daily work. There is a focus on development, supported by technology. Yet something essential is still often missing: overview. Who has what knowledge? Where are the gaps? What really works?

Data as a foundation for change

To answer these questions, Defence is building a powerful, secure and innovative learning infrastructure together with TNO, NLR and NLV. The heart of this is the datalake: a central repository in which all relevant learning and HR data come together.

Max Mertens, involved on behalf of NLV, explains:

The data lake runs on-premises and is designed with maximum data security in mind. It stores not only what someone learns, but also how, when, and why. It contains data from the Learning Record Store (LRS), content metadata, performance data, and historical learning experiences. External systems, such as games or simulations, are also integrated.

What this yields in practice

Bringing all that information together in one place creates enormous benefits.

• Efficiency: Once it’s clear which courses someone has already taken or which skills they’ve already mastered, duplicates can be eliminated—no more unnecessary e-learning modules, no more repeating the same steps.
• Effectiveness: Personalized learning means that employees learn exactly what they need—no more, no less. This boosts motivation and the practical application of knowledge: you learn faster, in a more targeted way, and with greater engagement.

Innovation that moves with you

The data lake also serves as the foundation for all kinds of innovations within L&D. For example:

• Learning analytics that predict where knowledge gaps will arise.
• AI that creates personalized learning paths.
• Chatbots that provide real-time support to employees throughout their journey.
• Automation that automatically makes learning experiences available at the right moment in the workflow.

What's coming?

In September 2025, Next Learning Valley will launch the first phase of the AMALT project. In this phase, the datalake will be developed and linked to other smart components, creating a cohesive learning cycle in which data, insight and action are seamlessly connected. Thus, we are building a learning environment that not only facilitates, but also thinks ahead - an environment that constantly adapts to the individual employee and knows exactly what is needed, at the right time, for maximum development.

Do you want this too?

Wondering how your organization can also build such a foundation for personalized and data-driven learning? Then get in touch with NLV. Max Mertens will be happy to show you how the datalake works - and what it can do for your learning strategy.