Groningen/Assen, – On Monday, TZA Drenthe-Groningen signed the Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) from Care about IT. By doing so, they formally commit to continuing their collaboration in healthcare, technology and vocational education and training in the Northern Netherlands. This ensures that the work of Care about IT remains firmly embedded in the Netherlands, even after the European project comes to an end.
An Established Network
TZA Groningen and TZA Drenthe are networks of organisations from the welfare, healthcare, government and education sectors that work together to promote technological innovation in healthcare. Their aim is to bring developments in healthcare and technology that improve quality of life, care and working conditions into everyday practice. Nationwide, TZA has more than 120 members across five regions.
This aligns closely with the objectives of Care about IT. Through this partnership, Care about IT gains direct access to an extensive network of healthcare organisations, educational institutions and public authorities. As a result, the knowledge and solutions developed within the project can reach the people who use them in practice: healthcare professionals, teachers, students and employers.
Formalising the Partnership as Agreed
By signing the MoU, Care about IT takes an important step towards fulfilling its commitments to the European Commission. The project started on 15 June 2023 and runs for 48 months. Work Package 3 specifies that a Centre of Vocational Excellence (CoVE) must be established in each participating region and formally secured through an MoU.
These CoVEs are expected to collaborate with healthcare institutions, the IT sector, higher education institutions, research organisations and regional policymakers. They must also be sustainable and future-proof. The signing by TZA Groningen and TZA Drenthe puts these ambitions into practice in the Northern Netherlands.
The Importance of Networks
Healthcare technology is developing rapidly, and tomorrow's healthcare professionals will need new skills to keep pace. No single organisation can address these challenges alone.
Educational institutions need to understand developments in healthcare practice, while healthcare organisations need employees who are confident and skilled in using technology. Networks such as TZA help bridge this gap. They enable organisations to share knowledge, experiment together and ensure that education and training programmes reflect the changing needs of the labour market.
A Strong Foundation for the Future
Care about IT will conclude in 2027, but its results, experiences and partnerships will continue through Education4Health, the European platform through which the work will be carried forward.
With TZA Groningen and TZA Drenthe as partners, Care about IT has established a strong foundation in the Netherlands: rooted in the region and connected across Europe.
