MBO Raad

The MBO Raad (formerly the Bve Raad) is the Dutch branch association representing schools in secondary vocational education (middelbaar beroepsonderwijs, or mbo). It is based in Woerden, Netherlands, and acts as the collective voice of the mbo sector, connecting schools, government and industry. Its member institutions include regional training centres (ROC's) and agricultural training centres (Agrarische opleidingscentra). The organisation describes the mbo as indispensable to Dutch society: its students and graduates give colour to villages and cities through their enterprises and are vital in sectors such as healthcare, transport, retail, hospitality, culture and media, and technology. The MBO Raad frames the mbo as a link in tackling major and minor societal challenges, and it works on themes including mbo and the labour market, mbo and society, and mbo and quality. According to figures published by the MBO Raad, the sector it represents comprises 465,639 students, 423 programmes and 680 locations. The association states that 55,000 employees work at its affiliated schools, and that 40% of the Dutch workforce has followed an education at an institution affiliated with the MBO Raad. It also notes that the mbo will train more than 600,000 students up to 2030, producing skilled professionals and resilient citizens who accelerate transitions in healthcare, technology, education and defence. The MBO Raad is partly responsible for the level of mbo education in the Netherlands. It organises events such as teacher days and thematic weeks, publishes facts and figures to support public debate, and maintains a national presence across every region and life stage. Its official website is mboraad.nl.

The MBO Raad is the Dutch branch association for schools in secondary vocational education. It was formerly known as the Bve Raad, reflecting the earlier policy term 'beroepsonderwijs en volwasseneneducatie' (vocational education and adult education). The organisation represents the interests of mbo institutions, including regional training centres (ROC's) and agricultural training centres (Agrarische opleidingscentra). As a branch organisation, the MBO Raad connects schools, government and industry. It is partly responsible for the level of mbo education in the Netherlands. Its member schools employ 55,000 workers, and 40% of the Dutch workforce has followed an education at an institution affiliated with the MBO Raad. The MBO Raad is based in Woerden, Netherlands. It publishes facts and figures about the mbo sector to contribute to a well-founded public debate, covering the number of students and staff, study success and alignment with the labour market. It also organises events such as teacher days and thematic weeks, including the Week of Digitalisation and the Week of Economics Education. In its public communication, the MBO Raad emphasises the societal role of the mbo. It states that mbo students and graduates are indispensable in vital sectors such as healthcare, transport, retail, hospitality, culture and media, and technology, and that their ideas, knowledge and skills are the link in addressing major and minor societal issues. The organisation notes that the Netherlands faces large societal challenges and that the mbo helps solve them, training more than 600,000 students up to 2030 as skilled professionals and resilient citizens who accelerate transitions in healthcare, technology, education and defence. The MBO Raad works on themes including mbo and the labour market, mbo and society, and mbo and quality. It aims to provide nationally covering and accessible vocational education in every region and at every life stage. It is related to the VO-raad, the sector organisation for secondary general education.

• The organisation was formerly known as the Bve Raad.

• The MBO Raad is based in Woerden, Netherlands.

• The MBO Raad publishes facts and figures about the mbo sector, including 465,639 students, 423 programmes and 680 locations.

• The MBO Raad states that 55,000 employees work at its affiliated schools and that 40% of the Dutch workforce has followed an education at an affiliated institution.

• The MBO Raad states that up to 2030 the mbo will train more than 600,000 students.

• Week of Digitalisation news item dated 23 September 2026.

The collective branch organisation and national voice of Dutch secondary vocational education, connecting schools, government and industry.

• Branch association representation

  Acts as the branch organisation for schools in secondary vocational education, including ROC's and agricultural training centres.

• Facts and figures publications

  Publishes facts and figures about the mbo in the Netherlands, such as student and staff numbers, study success and labour market alignment.

• Events and teacher days

  Organises events such as the Docentendag Entree, Docentendag on digital innovation, and the Week of Economics Education.

1. 1Home pagina | MBO Raadmboraad.nl
2. 2Middelbaar Beroeps Onderwijswikidata.org
3. 3MBO Raadnl.wikipedia.org