Education
In the last decades, a lot of new schools with different philosophies and pedagogical views opened in Limburg. Such as the Montessori method of education, Jenaplan schools (Summerhill schools), free schools and special education. In Limburg, there are also plenty of possibilities to continue studies at higher vocational education or at university level.
Primary Education
There is a primary school in nearly every village and district. You can find every type of primary school in Limburg; From Roman Catholic schools and public schools to free schools and special education schools. In Limburg, there are also schools with modern pedagogic views, such as the Montessori and Jenaplan methods of education. The following website will help you find the most appropriate primary school for your child(ren):
• Scholenlijst op Kennisnet (list of schools)
• Basisscholen in Limburg (primary schools in Limburg)
• Assessment of primary schools by schools inspectorate
In Venlo, there is a primary school for highly talented children called the Leonardoschool, named after Leonardo da Vinci. There are advanced plans to open a similar school in Maastricht. The school is open for children aged between 4 and 11 who have an IQ Of over 130. The curriculum consists of classes in English, Spanish, Engineering, Philosophy and training in social skills.
Secondary Education
In every town in Limburg there are several secondary schools. Most of these schools fall under Stichting Limburgs Voortgezet Onderwijs (LVO). The LVO has 20 schools scattered across Limburg, from lower secondary professional schools (VMBO) to grammar schools (gymnasium). Every school has its own identity. Within the foundation Catholic and interdenominational schools work together with schools that have a special neutral denomination.
LVO is not the only school group that is active in Limburg, there are more. The Trevianum schoolgroup in Sittard is one of a kind. The grammar department of this school was proclaimed the best grammar school in the Netherlands for the third year in a row by specialist journal Elsevier. The Porta Mosana in Maastricht was also one of the winners in the annual examination in education. The Roman Catholic school achieved a maximum score for its pre-university (VWO) and its lower secondary professional education (VMBO-GT) department. DaCapo College in Sittard was the third winner from Limburg. This school scored high with two studies of its lower secondary professional education department (VMBO-K and VMBO-GT).
The following websites can help you find a secondary school for your child(ren):
• Scholenlijst op Kennisnet (list of schools)
• Assessment of secondary schools
Regional Training Centres
Limburg has three regional training centres for technical and vocational training:
• Gilde Opleidingen in Middle and North Limburg
• Arcus College in East-South Limburg
• Leeuwenborgh Opleidingen in West-South Limburg
Arcus College is the regional training centre in East-South Limburg. Arcus is the biggest education supplier in Parkstad with over 9,000 students, 200 study programmes and 700 employees. It offers a wide spectrum of technical and vocational training and adult education.
Arcus College is headed towards exciting times. There will be a brand new Campus in Heerlen for 1,650 students. Arcus attaches great importance to the presence of other educational institutions; Zuyd University (Hogeschool Zuyd), Open Universiteit and Sintermeertencollege. Together with Zuyd University, Arcus is going to develop a technology campus.
Higher and University Education
Limburg is particularly strong in higher and university education, because of its European location. There are seven universities in the Euregion and two of these are located in Limburg: the Maastricht University in Maastricht and the Open Universiteit in Heerlen. In 2006, as well as in 2007, both universities were in the top three of Dutch universities of the Keuzegids Hoger Onderwijs.
Maastricht University is internationally renowned for its Faculty of Health and the cooperation with the town's academic hospital. The Open University in Heerlen is the only correspondence college in the Netherlands.
The universities in Limburg and the Euregio:
• Maastricht School of Management
• Maastricht University
• Open Universiteit Nederland in Heerlen
• University of Technology Eindhoven
• Liège University
• Hasselt University
• Catholic University of Louvain
• Rheinisch Westfälische Technische Hochschule (Aachen University)
Some of the universities work closely together. For example, the transnational University Limburg (tUL) is a cooperation of Maastricht University and Hasselt University. The tUL has locations in Hasselt, Diepenbeek and Maastricht.
Just across the border there are many other good opportunities for higher education. One example is the Rheinisch Westfälische Technische Hochschule (Aachen University). As of October 2007, this college can call itself one of Germany's nine elite universities. Quite an acknowledgement for German top institutions.
As for higher vocational training, Zuyd University is the biggest supplier in Limburg. Zuyd University offers about 50 study programmes and has locations in Heerlen, Maastricht and Sittard-Geleen. Students can choose study programmes on both bachelor and master level in the area of economics and languages, behaviour and society, health care, arts, education, engineering and IT. The most well-known are the Hotel Management School and the Academy of Dramatic Arts in Maastricht.
Other vocational trainings in Limburg are:
• Jan van Eyck Post-Academic Institute in Maastricht
• Maastricht School of Management
• Transport Academy in Venlo
International Schools
In Limburg, there are also international schools in Maastricht and Brunssum:
• Joppenhof International Department in Maastricht, primary education for children from the age of 4 to 11.
• International School Maastricht, secondary education for children from the age of 11 to 19
• Afnorth International School in Brunssum, educational programmes for children from the age of 4 to 19.