From IT department to strategic partner
In just a few years, Curio’s young IT department has grown into a serious discussion partner for the education sector. “We have become a partner that contributes ideas about the education and support landscape,” says Martijn. “That’s a big difference from ten years ago, when we didn’t even have a separate IT department.”
Curio organizes coordination on major themes, including IT and digital themes, through a strategic collective of education directors, service directors, and the board of directors. “We meet weekly,” says Dominique. “That’s hard work with twenty directors, but it ensures broadly supported choices.”
Curio, the leading vocational training provider in West Brabant, is constantly evolving. With forty locations spread across 16 municipalities, over 2,500 employees, and around 22,000 pupils, students, and course participants, continuous modernization of IT and digital skills is essential. Dominique Campman (Director of Digitization & Computerization), Robert IJsendoorn (IT Supply Manager), and Martijn Henneke (Manager of IT Operations) talk about how Curio got a grip on the IT side of the educational institution and what digital ambitions still lie ahead.
Regaining control with a new sourcing strategy
Before Dominique joined Curio, IT was largely outsourced to a single supplier. “All the knowledge was there, and we wanted to regain control of our own IT,” he recalls. Robert adds: “We didn’t know exactly what we had in-house and who we could turn to for what. If we wanted something new, we were stuck.” To break that dependency, Curio developed a sourcing strategy together with Eraneos. The services were divided into lots, and the organization sought out the best partner for each lot.
What followed was an intensive process of redesigning the IT landscape. Curio made the switch to a parceled sourcing approach with specialized suppliers for each domain. “We had little experience with this, but we wanted control over costs, quality, and content,” says Robert. To do this, it first had to be clear what was already in the organization. “You need to know exactly what you have in-house. That is perhaps the most important lesson. Only then can you re-enter the market with confidence.”
Knowledge back in-house
One of the first steps was to insource the service desk. Robert: “Previously, this was outsourced. Now, as an employee, you get a Curio colleague on the line. This makes the service more direct and personal.” Martijn adds: “We have much more knowledge of our own processes in-house. This allows us to respond more quickly and offer better support right away.”
Digitization with impact
Curio actively participates in national innovation programs, such as Npuls, MBO-Digitaal, and SURF, in areas including AI, digital identity, and flexible learning. “Our colleagues from ‘Learning and Learning Landscape’ are working on tools for using AI in education, for example,” says Dominique. “Teachers apply it in the classroom and we investigate the impact on our business operations.”
It remains a matter of finding the right balance. Martijn: “AI is both a hype and a tool. It will certainly help us, but you also have to consider safety, ethical considerations, and regulations. Not everything that is possible is desirable.” Curio is therefore working on strengthening digital skills, not only for pupils, students, and course participants, but also for employees. “AI is a tool, and just like with a hammer, you can also miss the mark with it.”
Relevance to the region
With a large working area, such as the West Brabant region, it is important to maintain connections with the various sub-regions within the region in order to continue to respond to social needs. Dominique: “By optimizing locally, we can respond more effectively to major themes such as technology, healthcare, and sustainability.”
Added value of cooperation
Curio collaborated with Eraneos to develop the sourcing strategy and design the new IT landscape. “We got exactly what we needed: best practices that helped us make quick and pragmatic choices that suit our organization,” says Dominique. “We didn’t have to reinvent the wheel.”
Effects of digitization become visible
The implementation is still ongoing, but the first effects are already visible. Robert: “The start of this school year went more smoothly than in other years. This is really the result of all the work we’ve done behind the scenes.” Employees are also noticing the difference internally. “The IT department is perceived as being closer,” says Martijn. “We have shorter lines of communication, understand the context more quickly, and can switch gears faster. That makes our work a lot more effective.”
The future of Curio
Curio continues to invest in the digital maturity of the educational organization. “Our organization continues to evolve, and that has an impact on the systems we use,” says Dominique. “We want to be ready for the future and also take advantage of everything that digitization has to offer.”
The tight labor market remains a challenge in this regard. Nevertheless, Curio has noticed that many people are consciously choosing education. “Meaningfulness is playing an increasingly important role,” the gentlemen conclude. “People want to work on something that really matters, and Curio offers plenty of opportunities for that.”