About No School

The world is changing rapidly. Professions are evolving, the economy is globalising and the creative work environment is developing in entirely new directions. Existing structures in education do not always provide the flexibility needed to keep up with these shifts. That is why two creative vocational schools, Cibap (Zwolle) and SintLucas (Eindhoven), have joined forces under the initiative called No School.

What is No School?

No School is not a school in the traditional sense, yet everything about it revolves around how students learn. The programme researches, experiments and creates space for initiating new and distinctive learning routes together with the creative industry. In doing so, it contributes to making creative vocational education in the Netherlands ready for the future.

Both vocational schools are known for their high-quality creative craftsmanship and are accustomed to constant transformation as 'creative pioneers'. No School takes this a step further by venturing beyond established paths and experimenting with alternative forms of learning.

Changing society

The creative sector is in a continuous state of change. Traditional structures are becoming less effective while new opportunities are emerging. No School responds to these developments by creating educational routes that align with today's reality. This includes developing pathways between secondary vocational education (mbo) and higher professional education (hbo) in collaboration with universities of applied sciences and the professional field.

Community building

A core element of the programme is its collaboration with the creative industry, both nationally and internationally. Cibap and SintLucas maintain partnerships with organisations in countries including China, the United States, Germany and Italy. The initiative also encourages crossovers with other domains such as technology, healthcare and business to strengthen the creative sector.

Students working in multidisciplinary teams on projects for real clients gain valuable practical experience. This approach prepares them for a professional field in which cross-disciplinary collaboration is increasingly essential.

Research

No School invests in research to make data-driven decisions that lead to meaningful changes in education. The central questions driving this effort are: what is the power of creativity, and how do creative people work and learn? Through the Academic Workshop, fundamental research is conducted into creativity as a 21st-century skill, in partnership with ArtEZ University of the Arts among others.

Stronger together

No School describes itself as an initiative under development. The vision on the horizon is clear: creative vocational education that is ready for the future. The precise route to get there will be determined along the way, together with everyone involved.