Power the Future: AI-Driven Learning at Van Gelder | DUC East
Students in the field of Public Administration, Social Work, Human Resource Management, Sustainability Studies, Business Administration, Operations & Process Management, Data Analytics, Organisational Psychology and Behavioural Data Science
1. Description of the Challenge
The energy transition is increasing the demand for skilled technical professionals, while experienced employees are retiring and new talent is becoming harder to find. At the same time, experienced employees are spending more time transferring knowledge, managing qualifications and certifications, and ensuring compliance, putting additional pressure on productivity and knowledge retention.
Van Gelder believes Artificial Intelligence can fundamentally transform the way people learn, work, and develop their skills. In this challenge, you will explore how AI can create immediate value on the work floor while helping Van Gelder build a future-proof learning ecosystem.
Make Practical Impact
Develop AI-driven solutions that improve learning and working in day-to-day operations. Your solution should demonstrate how AI can help employees develop faster, make knowledge more accessible, and simplify qualification management.
Consider questions such as:
How can AI support employees while they work and learn?
How can knowledge and expertise become easier to capture, share, and reuse?
How can AI provide personalized learning experiences based on skills, projects, or job roles?
How can qualifications and certifications be managed more efficiently while ensuring compliance?
How can AI help planners and managers match the right people with the right work based on skills and qualifications?
Create a Strategic Vision
Look beyond individual AI applications and develop a vision for the future of learning and workforce development at Van Gelder.
How can AI help transform Gelderpoort into an integrated learning ecosystem where learning, working, skills, qualifications, and data are connected? What is needed to encourage organization-wide adoption, overcome barriers, and successfully scale from pilot projects to long-term implementation?
2. Expected Outcome
We are looking for solutions that combine both focus areas into one coherent concept. Your submission should include:
3–5 AI use cases, including at least one focused on qualification and certification management;
User journeys, mock-ups, concept designs, or a prototype that demonstrate how employees interact with your solution;
A future vision for an AI-powered learning ecosystem at Van Gelder;
An adoption strategy and roadmap describing how your concept could be implemented and scaled across the organization.
Strong submissions balance innovation with feasibility. They demonstrate how AI can accelerate learning, preserve valuable knowledge, reduce administrative workload, improve qualification management and compliance, and help Van Gelder build a future-ready workforce.
About Van Gelder
Van Gelder is a full-service infrastructure partner in the Netherlands with more than 100 years of experience. Over the past century, both the Netherlands and the infrastructure sector have changed significantly, bringing larger and more complex challenges. Climate change, rising energy demand, increased mobility, and the need for constant connectivity all require innovative solutions. With its integrated, data-driven approach and the expertise of more than 2,350 dedicated colleagues, Van Gelder helps address these complex infrastructure issues.
The company designs and delivers sustainable above-ground and underground infrastructure solutions, while also managing and maintaining infrastructure for businesses and governments across the Netherlands. Through this work, Van Gelder supports the energy transition, keeps the Netherlands accessible, creates safe and pleasant living environments, enables safe transport by road and rail, and helps keep the country connected.
Van Gelder’s vision is to be the director of the smart and sustainable public space of the future. As a financially independent Dutch family business, the company combines long-standing experience with innovation to contribute to a smarter, safer, and more sustainable Netherlands.