Third cohort of MOBILISE trainees begins mobility program in the Netherlands

During the first half of July 2026, the third cohort of MOBILISE trainees arrived in the Netherlands to begin the international mobility phase of the program. The cohort comprises 32 participants—nine students from the Institut Supérieur Agronomique de Chott-Mériem (ISACM) in Tunisia and twenty-three students from Heliopolis University and Kafrelsheikh University in Egypt—who will complete professional traineeships with Dutch horticultural companies over the coming months.

While the Tunisian participants arrived as scheduled on 5 July, the departure of the Egyptian cohort was delayed due to visa processing procedures, requiring the group to travel to the Netherlands in two separate waves. Despite these logistical challenges, all participants were successfully welcomed and integrated into the program. The Tunisian cohort completed the full onboarding week at Aeres University of Applied Sciences in Dronten, while the first group of Egyptian trainees joined part of the program upon their arrival. The remaining participants travelled on 12 July and received an accelerated orientation before continuing to their host companies.

The onboarding program prepared participants for both their professional placements and daily life in the Netherlands. Training sessions covered Dutch horticulture, workplace expectations, communication and other professional skills, while practical support was provided for residence registration, bank accounts, telephone services, and other administrative procedures. Participants also visited horticultural companies and took part in cycling lessons to help them adapt quickly to their new environment.

On 10 and 13 July, the trainees were accompanied by their university coaches to their respective host companies and accommodation across the Netherlands. By 14 July, all 32 participants had started their traineeships, marking the beginning of the practical learning phase of the program.

Over the coming months, the trainees will gain hands-on experience within the Dutch horticultural sector while strengthening their technical, professional, and intercultural competences. A mid-term workshop later this summer will bring the cohort back together to reflect on their experiences and exchange lessons learned before completing the mobility program.