The Value of Christian Vocational Education
Addressing the needs of teenage vocational students through quality Christian education.
Meeting report from the November 14-15, 2024 event at Hoornbeeck College, Gouda, NL
It was a blessing to be with educators from five vocational schools to learn from each other ways that we can serve students who are gifted with more practical skills and abilities and may struggle with the academic setting. This was a conference provided as a cooperation between Hoornbeeck College and ACSI Europe and we hope to involve more schools in future events!
Various speakers challenged and encouraged us on subjects such as…
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Reaching the heart of vocational students.
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Spiritual leadership of vocational students.
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Developing curriculum for project-based vocational courses.
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Integrating Biblical themes into practical lessons.
Each session was followed by lively discussion and sharing of experiences and ideas.
Other highlights of our time together were visiting local sites where vocational students are engaged in practical training and internships, and hearing from two students about their developing understanding of Christian citizenship and how they used their practical training in a mission project.
ACSI is very thankful to Hoornbeeck College (Gouda location) for hosting this event, especially Mrs. Alice Middlekoop and her student service team. We would also like to thank Mr Pieter Verhoeve, the Mayor of the city of Gouda, for his welcome and support of this initiative.
All the participants agreed that the collaboration and fellowship we experienced should be extended, and look forward to planning further events that prioritize the service of vocational students.
ACSI Europe Art Show Winners 2026
We would like to congratulate all the wonderful students who participated in our first ACSI Europe Art Show responding to the theme of "Your word is a lamp to my feet and a light to my path.". We were very encouraged to receive over 60 art pieces from schools all across Europe — a remarkable debut for this new tradition.
Poetry Contest Winners 2026
Announcing our first ever ACSI Europe Poetry Contest winners... Students were invited to respond to the theme of "Oh how I love Your law" — drawn from Psalm 119:97 — expressing their faith in their own words, in their own language.
2026 school year in review - Thank You
As another school year comes to a close, we find ourselves pausing — as we should — to ask a question that matters more than any metric or milestone. What has God been doing through Christian schools in Europe this year?
The answer is larger than any one school, conference, country, or organization. It is a story told in classrooms and conference halls, in student testimonies and teacher conversations, in policy discussions at the European Parliament and around the graveside of a faithful servant.
Safeguarding the Human Person in the Time of Artificial Intelligence
There is a question running through every staffroom, every school board meeting, and every teacher's planning session right now, whether it is spoken aloud or not: What does faithfulness look like in the age of artificial intelligence?
