Summary Working Group Education at Syntra West
Mid February the Working Group Education, consisting of various providers of and stakeholders in craft education, met for the second time. This time we were hosted by Syntra West in Bruges where we started with an extensive tour of the workshops of the artisanal trainings. Syntra West, amongst others, provides training in guitar making, bookbinding, ceramics, stained glass and forging or blacksmithing. The main goal of the working group was to exchange information on the various forms of educational organization. The discussions focused on the modes of assessment and certification, institutional organization, profiles of the teachers and target groups.
Below we present some brief general findings from the conversations. Researcher Tim Dierickx will further deepen the various perspectives in a position paper on craft education in Flanders and Brussels.
Diversity of the educational field
Within the different craft training programs offered by Syntra, CVO (center for adult education) and DKO (part-time art education) we can find a broad and diverse group of students, each with their own motivation and personal learning goals. While some pursue training with a clear professional goal, such as starting their own business or developing professional expertise, others are more interested in creative development, learning a specific specialization or purely out of personal interest.
Courses are organised in a modular way, rather than linear as before, which offers flexibility and allows students to adapt courses to their own pace. However this also brings challenges, especially in craft fields where a logical structure and continuity of knowledge building are important. The duration and structure of the courses vary widely: some training programs are short and intensive, with a quick flow into the professional field, while others last several years and offer opportunities for further specialization.
The teacher’s background varies equally. Some training programs tend to work with professionals active in their own field of work, bringing practical hands-on experience and knowledge. Other education formats take a more pedagogical approach, where teaching experience and didactic skills play a role in addition to craft knowledge.
In terms of recognition, there are differences in how training programs are completed and evaluated. While some programs produce official diplomas, others work with certificates or attestations. The value of these recognitions varies depending on the field and the professional goals of the trainees. In addition, the sector is actively reflecting on the role of entrepreneurship and the need for targeted support for those wishing to pursue a creative career.
A unique addition: the master apprentice trajectory
A unique training program for specialized craft knowledge is offered by the master-apprentice trajectories funded by the Department of Culture, Youth and Media of the Flemish Government.
The focus is admittedly different from education: from safeguarding as a practice within intangible heritage, the trajectory was intended to ensure the transmission, deepening and specialisation of traditional craft techniques in danger of being lost. Craftspeople could apply for a grant that allowed the creation of an intensive master-apprentice track in which a master passes on his specialised craft knowledge to one or a few apprentices. One of the conditions was that this specific professional knowledge is not or no longer offered within regular education. In practice, it turned out that it was not always easy to determine whether this criterion was met. The complex and diverse range of educational programs with different training providers make it difficult to get an overview. In any case, the program provides a unique approach that is an important addition in terms of transmission of skills. A comprehensive evaluation is currently underway and will be published via the Heritage Department in the course of 2025.
