Helping students think creatively about future work opportunities
Maud Seghers
Maud advises the international organization VVOB’s programs that foster entrepreneurial attitudes. Maud witnesses a mismatch between traditional education systems and the reality of the job market in countries where VVOB operates. Fostering an entrepreneurial mindset in young people, starting from early childhood education, help students be more open-minded about future work opportunities and for navigating various life situations. Maud acknowledges that the current shift in countries towards competency-based curricula will take time and effort, but sees it as an opportunity to introduce innovative pedagogies and align schools with the real world.
Listen to Maud
“This mindset that education leads to someone giving them a job is still very much prevalent in many parts of Africa… this approach can limit students’ ability to see themselves as creators of opportunities rather than seekers of employment.”
Maud Seghers
Maud Seghers
Maud Seghers is a Global Strategic Education Advisor at VVOB. She coordinates the educational support to VVOB’s Skilling for Sustainable Futures Flagship for youth in secondary education and training, and projects and programmes on holistic skills development for youth in refugee and host communities. Maud has more than 20 years of experience in education and development. Her previous work has been on the side of implementers, including (I)NGOs such as iEARN, Teaching Matters (US) and VIA Don Bosco (global) and on the policy dialogue side at the Association for the Development of Education in Africa. She earned her Master’s degree in Comparative and International Education from Teachers College, Columbia University and her Master’s degree and upper secondary Teacher Certification from the University of Ghent, Belgium.
Maud Seghers