Encadreren

Encadreren is a Dutch verb borrowed from the French encadrer, meaning to provide supervision, guidance, and structure to a person or activity. In Dutch usage it often refers to placing someone or something within a defined framework to ensure quality, safety, and progress, or to establishing the boundaries of a task or project.

The term is widely used in education, training and professional contexts. In education and internships, encadreren involves guiding students or trainees, setting objectives, monitoring progress, giving feedback, and ensuring adherence to rules and procedures. In the workplace, managers or senior colleagues may encadreren teams or projects by providing direction, support, and performance criteria. In care or social work, encadreren can denote supervising volunteers or junior staff and coordinating activities within an established framework. In the arts, encadreren can also mean to place a work in a frame, i.e., to enclose it within a protective border.

The concept is closely related to other Dutch terms such as begeleiden, coachen, and superviseren. The person who performs encadreren is often called an encadrant in contexts influenced by the French terminology, though more common Dutch equivalents are begeleider or supervisor. Encadreren implies active involvement, ongoing oversight, and the creation of a structured environment that supports learning, safety, and accountability.