ROCgebied

ROCgebied is a term used to refer to the geographic area served by a Regional Education Center (ROC) in the Netherlands. A ROC is a public institution responsible for organizing vocational education and related services within its region. ROCgebieden thus cover the local campuses, partner schools, and business links that participate in the center's activities.

Within ROCgebied, the center coordinates curricula, admissions, exams, and guidance services. It offers vocational programs at various MBO levels, apprenticeships, and continuing education for adults, as well as flexible or online learning options. A primary goal is to align training with labor market needs, improve access to education in the region, and support lifelong learning.

Governance and funding: ROCs are publicly funded and operate under the Dutch Ministry of Education, Culture and Science. They work with regional authorities and with national bodies such as the SBB (Samenwerkingsorganisatie Beroepsonderwijs en Bedrijfsleven) to ensure alignment with employer needs and qualifications frameworks. The ROCgebied concept reflects how responsibilities and resources are organized regionally; in some areas a single ROC covers a large territory, while others connect several institutions under one regional umbrella.

History and status: The Dutch vocational education system has undergone structural changes in recent decades, including mergers and regional realignment. The term ROCgebied is primarily used in administrative and policy contexts to describe the extent of a ROC's regional responsibilities, rather than as a separate, nationwide entity.