Learning Mobility to the Netherlands April 29 – 30, 2025

The learning mobility to the Netherlands on April 29–30, 2025, was an exciting and innovation-focused experience, centered around job shadowing at the headquarters of internationally renowned cleaning technology developer I-team Global in Eindhoven, affectionately known as the ‘Disneyland of Cleaning,’ and at NESO, the largest cleaning training center in the Netherlands, where job shadowing took place in practical learning environments.

Participants in the learning mobility included Järvamaa Vocational Education Centre, Eesti Liinirongid AS, Sol Baltics OÜ, P.Dussmann, Tartu Vocational College, Elva Hospital, Arkaadia Puhastus, Tartu Health Care College, Ida-Viru Central Hospital, and Pesuekspert. The learning mobility was supported by Erasmus+ consortium learning mobility project no. 2024-1-EE01-KA121-VET-000236654.

What did we learn and how can we apply it in Estonia?

The showroom concept (e.g., classroom, bus, hospital ward, dental office) was an excellent way to teach cleaning in a room-specific manner and could also be used in Estonia to update training structures.
Purposefulness of every activity – everything you do must create maximum value and remove dirt, not just fill time.
Work ergonomics – cleaning must be as smooth as dancing.
ESG and valuing employees – employee photos and life mottos on the wall, a unified sense of partnership throughout the team. An excellent example of how to create belonging and meaning for cleaning staff as well.

I-team Global representatives, Rait Keerles and Leo Tõnismaa, were excellent hosts during our job shadowing and provided valuable background information on equipment development, work organization, and environmental impacts.

Job shadowing at I-team Global Headquarters – Inspiration for a New Level in the Cleaning Industry

I-team Global, located in Eindhoven, left an indelible impression on us. The company’s headquarters was built as a ‘Disneyland of Cleaning,’ a diverse environment where each room had a specific purpose and meaning. The future of cleaning was presented to us through innovation, practicality, and environmental sustainability.

The focus was on smart equipment and work methods, where a strong emphasis was placed on ease of use, ergonomics, and accelerating the work process. I-mop, I-fiber, I-link, and the brand new Icobot – each product is designed not to replace humans, but to support them in a smarter way. We particularly liked their motto, “robots don’t replace, they collaborate,” which also opens up a broad discussion in Estonia about the role of cleaning technology.

Practical Experience at NESO Training Center

On the second day, we went for job shadowing at the NESO cleaning training center. NESO is the first and largest training center in the Netherlands specializing in cleaning professions. We were welcomed by Jeroen Aalbers, who provided a comprehensive overview of the training approach and facility structure.
At NESO, most of the learning takes place in a practical environment – teaching is done in small groups, and it is believed that making mistakes is part of learning. For example, in toilet cleaning training, 7 toilets are cleaned consecutively – in each subsequent one, mistakes made in the previous one are corrected. This approach could also be applied in Estonia to increase learners’ practical awareness and sense of responsibility.
We had the opportunity to job shadow in various typical rooms: a classroom, a hotel room, a hospital ward, a kindergarten, an office. Additionally, we gained hands-on experience in window cleaning and floor maintenance. We participated in a practical training session for Exentr machines, led by Wouter Joosse. Particularly thought-provoking was the fact that in the Netherlands, men predominantly work as cleaning service providers, contrary to Estonia, where cleaning service providers are mostly women.

What can we share in Estonia?

Practical training in typical rooms; we have the opportunity to integrate this into existing training programs or create special modules for hospitals, kindergartens, schools, etc.
Learning through mistakes; we should encourage learners more to reflect, experiment, and seek the best approach, not just the right answer.
Opportunity to test equipment in training; in Estonia, we could create more opportunities to try out new technologies in real-life situations.
Valuing employees, because a motivated cleaning service provider = quality service.
Õpiränne Hollandisse andis meile uusi vaatenurki ja praktilisi ideid, kuidas teadlik koristus ja inimesekeskne juhtimine saavad koos luua paremaid tulemusi. Oleme tänulikud võimaluse eest olla töövarjuks tipptegijate juures ning kasutame saadud teadmisi ja kogemusi Eesti koristusvaldkonna arendamiseks.

Artikli autor: Tiina Matsi