Job shadowing to the Netherlands from 29 to 30 April 2025

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

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

Job shadowing at I-team Global headquarters – inspiration from a new level of the cleaning sector
I-team Global, located in Eindhoven, left an unforgettable impression on us. The company’s headquarters was designed like a “Disneyland of Cleaning” – a diverse environment where every room had a specific purpose and meaning. We were introduced to the future of cleaning through innovation, practicality, and sustainability.

The focus was on smart devices and work methods, with strong emphasis on usability, ergonomics, and speeding up work processes. I-mop, I-fiber, I-link, and the brand-new Icobot – each product is designed not to replace the cleaner but to support them in a smarter way. We particularly appreciated their motto: “Robots don’t replace, they cooperate,” which also opens up broad discussion in Estonia on the role of cleaning technology.

💡 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 space-specific context and could be used to renew the structure of trainings in Estonia.

• Purposefulness in every task – everything you do should create maximum value and remove dirt, not just spend time.

• Work ergonomics – cleaning should 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. A great example of how to create belonging and meaning for cleaning workers 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 impact.

Practical experience at NESO training center
On the second day, we moved on to job shadowing at NESO, the largest and first Dutch training center specializing in the cleaning sector. We were welcomed by Jeroen Aalbers, who gave us a comprehensive overview of their training approach and the structure of the training facilities.

At NESO, most of the learning takes place in a practical environment – training is conducted in small groups and the philosophy is that making mistakes is part of learning. For example, during toilet cleaning training, seven toilets are cleaned in sequence – each next one is cleaned by correcting the mistakes made in the previous. This approach could also be implemented in Estonia to increase learners’ practical awareness and sense of responsibility.

We job shadowed in various model rooms: a classroom, hotel room, hospital ward, kindergarten, office. In addition, we got hands-on experience in window cleaning and floor care. We participated in practical training on Exentr machines, led by Wouter Joosse. One particularly thought-provoking fact was that in the Netherlands, the cleaning workforce is predominantly male, whereas in Estonia, cleaning workers are mostly female.

💡 What can we pass on in Estonia?

• Practical training in model rooms – we have the opportunity to integrate this into existing trainings 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, rather than simply look for the correct answer.

• Opportunities to test equipment during training – in Estonia, we could create more chances to try out new technologies in real situations.

• Valuing employees, because a motivated cleaner = quality service.

The study visit to the Netherlands gave us new perspectives and practical ideas on how conscious cleaning and people-centered leadership can together create better outcomes. We are grateful for the opportunity to job shadow top-level professionals and will use the knowledge and experience gained to further develop the cleaning sector in Estonia.