The Ministry of Education, Culture and Science wanted to actively support school leaders and board members in primary, secondary, and (secondary) special education with the implementation of the new core objectives. To achieve this, event agency PINO organized the conference series OCW Dichtbij (OCW Close By), with editions in Utrecht, Veldhoven, Zwolle, and Rotterdam, attracting a total of around 2,500 participants. PINO brought us on board to power the digital experience and the networking aspect of the event.
Four locations, one experience
The challenge lay not only in informing participants, but above all in facilitating genuine connection and personal depth. With four locations, multiple breakout rounds, and a knowledge square packed with partners, each attendee needed to be able to curate their own day, tailored to their specific role and questions regarding curriculum development.
Networking started right at home
Using Networkapp, participants were able to build their personal itinerary in advance, choosing from various workshops, knowledge sessions, and discussion tables. Furthermore, they could post specific inquiries and connect with fellow school leaders, OCW partners, and the Ministry itself before the conference even began. This fostered a network of shared questions and mutual recognition before the first attendee even entered the venue.
The conference day itself
During the event, the app served as the central hub: offering practical information about the program, the venue, and the speakers, combined with the ability to instantly lock in new contacts. Afterwards, participants received a digital conference bag through the app filled with relevant links to OCW’s support tools, ensuring the inspiration gained remained actionable long after the closing drinks.
Connections that stick
The result: four highly attended editions where participants gained not only knowledge, but also concrete contacts and collaborations to take back to their own school environment. The combination of a strong, content-driven program and the trusted, user-friendly Networkapp ensured that connection and knowledge sharing blended seamlessly — exactly what this type of large-scale, nationwide event demands.
