Summa takes the next step in Learning Qualification: 'I often froze up during a test'

A diploma without final exams or nerve-wracking exams? Summa Beauty & Lifestyle makes it possible. Last week, 27 students in the Beauty Care program received their vocational diplomas through Learning Qualification. A renewed educational concept where the learning process is key and exams are a thing of the past.

“The results of 'classical' exams often did not correspond to what students were actually capable of,” says Gerdy van Kessel, team specialist in Learning Qualification at Summa Beauty & Lifestyle"They performed fantastically during the lessons, but as soon as the word 'exam' came up, they froze. You could see the tension rising because suddenly two assessors were watching a facial. Such a test didn't do justice to their craftsmanship."

That's why the Summa Beauty & Lifestyle team opted for a fundamentally different approach. No more individual exams, but a learning path in which students continuously demonstrate their skills and personal growth. "An added benefit: students gain more control over their learning process," says Van Kessel. "They feel more responsible and are more motivated."

Student Brechje van den Akker from Heesch (20) is enthusiastic about this approach: "I really enjoyed Learning Qualification. You first had a lesson, and then you were allowed to show what you could do during class. If it wasn't good enough, you got feedback from your fellow students and teachers, and you tried again later. Never did I feel like I was failing; more like: I'm just learning from this. I used to have test anxiety. I could do it, but in the past, I often froze up during a test. Then I couldn't do it."

Fellow student Nina Dam (22) from Cuijk also felt the difference: "I get stressed during exams. I rush through everything, hoping it's good enough. Now I received feedback during the practical lessons, which I could use immediately. If it wasn't enough, I chose to develop myself further in that area. No stress, just keep going. I could also set my own pace. Yes, it has made me more independent."

Curious which program is right for you? Come find out what suits you best at Summa's information evening on Thursday, March 20th. Check out our activity calendar.

Learning Qualification also demands something from the teaching team, Van Kessel acknowledges: "It's truly a cultural shift. Over the past two years, about forty colleagues and I have delved deeper into this approach. That's quite an achievement, as it's an intensive and complex process. But the results are impressive: students who work independently, take responsibility, and are intrinsically motivated. That makes me proud."

Summa Beauty & Lifestyle is the second Summa program to award its diploma through Learning Qualification. Earlier this year, students from the Start-up School also graduated this way.

Summa plays a pioneering role in flexible and personalized education within vocational education. This week's graduation ceremony is another important step toward a future in which more students learn based on their own talents and ambitions.