Martin Mulder was already an active team member in preparing the pilot ECER in 1992 (Enschede). During the following years he was involved in initiatives to launch a European network for research in VET and HRD (with a conference tradition of its own). In the founding phase of EERA he became the Dutch member of the EERA Council and took the initiative to set up the VETNET as an EERA network. From ECER 1996 (Sevilla) to ECER 2000 (Edinburgh) he served as the coordinator of the network and chaired the work of the executive board. After moving to Wageningen he was involved in developing the Cedefop journal into a Europe-wide research journal in VET. During his working period in Thessaloniki he tried to secure the basis for the journal (which unfortunately was abolished). When returning to Wageningen he made a comeback to the VETNET board and has been actively encouraging younger Dutch researcher to engage themselves in European cooperation and in VETNET activities.
The VETNET network honours Martin Mulder for the initiative to launch the VETNET network, for chairing the network during the early years, for his engagement in promoting journals for European VET research and for his long-term commitment to the development of European VET research community.
