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Master public procurement with the right balance of theory and practice

News 3 minutes 26 August 2025

“I can now really see the difference between buying and buying well.” For Esmée Kats, taking the Nevi 1 Public Sector programme was an important step in her career as a procurement adviser at Hecht.

The practice‑oriented approach — and the clear distinction between theory and real‑world application — gave her the tools she needed to grow as a procurement professional. “With the right foundation, you can truly make a difference for the people you serve.” The Nevi 1 Public Sector programme has significantly changed Esmée’s perspective on public procurement, something that proves invaluable in her role as a procurement adviser at Hecht. This organisation supports the care and safety network in the Hollands Midden region in procuring products and services.

Public procurement: from theory to practice

“The theory behind public procurement and tendering felt quite dry to me at first,” Esmée explains, “but the programme really helped me get a grip on it.” The structure of the Nevi 1 Public Sector programme played an important role in this. All participants follow three modules that gradually build their knowledge and skills.

In the foundational module Procurement and Tendering, all steps of the tendering process are covered. This module focuses on the rules, roles and responsibilities involved in public procurement.
The module Advising and Development teaches procurement professionals how to position themselves not only as procurement specialists, but also as advisers within their organisation.
Finally, the module Procurement and Tendering in Practice is designed to apply everything learned through concrete assignments and case studies.

For Esmée, the practical examples were especially valuable. “Procurement law is complex by nature. Discussing real cases made it much easier for me to understand.”

Speaking the same language creates understanding

The balance between theory and practice was ideal for Esmée. The public procurement training gave her plenty of space to bring in her own work experiences and reflect on them together with others. She still benefits from this in her daily work. By discussing cases in depth, Esmée gained more insight into how other stakeholders in the process operate. “You notice that, with the right background, you start speaking the same language. It helps you understand each other more quickly and more clearly.”

She illustrates this with the example of procuring ambulance vehicles. “It’s important to understand what’s at stake and how procurement decisions affect residents in a particular region. Thanks to my knowledge of the procurement process, I can now support them in the broadest sense.”

Esmée looks back positively on completing the Nevi 1 Public Sector programme. “For me, it truly is the perfect foundation for my procurement career.” Would you also like to gain more control over public procurement and strengthen your role as a procurement professional in the public sector? Discover whether the Nevi 1 Public Sector programme is right for you — or explore our full range of courses and training.