It was designed and developed in 1989 by the Dusseldorp Skills Forum to bridge the almost complete disconnect, at the time, between the skills students acquired through school and the skills they would need to enter the labour market.

By every measure and there were careful evaluations both by the Forum and by external researchers TRAC more than achieved its aims. It demonstrated, on a national scale, that upper secondary schools can and should prepare students for work in ways that are rigorous and accredited.