‘There are fewer and fewer guys with the screwdriver in their back pocket’
Interview with Petra Lambert, regional coordinator at Jetnet & Technet
Getting young people excited about a job in engineering is important. Because technology offers solutions to major social problems. Think of the climate, the livability of cities and health care. To have sufficient personnel in the future, our high-tech companies participate in Techniek Tastbaar. The best promotion of technology to young people in the north of the Netherlands.
Companies are running hot for it. Including those of Innovatiecluster Drachten. Because instead of endless meetings on how to get young people excited about technology, Jet-Net & Technet offers a practical and effective concept: Techniek Tastbaar. ’’Students bring their parents to the companies and experience something completely different than at school,’’ says Petra Lambert, regional coordinator at Jetnet & Technet. She organizes, together with project leader John van Mierlo, Techniek Tastbaar. And with success. The ICD companies are also enthusiastic. ,,Together with teachers from primary and secondary schools and companies in the neighborhood, we organize a do-day. Here students can try out technical gadgets, but also learn about welding and turning and milling, for example. In this way, companies show what they do and children become enthusiastic about technology.’
Enthusiasm
That is exactly what most schools could use help with, conveying enthusiasm for engineering. That's why the do-day does not stand alone and why following it up in the classroom is very important. ’’There are schools that make this day a special assignment for career orientation. This helps students orient themselves even more consciously to their choice of school and career. For example, children interview three companies and make a video. Then it is nice when the mentor says: the videos you have made we watch together and discuss. Then there is attention to technology in the classroom and the opportunities and possibilities are discussed.’’ Unfortunately, Lambert has no direction on such a lesson. ''We organize the whole process up to the event. After that, it's up to the school to follow it up. We urge schools to prepare for the day, to have enough children come and to discuss it in class afterwards. That completes the picture and has the most effect.''
Screwdriver
This approach sounds vulnerable, but it works well. ,,We give schools training on how to look at drives and motives with students and how to link this to technology. This gives teachers insight and allows them to have better conversations with their students. In the past, you only talked to boys who carried the screwdriver in their back pocket, so to speak. These boys are fewer and fewer, besides, you don't have to seduce them. It is mainly about the other children, that they are also introduced to technology from a young age. For example, by having them solve technical problems, integrating language and math so that they get a lively and context-rich education. It's a process that has to grow and slowly but surely become part of the curriculum.’’
21 thousand visitors
The first Techniek Tastbaar was held in Meppel in 2015. Since then, companies and schools in 16 towns in the Northern Netherlands are familiar with the event and there have been over 21 thousand visitors. This number is growing partly thanks to the enthusiasm of schools and companies. ,,Most events we organize in Friesland and this year also some in Drenthe. The next event is on March 13 in Sneek, including the companies of Innovatiecluster Drachten. The province of Groningen is the next area we want to conquer.’’
call
How great would it be if, in addition to the children and their parents, mentors attended the event? ,,We usually hold Techniek Tastbaar on a Friday between 2 and 9 p.m. How great would it be if more teachers visit the event to get an idea of the companies in the region. Moreover, it broadens knowledge about engineering, which in turn makes you, as a mentor, better able to talk to your students or give them sound advice for further education. I think this is so important that I would like to urge teachers to make arrangements in their team meetings to see who goes to Techniek Tastbaar.’’
Cake
From the thank yous Lambert receives, the companies are eager. ,,Each company receives a cake as a thank you after the event, resulting in many nice comments. We see participating companies grow in their presentation. The first time, some don't really know what to show. Stickers, key chains and a company poster are not enough. Then the kids can't experience anything, they have to be able to do something! Companies see that and come up with something different next time. From the children's enthusiasm, they soon enough find out if they are right!’’
Jet-Net & TechNet is the youth and technology network of companies and schools to make young people consciously choose a technical further education. It offers elementary school practical support in introducing and integrating science and technology into the curriculum. It is known from research that children form vocational images between the ages of 9 and 14 and already rule out some vocational choices. Moreover, technology makes an important contribution to children's talent development. Therefore, it is important to introduce children to science and technology at an early age. Jet-Net & TechNet supports elementary schools with free workshops and advice on starting to teach science and technology and collaborating smartly with industry.
Visit Technique Tangible
View for an impression of the event videos of recent years or visit the events with our high-tech companies on March 13 in Sneek and April 17 in Assen.