After more than two years, wears Arjan Boerma by PerkinElmer Drachten takes over the coordination of the ICD Safaris. Arjan has designed and coordinated the successful ICD Safaris since March 2024.
Students are introduced to high-tech in the Northern Netherlands
The ICD Safaris are theme-oriented company visits for students. During a safari, students visit multiple companies from the ICD network. They receive presentations, tours, and demonstrations. In this way, they discover up close how high-tech companies in the Northern Netherlands work on innovative products and technologies.
The safaris have since become an important part of the collaboration between the ICD, education, and industry. Students come to the region from various parts of Nederland. In recent years, for example, we have hosted university students from Groningen, Eindhoven, and Delft, among others. Also students from NHL Stenden University of Applied Sciences and the Hanseatic League are increasingly finding their way to the ICD.
Hundreds of students visiting ICD companies
Under Arjan's coordination, about 10 to 12 ICD Safaris were organized annually. This gave hundreds of students the opportunity to get acquainted with the companies and technology developed in the Northern Netherlands.
The themes of the safaris vary. For instance, there were visits focused on robotics, embedded software, high-tech sensing, and electrical engineering, among other things. The common thread is always the same: letting students experience that a career in the high-tech industry is closer than they might think.
This fits in well with various slogans used within the ICD, such as ‘The future is closer than you think’ and ‘From job to career in the region’.
‘30plus is a bus’
A slogan that perhaps appeals most to the imagination is ‘30plus is a bus’. The idea behind it is simple: study associations can come to the region with a large group of students at the same time and visit multiple ICD companies.
This turns out to be a success in practice. Together with Karin Minnema by Philips did Arjan ensure that the transport and organization for these groups were properly arranged.
A special beginning
Just over two years ago, Arjan unexpectedly stepped into the role of coordinator. Following the sudden passing of Petra Huizinga in March 2024, he took a leap in the dark. Since then, he has handled the planning, coordination with educational institutions and companies, and the practical organization of the visits. In doing so, he made an important contribution to connecting students with the high-tech companies within the ICD.
Thanks, Arjan!
As a thank you for his dedication, Arjan received a number of special ICD gifts. He received a special orange ICD hoodie, a personal copy of the book 10 years of innovation through collaboration and an ICD speaker for his son.
But above all, we want to thank Arjan for his enthusiasm, flexibility, and dedication to the ICD Safaris.
Arjan, on behalf of all ICD companies and the ICD board: thank you very much for your contribution to the ICD Safaris and to connecting young talent with the high-tech sector in the Northern Netherlands!
New coordinators are ready
The organization of the ICD Safaris is now in good hands. Petra Snijders-Mol and Peter Swaving Dijkstra by Exosens take over the coordination. They are now well-trained and ready to continue the successful streak.
In the coming years, the ICD will also continue to invite students to get acquainted with the innovative companies in the Northern Netherlands. Because anyone who sees for themselves what is being developed in the region quickly discovers: the future really is closer than you think.
