They have attractive internships, graduate positions and vacancies on offer. Many students are responding to the northern advances, during the annual job and career fairs this month at TUs in Enschede, Delft and Eindhoven.
To captivate and retain students in mechatronics, electronics, data analysis, sustainable energy generation and technical management, the high-tech companies visit the fairs. ’’We started in Delft, where we were able to talk to the students thanks to consulting firm Berenschot,’’ says an enthusiastic Joost Krebbekx. He is program manager at Innovatiecluster Drachten. ''And with success, because their diverse knowledge turns out to be very applicable within our high companies.''
Collaboration
The power of cooperation within the business cluster is convincingly demonstrated to the students during the fairs, according to Krebbekx. ,,Delta Instruments amazes the students with their infrared technology in milk analysis. And YP Your Partner fascinates with data analysis in the field of predictive maintenance of installations and energy reduction.’’ Laboratory manufacturer and known for Petri dishes, BD, shows students in the Biochemical Engineering program their potential for innovative automated laboratory systems. And newcomer to the cluster, Ventura, shows how high-tech is incorporated into the world's most modern buses.
Beyond the wall
In a half-hour presentation, Paul Hiemstra of S&T told TU Eindhoven students why working ‘beyond the wall’ in the North is great. ,,Not only are the houses cheap there, the air is clean and the roads are congestion-free. You have 16 wonderful high-tech companies there that would love to have your knowledge!’’
Enthusiastic
,’’The career opportunities in the high-tech manufacturing industry in the Northern Netherlands are unknown to most students,’’ explains BD's René Ferwerda, ’’except for a few Northerners studying in Twente, Delft or Eindhoven. That's why it's good to be at these fairs.'' Ferwerda speaks to numerous students with his English-speaking colleague to inform them. In between, the students try out the Hololens, brought to them by YP Your Partner. ''The students are enthusiastic when they hear what we do.'' For example, Berenschot informs the students how they can develop even further in various traineeships. You notice from them that they immediately understand the career benefits of our cooperation.''
Safari
In special high-tech safaris, Krebbekx introduces the students to the ‘Big 5 of high-tech.’’ ,,We pick them up by bus, drive them for a whole day along our companies of their choice for a look behind the scenes, have a bite to eat at a networking dinner in the evening and bring them home again.’’ The safaris draw ample attention from students, as several student associations report to the booth. Krebbekx: ,,This way we get in touch with the right students in a very targeted way. And who knows, they might come back for a career in the high-tech manufacturing industry in the North’’.