A peek into the real world: company visit for Electronics students
On Thursday, Feb. 6, two buses left from the Zerniketerrein in the direction of various ICD companies. On board were about 80 first-year electrical engineering/electronics and mechatronics students, with the goal of career orientation. What can you do in practice after this study? That was the central question during this inspiring day.
Motivation and outlook for first-year students
The first year of a college degree can be tough. Therefore, it helps tremendously to get a picture of future possibilities within the field. Enthusiasm and practical experience work to motivate and guide the choice of study. To make the day as relevant as possible, the students followed two different routes: one for electrical engineering/electronics and one for mechatronics.
Route 1: Electronics and power electronics
The first bus took the electrical engineering and electronics students to Variass in Veendam and Whisper Power in Drachten. Variass is a leading company in the assembly of printed circuit boards (PCBAs). Here the students were given an insight into the production process and heard from specialists how electronics play a crucial role in innovative systems. In addition, speakers from Spark Holland and resato Hydrogen engaging presentations on the application of electronics within their companies.
’The afternoon focused on power electronics, an expertise of Whisper Power. Here, students followed an extensive factory tour and lectures by experts from Philips and Perkin Elmer, where power electronics also play an important role.
Route 2: Mechatronics and industrial automation.
The second bus targeted students interested in mechatronics and began at Astron in Dwingeloo, known for its radio telescopes. The students were given a tour of the workshops and learned how (opto-)mechatronic systems and measuring instruments function under cryogenic conditions.
Then the route went to Batenburg Beenen in Heerenveen, where industrial automation was the focus. This company develops high-tech solutions for various sectors, including robotization and vision technology. The students were given an inspiring factory tour and concluded the day with a lecture by BD, specializing in advanced instruments for bacteria detection, where vision and motion are essential technologies.
A successful and inspiring day
Thanks to these company visits, students gained not only valuable practical experience, but also a clearer picture of their future career prospects. The combination of tours, lectures and interaction with professionals made this day a great success and an important step in the career orientation of the first-year students.