Technique Garden participant Rick: "I see this track as an opportunity to get my bearings and get a piece of training."
In early April, the Techniektuin IJmond was launched, the project of Techport, the Province of North Holland, WSP Zuid-Kennemerland and IJmond, the Nova College Beverwijk and eleven companies that allows new entrants to actually start in a technical profession. In 12 weeks, the ten participants are immersed in the world of technology.
Six weeks of classes, six weeks of internships
The Technique Garden IJmond is divided into two parts. For the first six weeks, the participants receive technology classes at the NOVA Campus in Beverwijk and get a taste of different technology fields such as electrical, - metal, - installation, - process, - and insulation technology. They also get to know the eleven companies affiliated with this pilot: they visit them and receive guest lectures. In this way the participants get a good idea of what each company does and what skills are needed. After these six weeks of orientation, the participants will do an internship at one of the eleven affiliated companies at the end of May.
The participants have now been busy for a month. Rick Bakker, 38 from Wijk aan Zee, explains his rationale for participating in the Technique Garden IJmond.
"Practical education appeals to me the most."
"In my previous job at a concrete plant, my main job was doing repairs, but I also got to weld sometimes. Even then I noticed that I really like that. The other day welding was on the curriculum. Then I knew: this is the direction I want to go. I just get really happy when I can make a good weld. It seems very simple, but it is quite complicated. You shouldn't weld too close to it, because then you weld through the material. But you also shouldn't weld too far away from it, because then you won't get it to join. We also had lessons in tool knowledge and woodworking. Currently we are installing a sink. Practical education appeals to me the most."
Working with head and hands
"My father drew my attention to the Technology Garden. He saw an article in the newspaper and forwarded it to me. I studied HBO Human Technology. That is a kind of technical business administration, but I noticed that I prefer to work with my head and my hands instead of just my head. I see this track as an opportunity to orient myself broadly and get some education."
The Technique Garden IJmond is a project of Techport, the Province of North Holland, WSP Zuid-Kennemerland and IJmond, the Nova College Beverwijk and eleven companies from IJmond that allows new entrants to actually start in a technical profession. In 12 weeks, the ten participants are immersed in the world of technology.
