{"id":11751,"date":"2025-09-03T11:04:56","date_gmt":"2025-09-03T11:04:56","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/techport.nl\/?post_type=verhalen&#038;p=11751"},"modified":"2025-12-15T12:45:59","modified_gmt":"2025-12-15T12:45:59","slug":"dankzij-het-techport-netwerk-hebben-wij-een-enorme-voorsprong-op-andere-regios-amber-pranger","status":"publish","type":"verhalen","link":"https:\/\/techport.nl\/en\/verhalen\/dankzij-het-techport-netwerk-hebben-wij-een-enorme-voorsprong-op-andere-regios-amber-pranger\/","title":{"rendered":"Amber (STO): \"Thanks to the Techport network, we have a huge advantage over other regions\""},"content":{"rendered":"<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading has-text-align-center\">Modern engineering education is much more than crafts<\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"has-text-align-center\">One of the main goals of Strong Technical Education (STO) is to get more young people to choose a technical vmbo education. Amber Pranger, programme manager at STO Region IJmond\/South-Kennemerland, has a clear vision on how to achieve this: \u201cOf course we have to show the children themselves what the possibilities are. The teachers also play a role in this, but the most important influencers of a child's choice of study are really the parents, especially mothers. They have a huge, if not the most important, influence on their child's choice of study.\u201d\u00a0<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p><\/p>\n\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-group alignfull content-img-color has-primary-background-color has-background has-global-padding is-layout-constrained wp-block-group-is-layout-constrained\">\n<div class=\"wp-block-columns alignwide is-layout-flex wp-container-core-columns-is-layout-28f84493 wp-block-columns-is-layout-flex\">\n<div class=\"wp-block-column img-full-wrapper  img-left is-layout-flow wp-block-column-is-layout-flow\">\n<div class=\"wp-block-group has-global-padding is-layout-constrained wp-block-group-is-layout-constrained\">\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image size-full\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"1700\" height=\"778\" src=\"https:\/\/techport.nl\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/07\/big-img-e1753175643354.jpg\" alt=\"\" class=\"wp-image-124\" srcset=\"https:\/\/techport.nl\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/07\/big-img-e1753175643354.jpg 1700w, https:\/\/techport.nl\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/07\/big-img-e1753175643354-300x137.jpg 300w, https:\/\/techport.nl\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/07\/big-img-e1753175643354-1024x469.jpg 1024w, https:\/\/techport.nl\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/07\/big-img-e1753175643354-768x351.jpg 768w, https:\/\/techport.nl\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/07\/big-img-e1753175643354-1536x703.jpg 1536w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 1700px) 100vw, 1700px\" \/><\/figure>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-column is-vertically-aligned-center is-layout-flow wp-block-column-is-layout-flow\">\n<div class=\"wp-block-group has-base-color has-text-color has-link-color wp-elements-bd4fa13811994f486380ac4fe0172c14 has-global-padding is-layout-constrained wp-container-core-group-is-layout-eba72855 wp-block-group-is-layout-constrained\" style=\"padding-top:var(--wp--preset--spacing--x-large);padding-right:0;padding-bottom:var(--wp--preset--spacing--large);padding-left:var(--wp--preset--spacing--large)\">\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\">\"A career in engineering is very versatile\"<\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p>Amber continues: \"The tricky thing is that the image many parents have of engineering is often based on about 20 years ago. They see engineering as hard, dirty work that is only for men. Today, that image is no longer accurate. Developments in the engineering sector and technical education are huge. Jobs are disappearing because of the energy transition, but many more new jobs are being created. If you let your child choose a technical direction, your child will be better prepared for the future and guaranteed a job.\"<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>And so it is. Modern technology and engineering are woven into everything these days, from healthcare robots to 3D printers in baking to plumbers inspecting pipes with drones.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Amber continues: \"Our job is to show parents and students how versatile, interesting and valuable a career in engineering is.\"&nbsp;<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-columns alignwide is-layout-flex wp-container-core-columns-is-layout-1c172556 wp-block-columns-is-layout-flex\" style=\"padding-top:var(--wp--preset--spacing--large);padding-right:0;padding-bottom:var(--wp--preset--spacing--large);padding-left:0\">\n<div class=\"wp-block-column is-vertically-aligned-center is-layout-flow wp-block-column-is-layout-flow\">\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\">technology is simply everywhere<\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p>Amber goes on to say, \"Modern engineering education encompasses much more than crafts; it is connected to programming, robotics and advanced technologies. We need to make these innovations visible to parents and students to change their perceptions.\"<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Events such as Techport Technology Week contribute to this, according to Amber. \u201cYou can slowly see a slight shift in media coverage and also among children and parents. Reports that someone with a technical profession can earn more than, say, a doctor or an accountant create a more positive image.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>She goes on to say: We desperately need MBO-educated programmers, mechanical engineers, technicians and construction specialists to keep the region's economy going and to achieve the climate goals!\"&nbsp;<\/p>\n<\/div>\n\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-column is-layout-flow wp-block-column-is-layout-flow\">\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image size-full\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"874\" height=\"490\" src=\"https:\/\/techport.nl\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/07\/project-img2-e1753175584622.jpg\" alt=\"\" class=\"wp-image-354\" srcset=\"https:\/\/techport.nl\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/07\/project-img2-e1753175584622.jpg 874w, https:\/\/techport.nl\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/07\/project-img2-e1753175584622-300x168.jpg 300w, https:\/\/techport.nl\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/07\/project-img2-e1753175584622-768x431.jpg 768w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 874px) 100vw, 874px\" \/><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image size-full\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"1024\" height=\"768\" src=\"https:\/\/techport.nl\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/09\/Techport-Technologieweek-ouders-samen-met-kind-1024x768-1.jpg\" alt=\"\" class=\"wp-image-11733\" srcset=\"https:\/\/techport.nl\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/09\/Techport-Technologieweek-ouders-samen-met-kind-1024x768-1.jpg 1024w, https:\/\/techport.nl\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/09\/Techport-Technologieweek-ouders-samen-met-kind-1024x768-1-300x225.jpg 300w, https:\/\/techport.nl\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/09\/Techport-Technologieweek-ouders-samen-met-kind-1024x768-1-768x576.jpg 768w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 1024px) 100vw, 1024px\" \/><\/figure>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-group alignfull big-citaat has-primary-alt-accent-background-color has-background has-global-padding is-layout-constrained wp-block-group-is-layout-constrained\" style=\"padding-top:var(--wp--preset--spacing--xx-large);padding-bottom:var(--wp--preset--spacing--xx-large)\">\n<blockquote class=\"wp-block-quote has-primary-color has-text-color has-link-color wp-elements-2966b085f2ec9a2ae1fade2a93cf6743 is-layout-flow wp-block-quote-is-layout-flow\">\n<p class=\"has-text-align-center\">Thanks to the Techport network, we have a huge advantage over other regions.<\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"has-text-align-center has-primary-color has-text-color has-link-color wp-elements-ffba8268fdfcc84c71299259df3dc045\">Amber Pranger - Strong Engineering Education<\/p>\n<\/div>\n\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-group alignfull content-img-color has-primary-background-color has-background has-global-padding is-layout-constrained wp-block-group-is-layout-constrained\">\n<div class=\"wp-block-columns alignwide is-layout-flex wp-container-core-columns-is-layout-28f84493 wp-block-columns-is-layout-flex\">\n<div class=\"wp-block-column img-full-wrapper  img-left is-layout-flow wp-block-column-is-layout-flow\">\n<div class=\"wp-block-group has-global-padding is-layout-constrained wp-block-group-is-layout-constrained\">\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image size-full\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"2560\" height=\"1707\" src=\"https:\/\/techport.nl\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/09\/VMBO-Skills-Amber-8-scaled-1.jpg\" alt=\"\" class=\"wp-image-11754\" srcset=\"https:\/\/techport.nl\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/09\/VMBO-Skills-Amber-8-scaled-1.jpg 2560w, https:\/\/techport.nl\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/09\/VMBO-Skills-Amber-8-scaled-1-300x200.jpg 300w, https:\/\/techport.nl\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/09\/VMBO-Skills-Amber-8-scaled-1-1024x683.jpg 1024w, https:\/\/techport.nl\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/09\/VMBO-Skills-Amber-8-scaled-1-768x512.jpg 768w, https:\/\/techport.nl\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/09\/VMBO-Skills-Amber-8-scaled-1-1536x1024.jpg 1536w, https:\/\/techport.nl\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/09\/VMBO-Skills-Amber-8-scaled-1-2048x1366.jpg 2048w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 2560px) 100vw, 2560px\" \/><\/figure>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-column is-vertically-aligned-center is-layout-flow wp-block-column-is-layout-flow\">\n<div class=\"wp-block-group has-base-color has-text-color has-link-color wp-elements-0e1d8fdb2592311033f143736cd17cca has-global-padding is-layout-constrained wp-container-core-group-is-layout-eba72855 wp-block-group-is-layout-constrained\" style=\"padding-top:var(--wp--preset--spacing--x-large);padding-right:0;padding-bottom:var(--wp--preset--spacing--large);padding-left:var(--wp--preset--spacing--large)\">\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\">About strong engineering education<\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p>Strong Technology Education is a grant programme that has been investing some \u20ac100 million extra annually in technology education at secondary schools since September 2018. The STO region in North Holland stretches from Castricum to Haarlem. Between 2020 and 2024, techlabs have been set up thanks to STO, including at Technisch College Velsen and SKILLS vmbo. In these techlabs, (primary school) pupils learn to work with modern technology and engineering. <\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>STO activities in the region reach more than 10,000 primary and secondary school students every year. According to Amber, the fact that the outreach figures are so high is really thanks to Techport: \u201cThanks to the Techport network, we have a huge lead over other regions. Good partnerships between entrepreneurs, government and knowledge institutions ensure that technology education remains relevant and attractive.\u201d\u00a0<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>Amber Pranger on the main goals of Strong Technology Education (STO) and Techport's role in these developments.<\/p>","protected":false},"featured_media":11752,"parent":0,"template":"","meta":{"_acf_changed":false},"categories":[],"class_list":["post-11751","verhalen","type-verhalen","status-publish","has-post-thumbnail","hentry"],"acf":[],"mb":[],"mfb_rest_fields":["title"],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/techport.nl\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/verhalen\/11751","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/techport.nl\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/verhalen"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/techport.nl\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/verhalen"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/techport.nl\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/11752"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/techport.nl\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=11751"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/techport.nl\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=11751"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}