Discover the Smart Industry Technician training course

Tim Hilverda is a first-year Smart Industry Technician student at Summa Techniek. He's combining his studies with his job at TFT (Tools For Technology) in Asten. It's the first time in his life that he's truly enjoyed school, he says. "Why? Because this doesn't feel like school. You're working on concrete, practical assignments. This is real life."

"Look, I'll show you what we made." Tim pulls a device out of the cabinet. Made for VDL. "Assembly workers have to screw certain parts together," he explains. "Mistakes sometimes happen. For example, parts are turned upside down, mounted in the wrong order, or screws are swapped. VDL asked us to come up with a solution that makes it impossible to make mistakes. That's what this device became."

It's not visible from the outside, but the device is packed with technical features. Thanks to sensors, automatic closures, and real-time instructions, it's indeed impossible to assemble the components incorrectly. Tim: "It was a really cool assignment. You do everything yourself with your team: designing, 3D drawing, producing molds, programming, making electrical connections, you name it. And the great thing is: we work on these kinds of practical assignments all the time. We'll be working with robots at Yaskawa soon. I'm already looking forward to it."

Tim is part of the first group taking the Smart Industry Technician program. The program combines electrical engineering, mechanical engineering, and measurement and control technology with ICT. The course materials and projects were developed in collaboration with 30 companies in the Brainport region. This was the deciding factor for Tim in choosing the program. "You learn technology in practice, not through books. I actually wanted to work after graduating from pre-vocational secondary education (VMBO), but my parents convinced me to study. I started a vocational mechatronics program, but when I started an internship there, I knew for sure: I want to work. I quickly switched to the vocational program (BBL)."

He found a job at TFT in Asten, which automates processes for companies using robotics, welding fixtures, tools, and machines. "It's a great, small company where I'm the only full-time technician," says Tim. "I'm completely in my element there." But he also wants to grow, which is why, after graduating with a mechatronics degree, he decided to enroll in the Smart Industry Technician program. He hasn't regretted that decision for a second. "You can tell in everything that the program was developed in collaboration with companies. The assignments stem directly from practical questions, we take courses at companies, and they come to us to give guest lectures. In that respect, we're also in the perfect location here on the Brainport Industries Campus. Several companies are housed in the same building. You can easily drop in if you have questions; the lines of communication are very short."

He continues: "What I also really appreciate is that you're given an assignment as a team and then you get to work. Of course, instructors guide you, but essentially you try to find a solution independently with your team. Who does what, what do we need, who can help? Do we need more knowledge about sensors? Okay, then we ask a company to give us a course on that. It's one big journey of discovery." Tim enjoys working in a team. "We all have our own backgrounds. One knows a lot about electrical engineering, another about IT. For example, I'm strong in mechanics. As students, we learn a lot from each other; we strengthen each other."

Tim has also grown in communication over the past year, he says. "You consult with the client about the project, work together in a team: communication is very important. You learn that on the job." The same applies to presentations. "At the end of the project, you present your solution to the client. For the first project, we created a simple list of points. The team after us came up with a beautiful, clear, and structured presentation with photos. Wow, I thought, that's how it can be done. You can imagine that our presentation for the second project was much better. At TFT, I want to become an engineer; the skills I'm learning as a Smart Industry Technician are ideal for developing towards that goal."

It's clear: Tim is enthusiastic about the Smart Industry Technician program. "For the first time in my life, this doesn't feel like school." However, he believes the program isn't suitable for everyone. "What exactly is expected of you is often unclear at the start of a project. You figure that out along the way, along with your team. You have to be able to handle that. Even if you prefer to learn from a book, the program might not be the best choice. But if you enjoy practical learning and are serious about your career in technology, you won't find a better program than Smart Industry Technician."