Triple T High Tech Academy breathes new life into future technology

Triple T stands for Trots, Techniek, Twente (Pride, Technology, Twente). “Because we are proud of the technical career opportunities in Twente”, explains Annette Hagenbeek, HR manager at VDL ETG Almelo. She was there at the very start of Triple T High Tech Academy, together with Ivar Hageman (innovation manager Heracles Almelo) and Yvonne Bijenhof (ROC van Twente). The academy aims to retain and give broad training to technical talents in the region. This is done by providing MBO students on levels 3 and 4 with a unique training programme.

The students will start with a work placement at one of the affiliated companies: ETC Nederland, Benchmark or VDL ETG Almelo. They will go to school one day a week and follow vocational training. The students will also go to Erve Asito every Friday afternoon where they are challenged mentally by focussing on personal development and physically through sports, by trainers of the Triple T High Tech Academy.

In addition to its affiliated members, the Triple T High Tech Academy also has broad support from ROC van Twente, practical training provider STODT, Endoor, Heracles Almelo and the municipality of Almelo. They are involved as strategical partners. They already acknowledged the usefulness and the necessity of this programme last year, and they signed a declaration of intent in October 2020. The fact is that there is already a shortage of professionals with intermediate vocational education (MBO), but they are necessary to cope with the expected growth in the high-tech manufacturing industry.

Too few young people choose technology, and this has several reasons according to Annette. One of them is the image problem that many technical professions are facing. The Triple T High Tech Academy wants to change this. “We want to make choosing a technical profession more appealing by upgrading regular BBL courses”, says Annette. The academy has more recognition for the technical talents of MBO graduates. “Talents that we want to stimulate with the Triple T High Tech Academy and, as employers, should cherish”, she concludes.

The official kick-off will take place on Friday the 24th of September, in the Heracles stadium. 14 students will start at the new Triple T High Tech Academy this school year, and they will have their first lessons on the 1st of October. More information can be found on www.triple-t-academy.nl.t