In September, four regions (Lelystad, Almere, Dronten, and Northern Flevoland) successfully applied for subsidies within the national Techkwadraat program. Following this, education, business, and government came together on Friday, October 31, at the Aviodrome Aviation Museum. The central ambition of the Flevoland Techkwadraat event was to inspire young people for technology, science, and ICT.  

Deputy Toon van Dijk opened the event. He spoke about the shared goal in Flevoland: to make technology education future-oriented and inclusive, so every student has the chance to discover their talent in technology. 

Inspiring initiatives from the regions 

The four Flevoland regions shared their plans and successes. In the Noordoostpolder, the Week of Technology was highlighted: an initiative where students get to know technology and the companies in their environment in a playful way. This way, they discover how technology contributes to their own future and that of Flevoland.  

Region Almere explained how they started the subsidy period and how they do this together with the schools. They conducted a baseline measurement (‘which technology initiatives already exist?’) and are now looking further to improve education quality.  

Additionally, Margot Ellenbroek (Philosophy and Social Design teacher) and Jenny van Elzelingen (Education & Quality Advisor) showed how schools in Dronten gain insight with a Gender Scan into how they can promote equal opportunities. By breaking stereotypes around technology, space is created for an inclusive and inspiring learning environment for all students. 

Finally, the Lelystad region presented the Litter Factory: a workshop for primary schools, organized by students from the Porteum. In this workshop, students discover how waste can be reused. 

Working together for the future 

Thanks to the subsidy from the national Techkwadraat program, made possible by the National Growth Fund, the four regions can work on better technology education in the coming years. They ensure learning environments where all children and young people get to know technology, science, and ICT, both inside and outside the classroom. 

Photography: Maarten Feenstra