Rethinking education to build tomorrow’s tech talent

The shortage of skilled technicians is a challenge across the industrial electronics sector. Instead of waiting for the right people to appear on the labour market, JC-Electronics decided to approach the problem differently: train them in house. That idea eventually led to the creation of an internal training centre where students learn the fundamentals of industrial electronics while working in the company. The programme was developed in collaboration with Firda, a vocational education institute in Friesland. 

Cor Mulder, team manager of the training centre at JC-Electronics, explains the motivation behind the initiative. “We realised that if we couldn’t find people with the right education and experience, we should focus on finding the right people and teach them the rest ourselves.” Since the programme started in 2012, dozens of students have completed the 2.5 year training course, with many of them still working at the company today. 

To ensure the programme met educational standards, JC-Electronics partnered with Firda. According to Henk de Vries, director of Firda’s Drachten campus, the collaboration filled an important gap in technical education. “When JC-Electronics approached us, electronics was only a small part of our existing programmes,” he says. “This collaboration gave us the opportunity to develop a new course together with a company from the field.” Over the years, the partnership has continued to evolve as both organisations refine the training to match developments in industrial electronics. 

From the beginning, both partners agreed the course should not resemble a traditional classroom programme. Instead of focusing mainly on theory, students work directly with real electronics and practical repair cases. According to Henk de Vries, this approach fits the expectations of today’s students. “The new generation wants to take responsibility for their own learning,” he explains. “They don’t want a teacher who simply tells them everything. They want a coach who guides them when needed.” 

Technical knowledge is only part of the training. Communication and collaboration are also key skills. As Cor Mulder points out, technicians rarely work alone when solving complex problems. “A good technician not only solves faults but also communicates with colleagues to share knowledge and find solutions together.” 

One of the most distinctive aspects of the programme is how students are selected. Instead of focusing on previous technical experience, the team looks for personal qualities and potential. “We’re not looking for technicians, but for people with a particular set of qualities,” says Cor Mulder. Traits such as visual thinking, curiosity, resourcefulness and strong problem solving skills are often more important than technical background. As a result, students come from a wide variety of professions. Some were previously working as window cleaners, lorry drivers or in completely different fields such as healthcare or psychology. This diversity also includes both neurotypical and neurodiverse students, something the organisation considers a strength. 

The collaboration between JC-Electronics and Firda has not only created a new pathway for technicians but also inspired other partnerships between education and industry in the region. For Henk de Vries, the reason is simple. “If we want skilled professionals in the future, we have to create the right training today.” Cor Mulder agrees. By continuously updating the programme with the latest developments in industrial electronics, students graduate with both practical experience and up to date technical knowledge. That way, the next generation of technicians is ready not only for today’s technology, but also for the innovations still to come.