Theater de Maagd and Gebouw-T in Bergen op Zoom, The Netherlands, are nowthe gatewayfor European businesses for the American/British company, TAIT.
Stadsschouwburg De Maagd, equipped with advanced technology from TAIT, will be used as a showcase and training location for future European customers. And that’s not all. In collaboration with the local venues, the vocational education and training(VET)institute Curio and Siemens Digital Industries, investments are being made in a completely new form of technology education for the region. Siemens Digital Industries provides the control technology for TAIT’s systems. In January 2021, the partners will sign a letter of intent.
New Form of Training
In Gebouw-T and Theater De Maagd, VETstudents of Mechatronics, Mechanical Engineering, ICT, Design and Stage Technology work in multidisciplinary teams on issues originating from stage entertainment. The creative and innovative solutions that the students devise and develop are implemented for real during a performance or event. The students are guided by teachers from Curio and professionals from the local venues. Marc van Campenhout, member of the Curio Board of Directors, says he is very pleased with the intended collaboration. “Curio will be given an extra ‘stage’ in Bergen op Zoom to offer a professional and innovative learning and working environment to our existing and future students. Being the well-known vocational educator in the region, we train students for the future. This initiative therefore ties in well with our ambitions”.
Collaboration
The new form of training was created at the request of the industry. There is a great need for highly trained technicians who, in addition to technical knowledge, mainly think in terms of creative and innovative solutions. Thijs Bruins, TAIT’s business development manager Europe is pleased that this start can be made. “This concept is completely in line with our philosophy. We firmly believe in the principle that education is the key to technical innovation. The design-driven approach of the education, in which the artist’s wishes are central, is also tailored to our way of working”.
Hybrid Learning Environment
This initiative has a prominent place in the Rewin program ‘Creative Services’. This involves collaboration with the trade and industry, the higher professional education and vocational education programs in the region. The use of the professional business environment of the local theatre and music hall as a work experience location and internship possibility, is a welcome extension of a so-called ‘hybrid learning environment’. It is precisely because working with real artists and real performances and events makes working in a technical environment more attractive.
Alderman Patrick van der Velden indicates on behalf of the local City Executive Board that he is pleased with the collaboration. “It is wonderful that TAIT will start its activities for the European market from Bergen op Zoom. I see the cooperation between business, education and government as a win-win situation with a big plus! Who wouldn’t want to learn and work in a beautiful learning environment, which absolutely goes for De Maagd and Gebouw-T. In short, a collaboration that has great potential for the future”.
Future Music
In addition to signing the Declaration of Intent, it has been agreed to set up a supervisory board that will monitor the quality of the collaboration. This development is a great boost for the West-Brabant region, the education institutes and the industry. Not only because one of the most innovative companies in this field is committed to West-Brabant, but also because both the vocational-and professional education regional infrastructure is given a significant boost with this new training.
Siemens Digital Industries also sees the benefit of the collaboration. “Siemens creates technology to transform the everyday and thus have a positive impact on society. Siemens aims to ‘think big, start small and learn quickly’ public-private partnership that, from a pragmatic and creative background, forms the basis for long-term success. The recent completion of the stage automation in Theater de Maagd, equipped with the most advanced technology, is an excellent example of this. It is equipped with the most advanced technology, which makes it possible, for example, to test set-ups in a virtual environment in advance, ”says Dirk De Bilde, CEO of Siemens Netherlands.
