🎬 Multilingual subtitles
✍️ By: Team BC1.NL
How do you make young people aware of the interesting aspects of a profession they feel somewhat disconnected from? In the Netherlands, LTO Noord, Greenport NHN and the province Noord Holland have found a solution with Tech@Connect. They have launched a project to inspire more young people to pursue a career in the agricultural sector.
Farming Simulator shows what farming involves
For this, they use the popular simulation game Farming Simulator. This game allows players to “experience” what is involved in effective agricultural management. By introducing young people to the versatility of the agricultural sector in a positive way, there is a greater chance that they will consider a career in agriculture or horticulture.
Why use a game?
Farming Simulator is a low-threshold way in. Young people who are far removed from agriculture come into contact with the profession through the game, become curious, and once that interest is there the step towards the sector itself is much smaller.
How did the school project start?
With an event called Gameday, where Farming Simulator was tried out for two days together with LTO to get young people enthusiastic about technical professions. That drew a large crowd. Even farmers in their seventies and eighties sat down at the simulator and drove off in the tractor. The agricultural sector then asked whether it could be taken into schools.
What do students learn from it?
The students themselves say they learn quite a lot from it, for example how to work the land, and that it can be useful at school. You can operate just about every machine with it: cranes, tractors, a telehandler, a loading shovel.
Is there work?
Plenty. In the northern region of North Holland alone there are thousands of vacancies, and that number is growing. At a careers day in Den Helder, students come to find out what is on offer.
More than boots and clay
‘Working in the agricultural sector is more than boots, clay and dirty work’,
says Jeroen Noot of Greenport NHN.
The job involves many technical aspects, and
the game shows young people how dynamic and high-tech this sector is. It highlights the use of modern equipment and allows players to experience the various challenges that an entrepreneur in the agricultural industry may face.
Special consoles for schools and events
For the 2022-2023 school year, Tech@Connect built special gaming consoles. These were used in secondary schools and high schools as well as at various events where young people were introduced to a wide range of professions. At Educational Institution Vonk in the northern region of North Holland, opportunities are being explored to use the game as a supplement to the curriculum. Since some adjustments are needed, they are currently investigating how to proceed with this.
See also:
Digital Farming – data processing
Digital Farming, the challenge for open field growers
