As part of the TechConnect action programme, a number of initiatives are being launched to increase equal opportunities in the tech sector by making related study programmes and tech jobs accessible to everyone. In practice, this means that thousands of women, people from disadvantaged neighbourhoods and owners of SMEs will be trained to become coders, data analysts, growth hackers, UX designers or tech administrators.
For more information, visit the website: <https://techconnect.city/>
Encourage 50,000 people from underrepresented groups to follow a tech study programme and get a tech job.
TechConnect’s target groups:
20,000 employees of corporates (‘generation X’ – 40 and over) to be trained or re-trained
15,000 women, young people with a migration background, and members
of specific social groups to be trained or re-trained at private academies
9,000 unemployed people to be trained or re-trained in (new) tech
5,000 owners of SMEs to learn digital skills
1,000 ‘overqualified’ people to be trained to become designers or tech administrators.
TechConnect is an initiative of the Amsterdam Economic Board, Booking.com and TomTom, with support from the ICT education fund CA-ICT. Dozens of companies, academic institutions and government organisations from the AMA take part. All participants aim for greater diversity in the tech ecosystem of an inclusive labour market in the tech sector across the Amsterdam Metropolitan Area.
In the past few months, TechConnect has conducted extensive research to identify the obstacles and critical factors that stand in the way of equal opportunities, diversity and inclusivity in the tech sector. We have now gained some insights into the reasons why some groups are less likely to enter the tech sector:
Communication issues - Adverts and other communications by institutes offering tech training or study programmes are often written in a style that is either difficult to understand for TechConnect’s target groups or doesn’t reflect the way they see themselves. There is a shortage of role models in their immediate environment and people don’t have a clear idea of job profiles in the tech sector or which skills are required. Not enough companies practice inclusive recruitment.
Lack of confidence - As long as tech jobs are being associated with being good at maths and English, many won’t even begin to train themselves in outcome-oriented thinking or learning how to learn. It’s important to convey the fact that there are tech programmes and jobs on every level and for a wide variety of profiles, whichever branch of Dutch secondary education (MBO, HBO or WO) you have followed and whether or not you have a diploma. Let’s give everyone the certainty of knowing that there is a tech job for them.
Basic prerequisites - A lack of financial means to follow tech training or a study programme, or to own a computer, fast wi-fi and software can be an obstacle. It still happens too often that a student from a poor background, who can’t afford a decent laptop, is excluded from a class. This can easily lead to that student dropping out from the entire programme. In addition, schools in socially disadvantaged neighbourhoods often don’t have the facilities to include digital skills in their curriculum.
Lack of discipline - The discipline needed for being on time and doing one’s homework and the notion of learning and developing all your life are often influenced by social context. A student’s home life may be disruptive or friends or family may exert a negative influence, leading to these values and life skills suffering. However, they are crucial values and skills in tech jobs, partly due to the constant changes the industry is subjected to.
Wil jij de status quo uitdagen en bijdragen aan een mobiel ecosysteem dat privacy, duurzaamheid en ethische technologie vooropstelt?
💡 Bij Waag Futurelab zijn we vastbesloten om alternatieven te verkennen voor de datahongerige apps en apparaten die momenteel de techwereld domineren. Via ons onderzoeksproject Mobifree nodigen we organisaties in de publieke sector uit om een open-source Murena-smartphone te testen en samen met ons de toekomst van ethische, open-source mobiele technologie in Europa vorm te geven.
Dit is jouw kans om:
✅ Als organisatie Murena-smartphones te testen, voorzien van open-source apps.
✅ Feedback te geven die direct invloed heeft op de volgende generatie mobiele oplossingen.
✅ Bij te dragen aan een duurzaam, veilig en inclusief alternatief voor Big Tech.
🔍 Wat kun je verwachten?
🙌 Wie kan deelnemen?
We een groep van maximaal 30 deelnemers om de volgende kerngebieden te verkennen:
📩 Hoe kun je je aanmelden?
Stuur een e-mail naar bente[at]waag[dot]org met de naam van je organisatie, het aantal deelnemers, gekozen categorieën en een korte motivatie om mee te doen. Vervolgens zullen wij contact met je opnemen!
Doe met ons mee om mobiele technologie opnieuw vorm te geven voor een betere, privacy-respecterende Europa 🌟
Power to the people? Jazeker! Actief burgerschap, gemeenschapszin – het is helemaal in. Mensen zijn toe aan verandering en willen een stem hebben in de dingen die belangrijk voor ze zijn. De grote uitdagingen van onze tijd vragen om grote oplossingen en daar willen we onderdeel van zijn. Meer en meer krijgen we dat samen voor elkaar, buiten de gebaande paden, in vernieuwende organisatievormen, of op eigen initiatief – niet langer aan de zijlijn, maar midden in het speelveld. Van samen je eigen droomwoning maken tot het testen van ons collectief vermogen om te delen.
Ontmoet de doeners en makers die de maatschappij terugpakken om de wereld vooruit te helpen. Op 29 januari organiseren A Lab en Vandejong de 5e editie van Curious about... We duiken in nieuwe organisatievormen, nieuwe woonvormen, nieuwe zorgvormen en nieuwe natuur. Er zijn succesverhalen en hobbels op de weg. We ontrafelen hoe geld onze samenleving beïnvloedt, krijgen inzicht en handvatten om onze idealen te verwezenlijken, we leren hoe een initiatief niet wordt overgenomen door kapitaal en hoe niks zorgt voor meer... Bekijk het volledige programma en meld je gratis aan op a-lab.nl.
Back in November 2014, we organized the first Dutch chapter of ThingsCon in Amsterdam, after the inspiring first Berlin edition in spring 2014. After 4 years in Amsterdam, 4 in Rotterdam en 2 Covid editions, we decided to go back to Amsterdam, and also go back to Volkshotel, to mark our 10 years celebration!
Our theme for this edition: Generative Things
The inspiration for this year’s conference is the transformation of the new generative artificial intelligence in our digital lives to the physical world, the objects we use, and the places we live. What will be the physical realization of the “generative twin intelligence”? What will it mean for makers and designers of these things? How will ethics play out, and what new models of use and trust will emerge?
The program is ready. Check the latest confirmed program here. They are all inspired by this theme.
On the latter:
We want to create an exhibition commissioned by ThingsCon to explore the next decade of living with things. We hope to inspire designers and makers of future things. We like to explain the context of an experience that ignites debate and critical thinking by engaging our community through speculative objects and things.
Our program:
🎓 <strong>Thursday</strong>: long-form workshops for even more in-depth knowledge exchange and interacting with peers.
🎉 <strong>Thursday evening</strong>: celebrating 10 years of ThingsCon with special evening program with inspirational talks, music, and drinks
🎤 <strong>Friday</strong>: the good old mix of inspiring keynotes, short project-pitches, 2-hour workshops, exhibition, and meeting each-other.
This year, the regular price for one day is <strong>100 eu</strong>, and the full conference pass is <strong>175 eu</strong>. The ticket includes entrance and catering on the conference days. You are also invited to join our special Thursday evening program.
Looks good. https://www.prosperlogin.online/