"I am optimistic about the future of our students." In the run-up to the Tygron Edu Day 2026, we speak with Erik Dietvorst, Senior Lecturer in the Earth, Data Analysis and Visualization program at HAS Green Academy. There, students are trained for a field that is developing at lightning speed. He shares how the program responds to these developments, the role Tygron plays in this, and why he is full of confidence in the future of the next generation of professionals.
Education
What are the biggest challenges in the coming years for the Earth, Data Analysis and Visualization program (formerly Applied Geo-Information Science) at HAS Green Academy?
“Developments within our field are succeeding each other rapidly. Think, for example, of Geo-AI, Digital Twins, and real-time sensor data. The biggest challenge is to determine within the forest of buzzwords what is relevant and when a development is future-proof enough so that it can actually be applied.”
How is the program responding to these challenges, both in education and in collaboration with the professional field?
“Students who start our program graduate after four years. That is why it is important to train them during their studies to become professionals for the future work environment. Therefore, we follow new developments and discuss with the professional field what will be needed in the future. In this way, we try to build a bridge between innovation and the future professional field of our graduates.”
Technologies such as AI, Digital Twins, and high-performance GIS are increasingly important. What role does Tygron play in this and why did you specifically choose Tygron?
“Within our program, students learn a lot about the use of GIS for spatial issues. Standard GIS packages are used for this. Tygron is used as a super-performance GIS, on top of the existing GIS software. Where students can solve the question ‘where?’ with standard GIS, Tygron is used to answer the question ‘what if?’, meaning more from the perspective of calculating scenarios.”
How does the program collaborate with companies and governments to keep education up-to-date?
“Take the collaboration with Tygron, for example. It has been going on for a few years now. Together we investigated where and how Tygron could be implemented in our existing curriculum. We share our findings with the Tygron team and regularly test new features. We highly value the good relationship and short, informal contacts.”
What is the future outlook for today's students?
“If I had a crystal ball, I could answer this question with certainty... But I am optimistic about the future of our students. Many students already have a job by the time they graduate because there is a huge demand for employees trained for the future professional field. Standing still is going backwards, so it remains extremely important for us as a program to follow developments and adapt the educational program accordingly.”
Come to the Tygron Edu-day 2026 on Thursday, August 27, 2026, at HAS Green Academy in Den Bosch, where we bring together education, practice, and innovation. In the morning, Erik Dietvorst and Max Visser (HAS Green Academy) present an interactive workshop for teachers who want to explore how digital twins, GIS, and simulations for the physical environment can be integrated into education.
For more information about the full program of the Tygron Edu-day and to register for the event, click here.
