"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 Visualisation programme (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 programme responding to these challenges, both in education and in cooperation with the professional field?
“Students starting our programme graduate after four years. That is why it is important to train them during their studies to become the professionals for the future professional field. Therefore, we follow new developments and discuss with the professional field what will be needed in the future. In this way, we try to bridge the gap 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 programme, students learn a lot about the use of GIS for spatial issues. Standard GIS packages are used for this. Tygron is used as 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 programme collaborate with businesses and government bodies to keep the education up to date?
“Take, for example, the collaboration with Tygron. This has been going on for a few years now. Together, we researched where and how Tygron could be implemented in our existing curriculum. We share our findings with the Tygron team, and we regularly test new features. The good relationship and short informal contacts are highly appreciated by us.”
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 means going backwards, so it remains incredibly important for us as a study programme to follow developments and adapt the curriculum accordingly.”
Come to the Tygron Edu Day 2026 on Thursday, 27 August 2026, at the 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) will present an interactive workshop for lecturers who want to explore how digital twins, GIS, and simulations for the living environment can be integrated into education.
For more information about the full programme of the Tygron Edu Day and to register for the event, click here.
