First pilot: Antwerp!
In the Antwerp pilot, the Havencentrum tested the Pimp My Port youth engagement game with local schools to introduce students to the jobs and technologies driving the green industrial transition. The activity targeted 12–16-year-old students and combined learning, teamwork, and play to make sustainability tangible and fun.
During the pilot session on 4 April 2025, students worked in teams to build their own sustainable port. Each group started with a basic layout — including terminals, logistics zones, nature areas, and industrial sites — and earned upgrades by solving technical and sustainability challenges. These upgrades represented real-life technologies such as hydrogen plants, battery storage, shore power, and carbon capture installations.
To make progress, students had to “hire” the right technical profiles (engineers, operators, E&I technicians, etc.) and make smart decisions balancing energy, efficiency, and environmental impact. The pilot was developed in close collaboration with regional companies, VET providers, and education partners including PITO Stabroek and Talentenfabriek, ensuring the content reflected actual labour market needs.
Feedback from teachers and students was overwhelmingly positive. Teachers noted that the game fits perfectly as a synthesis activity at the end of a unit on industry or energy, especially after an excursion to the port. Students reported that sustainability and energy transition became “real” topics — something they could actively engage with rather than abstract concepts.
Key Learnings:
- Contextualised learning — linking port, energy, and industry — increases student motivation.
- Teacher facilitation is essential: train-the-trainer sessions significantly improve impact.
- Hands-on materials and sustainable game design ensure long-term usability.
Key Figures:
👩🎓 42 students 👨🏫 5 teachers 🧩 3 facilitators