Training costs time, money and commitment - from the trainers, but also from the trainees. In times of a shortage of skilled workers and motivated trainees, it is important to provide positive incentives. After all, most young people would be reluctant to complete their driving lessons in an older used car. Nevertheless, training institutions often have to come to terms with outdated equipment due to a lack of financing options. Even highly recognized research institutes are sometimes subject to these challenges.
Training requires modern technologies
Even if there are positive didactic aspects to dealing with plant technology that is no longer state of the art, there is still a serious disadvantage, as the trainees cannot be introduced to the diverse possibilities of modern plant technology and must first be brought up to the current state of the art by their employers. The opportunity for a new employee to bring a breath of fresh air from their training and inspire the production manager with enthusiasm for the possibilities of modern plant technology is also wasted in this way. For this reason, partnerships between training institutions and industry are of great importance for the competitiveness of companies and the future of qualified work in Germany and Europe. When schools and industry pull together, everyone involved benefits in the end. A successful example of this is the cooperation between GDS1 and the Wagner Group in the field of coating technology.
GDS1 graduates get the cooperation rolling
At PaintExpo 2024, GDS1 graduates who now work at Wagner learned that the school wanted to purchase a new powder coating booth and, as Wagner apprentices were also completing their school-based part of their training at GDS1, both parties agreed that this opportunity should be used to intensify the cooperation. Without further ado, the manufacturer donated a modern coating booth including application technology to the school.
The new system has now been in operation since the start of this school year. For subject teacher Markus Single, one thing is certain: "Collaboration like this is great and important. Together with committed companies like Wagner, the GDS1 remains a leader in the national comparison and can continue to provide teaching at the highest level."
Even in the current very challenging economic times, the industry should keep support for the training and qualification of skilled workers high on the agenda - not only for the benefit of the trainees, but clearly also in the interests of its own future competitiveness.