Short summary of the 3rd meeting
At the third partner meeting, the vocational
school for the construction industry and the partner associations presented how
they find students and motivate them for vocational training. The partner
associations provided examples of training in the construction industry in
Vienna.
We hope that we was able to inspire you and are
looking forward to your feedback and a constructive discussion in the future.
Our presentations focus on the essentials of
cooperation between vocational school and partner associations for vocational
training and the responsibility of the individual organizations for their
training part. A summary or compilation of best practice examples was given.
Summary
After welcoming our guests, the opening speech
was held by Mr. Thomas Bäuerl, School Quality Manager, Board of Education
for Vienna, who introduced the assignment of the Board of Education and the
Ministry of Education. Afterwards Mr. Bäuerl talked about the problem
overcoming the shortage of skilled workers and that apprenticeship is a
successful model for the future as the demand is increasing. Apprenticeship is
reducing risks for unemployment. As the world skill competition shows, the dual
education system might be the right way as the apprentice performance show very
successful participation in the international comparison.
Following the short look at the Austrian
apprentice situation of the construction industry, Mr. Gernot Kulle, Headmaster
of BSBAU, introduced the vocational school for the industrial industry and
the dual education system. At the vocational school are 14 different
apprenticeship educations such as e. g. building assistant, architectural
draughtsperson, paver, tiler and underground construction. Approximately one
third is in a bricklayer training. Currently there are 890 students in total
(10% female) at the BSBAU. An important focus is on traditional building crafts
as well as on skills. BSBAU has the status of an expert+ school for
extraordinary achievements (gold medal, awarded by the Ministry of Education).
On a walk through the school, the visitors could get an impression about the
diversity of the different construction crafts living the dual system of
practical and theoretical education. Partners of the vocational school of the
construction industry are companies who train apprentices in practical skills.
Afterwards Mr. Thomas Prigl, Vice Headmaster
BSBAU, gave an introduction about the Austrian education system with a special
look on the dual education system of the vocational training which is called
VET – abbreviation for the Vocational Education and Training.
The training can start earliest after compulsory school attendance and is
part-time at the vocational school (20% of time) and the company (80% of time).
The apprentice completes the dual training during their apprenticeship in
school and at the company. During his apprenticeship the apprentice already
receives salary. The duration of an apprenticeship last between 2 – 4 years,
according to their choice of profession. Vocational higher education entrance
examination can be taken parallel to apprenticeship training, this is necessary
for further studies at university. The apprenticeship is completed after an
examination of professional experts. The code for a completed apprenticeship in
Austria in the ISCED is 354. During the apprenticeship, juveniles will go
through a process of socialisation which will help them in the world of adults.
Therefore, and to ensure the quality of education, the cooperation between
vocational school, economy and trade unions is essential. For more information
about the Austrian school system, visit www.buildungssystem.at/en. Mr. Prigl also gives a short introduction of
digital tools which shall improve the image. To reach trainees it is already
important to address 12-year-old students with e.g. image videos or
professional photos. Furthermore skill competitions such as the World Skills
are important as this may result in presence in newspapers etc. Job fairs are
important as the give the attendees the opportunity to address future trainees
as if interest in a certain profession is given, the opportunity to apply for
an apprenticeship is given on spot.
Ms. Shirly Pitz,
Project Coordination KUS and social worker, follows with a presentation about the
education and counselling apprentices and about graduation coaching programs.
KUS is a partner for Viennese apprentices and offers a variety of social
offers, educational, cultural and sport program and accompany apprentices
during their training time. It sees itself as a lobby for Viennese apprentices.
For juveniles at this age, it is very important to provide stability and
credibility as they need space to “show” themselves. Therefore, cooperation
with schools and counselling teachers are especially important. KUS offers
preparation for final apprenticeship leave exams as well as for higher
education entrance exam and other supporting lectures. Apprentices are also
entitled to take the offer of psychotherapy, coaching, assistance for homeless
apprentices as well as classes in sports and attendance in cultural offers. A problem
given is the work-life-balance as well as problems with trainers on the job. The
apprentices feel a lot of pressure, especially in large companies, and lose
their motivation although they like their job. Nevertheless, they then lose
their motivation to enjoy higher education as well. But the problem starts
earlier. If they lose their motivation, they stop attending school. Also
changes on the job market, such as digitalization, will be a huge challenge in
future. The drop-out rate is determining the image. If the dropout rate is low,
the image is rather high. KUS is also contact point at vocational schools
directly. It supports strong students to reach higher goals (10% are in a
prolonged apprenticeship including A-levels) as well as weak students to
complete their apprenticeship. Especially the support and success of students
with higher education goals improve the image of apprenticeship which is
especially important for parents, as they want a career perspective for their
children. KUS is a supporting institution in professional and personal matters
which was furthermore especially important through the pandemic.
The BIWI is a possibility for talent
orientation which is introduced by Mr.
Roland Schojer, Head of BIWI. The BIWI gives career guidance and
information for young persons in the age of 14 to 20. The main mission of the
BIWI is to inform about job and career possibilities as well as connecting
schools, companies, students and parents. Besides offering an online
questionnaire for a first orientation, “living” interactions at apprentice
days, job fairs or school visits can be consumed for further information about
different professions. This gives the opportunity, not only for future
apprentices to inform and show themselves, but also to schools and companies to
promote themselves. The BIWI is sponsored by the Chamber of Commerce and Vienna
Educational Board to find and approach future talents. All students between 12
and 14 will visit a job information hour as it is integrated in school level 1.
Again is was pointed out that a career perspective with apprenticeship needs to
be shown especially for parents of potential apprentices in order to chose this
way of education.
Ms. Margit Pollek, Coordination of eEducation
Austria, from the Austrian Federal Ministry of Education, talked about goals of
eEducation in Austria and the importance to ease access to future occupational
fields. Therefore, e.g. schools can train its teachers in eEducation and get a
status of expert. This implements that eEducation trainings are offered. To
reach an expert status, different trainings such as digitally inclusive subject
didactics, information technology education or complementary e-learning
activities are offered to gain digital competencies. After completing different
activities, teachers/schools can gain badges which will lead step by step to
more expertise and should sum up to the expert status. Besides education in
digital pedagogical competences, a further important point is networking with
other experts. The program also offers contact with federal state coordinators
to exchange inputs and ideas, reflect, develop concepts and to receive support
on the way. This expert status shall also raise the image of schools and BSBAU
is proud to be an expert+ school.
Day 2 starts with a presentation of one of the
biggest building companies in Austria, Porr, represented by Ms. Petra Karacs, who talks about the
background and meaning of acquisition. Porr´s Human Ressources department is
responsible for picking and supervision of the apprentices. The chances for a
career in a company like Porr have to be made clear and used. The importance of
the apprentices is high, apprentices will be the leading workers of tomorrow.
Porr not only acknowledges the importance of building skills, but also the
importance of relationships connecting the workers and the importance of personality
development. The quality of the building skills is secured by the company´s own
academy: Porr Campus.
Following Ms. Petra Karacs is Mr. Thomas Stangl, who represents the
Wirtschaftskammer Wien, the Economic Chamber Vienna. The major assignments of
the chamber are:
Promotion
of economic, social and humanitarian
subjects of the members. Consolidation of team spirit and image
in society.
Making
sure everyone gets the same chances in
a competitive environment, especially regarding habits or innovations which
turn out to be unfair or discriminating.
Promotion
of cooperation and community activities,
especially building purchasing and economy cooperation, also development of
market and future oriented concepts.
Promotion
of public and private education regarding
our members, promotion of education and further training of our members and
their co-workers, promotion of professional
education, especially apprenticeships.
Data of members and statistic
material.
Counselling and informing members.
Next is Mr.
Christian Dobianer, teacher at the BSBAU and vice guildmaster of
floorlayers in Vienna. Dobianer talks about the so called “Hammerlehre”
(“hammer-apprenticeship”), a campaign trying to get youths interested in doing
an apprenticeship. Hammerlehre is not just about being a platform of
information, it also is keeping up a Facebook-profile and attends fairs for
apprentices, focusing on digital accompanying future apprentices all year long.
Dobianer´s point of view is mainly given by his position in a subsidiary trade,
especially these trades had to suffer from loss of apprentices some years ago.
Mr. Andreas Hauser represents the BAUAkademie Wien,
the BuildingAcademy Vienna. Hauser talks about the special position he has with
the BAUAkademie, which is neither a school in a classic sense nor a company.
The students are apprentices, who could not get a job in a regular company,
they get trained on the job to learn all the necessary skills, therefor being
able to start working in a company when the occasion is here. The goal of
course is to secure a job for the students.
The platform www.baudeinezukunft.at (build your future) was conceived by the main
building trades. This platform is a connection between the companies and the future
apprentices. There is also an apprentice-expert in each of the nine federal
countries of Austria, who is visiting schools and companies. The building trade
is trying to make itself more appealing to the youth by printing info folders,
going online, organizing fairs, doing a Youtube channel, spending money on give
aways … Many young people do not know about their career opportunities in the
building trade, but climbing up the career ladder from apprentice to master
builder does generate quite a substantial amount of money in income, as
apprentice experts Nicole Mürner and Nadine Lang point out.
The run of presentation was hosted by Mr. Thomas Prigl, vice headmaster of the
BS BAU. The short summaries of the comments of the audience were written on a
flip chart. After a few words by Thomas Prigl, the meeting ended at about 05:00
p. m.
Further information
https://bsbau.at
https://www.kusonline.at/de
https://eeducation.at/en/
https://porr.at/en/
https://www.wko.at/service/Austrian-Economic-Chambers.html
https://www.hammerlehre.at
https://wien.bauakademie.at
https://www.baudeinezukunft.at/de/home/
