The sparks are flying. Leonie Fasching focuses on her work in the workshop of the Institute of Thermodynamics and Sustainable Propulsion Systems at Inffeldgasse 21 and skilfully operates the welding machine. ‘I always wanted to do something manual and with metal,’ says the 19-year-old. Fasching had looked at several apprenticeships in advance, including motor vehicle technician, painter and restaurant specialist. But she quickly realised that it had to be something ‘metallic’, and during a taster session at TU Graz, she soon realised that she wanted to work with metal. Here she had found her dream apprenticeship. Fasching recently completed her apprenticeship as a metal technician in the subject area of metal technology and mechanical engineering and is currently in the probationary period. This means that the training company is obliged to continue to employ the apprentice for three months after completion of the apprenticeship. But Leonie Fasching will not remain in Graz after the probationary period. For her, it’s off to Linz – because of love.
Right in the thick of it from day one
‘The apprenticeship here was really interesting and varied, I really enjoyed it,’ says the young woman, full of praise. Fasching is closely involved in the day-to-day running of the workshop – and has been from the very beginning. ‘I was part of the team from the very first day of my apprenticeship,’ emphasises the former apprentice, ‘and was allowed to take on independent work early on, which I really enjoyed.’ Fasching works professionally on the lathe and milling machine, cutting threads, she also drills, welds, manufactures elements for the engine test benches and makes assemblies and customised products, ‘everything that is needed for our test set-ups’. Günter Rumpf, workshop manager and Leonie Fasching’s trainer, attaches great importance to independent work: ‘Of course, apprentices have a lot to learn. But everyone has to be able to take on work with us and come up with their own solutions.’ And Günter Rumpf has already seen a lot at TU Graz: he has been working at the Graz engineering incubator for over 40 years and has been training apprentices here for 26 years. ‘I was always very lucky with my apprentices. The things that were actually only intended for later on, they were able to do relatively early on. I’ve always had a very good relationship with my apprentices and it simply makes me proud when apprentices do well and then successfully go their own way.’
The chemistry is right here
A change of scene. Instead of workshop noise, there is a monotonous whirring of measuring instruments in the laboratory of the Institute of Biochemistry at Petersgasse 12. And instead of sparks, there is fog. Christoph Schaffer removes a frozen protein sample to determine its mass. The 17-year-old is currently in the third year of his apprenticeship as a chemistry/ biochemistry laboratory technician. Natural sciences, especially chemistry, have always been very important to him. However, it was not quite so clear that he was going to do an apprenticeship: ‘If I hadn’t got the apprenticeship here, I would have gone on to grammar school,’ he explains. But one thing is certain for the man from Eggersdorf: he wants to study at university – chemistry, of course. That’s why he works hard at school at weekends and is preparing for his matriculation exams while working. ‘For me, this is definitely a win-win situation. Although I’ll take my matriculation exams two years later than my schoolmates, I will have completed a double apprenticeship and gained an incredible amount of knowledge.’ The training he receives here at TU Graz is truly something special. Thanks to the commitment of Barbara Seibt and Adelheid Bakhshi, laboratory technology apprentices are offered inter-institutional training (see the interview with Barbara Seibt and Adelheid Bakhshi "A Successful Model For 16 years"), which leads to a double apprenticeship: ‘I’m really enthusiastic about gaining so much knowledge at different institutes,’ says Schaffer.
‘It makes me feel good when an apprentice enjoys the training course so much. This intrinsic motivation is great to observe and is also very good for us,’ explains Philipp Pelzmann, Christoph Schaffer’s trainer. Philipp Pelzmann has been working as a chemical technician at the Institute of Biochemistry for four years and was already training apprentices at his previous workplace: ‘I think a basic grounding is very important. At the beginning, I do a lot of things together with the apprentices, but I try to ensure that they are soon able to carry out routine tasks independently. It is always important for me to be the first point of contact. Christoph can always come to see me.’
Enablers for many things
At TU Graz, there are 50 registered trainers, 24 of which are are currently actively working as trainers. A high level of commitment, technical expertise and a big sense of responsibility characterise these people, who train apprentices alongside their everyday work at TU Graz. There are no extra allowances for this. If an apprentice successfully completes the final apprenticeship examination, the trainers receive a bonus. ‘We do this out of conviction,’ emphasises Günter Rumpf, ‘I studied here myself at TU Graz. And I’m delighted when you can offer young people an attractive apprenticeship. I simply love it when I can motivate young people and awaken their enthusiasm.’ Philipp Pelzmann can only confirm this: ‘It’s very fulfilling for me to be able to pass on my knowledge and my craft and see how young people develop both professionally and personally. We’re enablers for many things. And thanks to Christoph’s skill and independence, he is also a great support for me in everyday laboratory work.’
Practical and diverse
‘Many people don’t realise that you can also learn a trade at TU Graz,’ says Stefan Kratochwill, deputy chairman of the Works Council and Apprenticeship Coordinator at TU Graz. ‘Our university is known for its academic education in technical and engineering studies, but it also trains high-calibre specialists.’ Vocational training at our university is multifaceted. Whether metal technician or mechatronics technician, library assistant or materials technician, 14 different apprenticeships can be learnt at TU Graz. ‘What sets us apart from other large companies is the diverse training programme here at TU Graz,’ emphasises Kratochwill. ‘Whether it’s engine technology, prototype construction or scientific experiments in the laboratory, each institute has a different focus and our apprentices experience research at first hand,’ says the delighted apprentice coordinator.
TU Graz has been training apprentices for over four decades, since autumn 1982. Since then, the number and focus of the various trades has changed considerably, many training courses have been modularised and the names of the apprenticeships have changed. In the last twenty years, 224 apprentices have been accepted at TU Graz, 91 of whom were women. Nine new apprentices will be accepted this year.
Offers for apprentices and trainers
Our university is currently training 28 apprentices in eight different professions (four of whom are in the probationary period), including nine young women. TU Graz offers various services for apprentices, such as bonuses for outstanding results at vocational school and in the final apprenticeship examination or a mobility grant for using public transport. This offer was initiated by the Works Council for General Staff and the Youth Confidence Council (JVR) specifically for the apprentices and approved by the Rectorate.
The Youth Confidence Council is the mouthpiece and representative body for young employees at TU Graz and works closely with the Works Council. The special thing about it is the age of the members. The members of the JVR are all not older than 23 and are elected by TU Graz employees who are not older than 20. Christina Raab is currently chair of the Youth Confidence Council. The 20-year-old completed her apprenticeship as an archive, library and information assistant last year and was awarded the Star of Styria by the Styrian Chamber of Commerce for her outstanding apprenticeship at Graz University of Technology. ‘Helping other people has always been important to me. Together with my JVR team, I have an open ear for the concerns of our apprentices and their trainers,’ says the Deutschlandsberg native. The JVR regularly organises events and visits with the apprentices in order to promote exchange among the them.
The works council for general staff also offers services and networking meetings for apprentices and trainers. The range is broad and extends from discounted lunches for apprentices in the canteen to Christmas parties and in-house and external excursions. A special offer are the internships abroad for apprentices and job shadowing programmes for trainers, which are run by the Auxilium association. Some apprentices have already been able to gain experience abroad in Crete and Malta, and trainers have been able to continue their training in Denmark and Germany. In May, some of the apprentices will be travelling to Denmark – laboratory technology apprentice Christoph Schaffer is one of them: ‘I’m really looking forward to working in a laboratory in Aalborg for a month and getting to know new things. It will certainly be a very exciting and cool experience,’ he says, smiling in anticipation.
This article focuses on Apprenticeship Training at Graz University of Technology. In the TU Graz people cover story, you can read also the interview A Successful Model For 16 years.
You can find this article and other articles to browse through in TU Graz people #96, the magazine for TU Graz employees and interested parties.
