The choice of a career challenges every young adult – irrespective of her or his country of origin. We are spoilt by choice. In my view, the most important advice on this decision is to follow your interests and competencies. Of course it takes courage to finally decide on one direction” states Stefanie Moll, first apprenticeship year as carpenter, Josef-Durler school in Rastatt (BW) (Interview with Stefanie Moll - German/deutsch).
Stefanie and two French apprentices – from Grand-Est and Auvergne-Rhône-Alpes – won the first prize at the “master bois” – a carpeting competition at the mondial des métiers on the 4th of Feburary 2018. The mondial des métiers which took place from 1st to the 4th of February 2018 in Lyon is one of the leading fairs on professions and vocational training in France. During the 2018 edition almost 120 000 visitors informed themselves about professions and the regional economy in Auvergne-Rhône-Alpes. Beyond its’ regional reputation the event has a prominent Four Motors dimension.
The domain of labour mobility and professional training is of particular importance to the Four Motors for Europe. As strong and innovative regions an open labour market is a cornerstone for their regional development. While in the realm of student mobility many agreements exist the mobility of apprentices is underrepresented at the European level.
In the words of Bernd Schlögl, deputy director of Carl Benz school in Gaggenau (BW) on the mondial des métiers“Every perspective on an apprenticeship in another country increases the maturity of our pupils. As a student you can experience Europe at first hand alongside the great opportunities of an interconnectivity of the working life across the globe”. In a similar vein, Stefanie sees the advantages of interregional youth exchange as follows “you can see and experience new things, things you may need at a certain point in the future”. This is why the Four Motors for Europe take the lead in this domain.
During the presidency of Auvergne-Rhône-Alpes a working group “professional training and labour mobility” has been established. The last meeting of this group took place on the 26th and 27th of February 2018 in Stuttgart at the working group days. In addition, some of the partner regions signed bilateral agreements on youth mobility. Auvergne-Rhône-Alpes and Baden-Württemberg recently renewed their agreement on the mobility of apprentices on the occasion of the mondial des métiers. Auvergne-Rhône-Alpes and Catalonia already renewed their existing agreement.
You can read the whole interview with Stefanie Moll and her instructor at her vocational school in Rastatt, Reiner Genzinger, in German (Interview Genzinger).
