Munich: Representatives from business, politics and sports make a passionate plea for apprenticeships - "fundamental for Bavaria as a business location"

Created: 04/08/2022Updated: 04/08/2022 15:12

Advertising for the training: the former ski racer and trained painter Markus Wasmeier, the DEHOGA Bavarian President Angela Inselkammer, the managing director of the Bavarian Value Alliance Foundation, Andrea Taubenböck and the philosopher Professor Julian Nida-Rümelin (from left).

© Markus sleep

The Bavarian Value Alliance, an association of 230 foundations, companies and chambers, is pushing hard for training.

Many celebrities also reported on the advantages of their apprenticeship in Munich on Wednesday.

Including a former ski racer, the President of the State Parliament and a ski jumper.

Munich

– Julian Nida-Rümelin clears up a misconception right from the start.

"There are not as many academics in Germany as one might think." The philosopher and former Minister of State for Culture of the SPD emphasizes that studying at least in terms of the number of graduates is not more important.

“Only 20 percent of people have a college degree.

Most people here are skilled workers.” If today's students were aware of this, they would be much more likely to pursue vocational training.

The deputy chairman of the German Ethics Council is convinced of this.

Yesterday in Munich, the Values ​​Alliance of Bavaria launched an initiative to “appreciate vocational training”.

Six apprentices, including ski jumper Katharina Althaus, were given a stage to advertise their training.

In addition, the association presented projects that prepare young people in secondary school for working life, promote the understanding of democracy among trainees, convey values ​​such as empathy and tolerance or improve the integration of migrants in the labor market.

Creating something that you see and that stays is a great feeling

Markus Wasmeier

"It's a matter close to the heart" for the association, emphasizes hostess Gerti Oswald, Managing Director of the Bavarian Chamber of Industry and Commerce.

"An apprenticeship not only promotes intellectual competence, but also heart and character."

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Markus Wasmeier also experienced this.

The former ski racer completed an apprenticeship as a painter and varnisher after school.

By then he had long been the German student champion in giant slalom.

Originally, the later Olympic champion from 1994 wanted to do an apprenticeship with a carpenter.

But then he would not have been able to go skiing in the winter.

So he happily followed in the footsteps of his father, an air painter.

"Creating something that you see and that stays is a great feeling."

Parliament President Ilse Aigner emphasizes the fundamental importance of training companies

Wasmeier renovated all the houses himself at his open-air museum in Schliersee (Miesbach district).

His wish: that a craftsman has the same reputation as a lawyer.

"The parents are also asked to convey this to the children." But they often prefer to study because they want the offspring to be better off financially, explains Ilse Aigner, President of the Landtag.

The CSU politician, who is a trained television technician herself, considers the system of vocational training to be of fundamental importance: "The wide range of training companies is fundamental for Bavaria as a business location."

Career choice among young people: More trust in talent

Nida-Rümelin from the Ethics Council is campaigning for young people to be trusted when choosing a career and to see studies and training as equal.

Angela Inselkammer, President of the Bavarian Hotel and Restaurant Association, is also a guest on the BIHK campus.

The managing director of the Aying brewery (Munich district) cannot emphasize enough how hard the shortage of skilled workers during Corona hit her.

She appeals to young people to pay attention to their personal talents when choosing a career: "Then it's a fulfilling life, no matter what you do."

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Survey: Why did you choose your apprenticeship?

Katharina Althaus © Markus Schlaf

I come from a small village, my whole family does crafts for a living.

The Olympic Sports Confederation offers the opportunity to train as an office clerk in addition to ski jumping.

Anything else would not have been compatible with my training schedule.

Not even studying, although that was a consideration for me at the beginning.

The period in which you are a professional athlete is so short that I want to have something in my hands so that I can continue professionally immediately after my career.

Katharina Althaus (25) from Oberstdorf

Franziska Wieser © Markus Schlaf

Two years ago I graduated from high school, at the high school all the teachers only talked about studying, but I preferred to do an apprenticeship.

So I started my apprenticeship as a women's tailor.

I think it's important to know how to make something yourself, for example I wear pants that I made myself.

Sustainable production is also a big topic in our company – which I think is great.

I would like to teach at a vocational school later in order to make progress in the training system.

Franziska Wieser (22) from Munich

Wala Khalat Qojadi © Markus Schlaf

I came to Germany from Iraq with my family in 2015.

In my home country it was more difficult for girls to get education.

Actually, I would say we didn't get enough education.

At first it didn't matter to me or my parents whether I would later do an apprenticeship or study.

There are many craftsmen in my family, but I wanted to learn something first.

I graduated from secondary school and then started my apprenticeship as a seamstress.

Wala Khalat Qojadi (26) from Munich