Report about a transnational work placement project:
French trainee bricklayers worked in Salzburg from 4.11. - 30.11.2001
EU-Exchange mobility project for apprentices in construction industry -"transnational work placements" LEONARDO
The Landesberufsschule Wals was receiving partner for this mobility project and organised work placements for some 5 french trainee bricklayers sent to Austria by Lycee Professionnel Alfred Sauvy, Perpignan, France.
This exchange work placement project was supported by the EU in order to improve the quality of initial vocational training in the construction industry and the personality of young crafts. |
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The LBS had choosen local construction companies who provided work placements for our french exchange students.
Following construction companies from Salzburg agreed to receive one of the french trainees in order to provide a 3-week lasting work experience one site:
Fa. Emberger-Heuberger, Fa. Hutterer, Fa. Kreuzberger, Fa. Thurnberger and Fa. Hartl Bau.
Following trainee bricklayers worked with following companies on sites in Salzburg/ Österreich from 12.Nov. 2001 - 30.Nov. 2001:
Company
Entreprise |
Construction site
Chantier |
Site manager/ Foreman
Contremaitre |
Name of trainee
Nom d’apprentis |
Public transport
Transport moyenne |
Emberger-Heuberger |
Office building in Salzburg |
H. Neuhofer
Polier: H.Spiessberger |
Hericher Jonathan |
by Obus n. Aiglhof, change in Linie 29 |
| Kreuzberger |
Water supply station in Grödig |
Bmst. Kreuzberger Polier: Hr. Arneth |
ORTHEGA Anthony |
was picked up by a company staff |
| Hutterer |
Detached house in Seekirchen |
Ing. Pfarrkirchner
Polier: Hr. Bruckmoser |
GUENOUN Samir |
by train to Bhf Seekirchen, picked up by company staff |
| Thurnberger |
Detached house in Mattsee |
Bmst. Feldbacher
Polier: Hr. Stockinger |
BECUS Thomas |
picked up by a company staff |
| Wenzl-Hartl |
Renovation works in Salzburg |
Hr. Huber
Hr. Neuhofer |
PLANO Florent |
by obus |
During the first week of their stay in Salzburg the french students took part of the current practical training programme at the local Training Centre for Builders (Lehrbauhof/ Bauhütte Salzburg) together with Austrian apprentice bricklayers under the guidance of tutor Mr.Praschl.
The collaboration between the young french trainees and either their Austrian colleagues in the training center or the Austrian work fellows on site was not always so easy especially because of communication reasons. Bad weather conditions due to early winter snows and some cultural differences, eg. different working hours and working times or eating habits, were some other additional problems. Communication problems were the reason for some misunderstandings in the second week but this crises was managed right away and the work placements were continued and finished successfully without any injuries then.
On the other hand it worked out that many working techniques and lots of materials are the same than in France. This professional connections overcame language barriers and an ongoing constructive co-operation developed .
During their work placement the french trainees stayed in a boarding house (Youth hostel with half-board accommodation) in Salzburg near the city center. Two accompanying teachers took care of the students two weeks each, though the lack of language made this job a rather hard one.
At the weekends some leisure activities were arranged for our french guests, e.g.
a reception with dinner, a guided visit through the old city of Salzburg and a day trip to the Salzkammergut lakes.
Conclusively is to be said that the trainees and their teachers were happy about the friendly welcome and very satisfied with and the experiences they made. The work placements in Austria was a great challenge for all of the young french bricklayers in order to survive in their job on site and to get across within this new environment in another country.
Visit and work placements in France:
A 2-weeks lasting stay in Perpignan for Austrian trainees is planned for March 2003. See report in France.
As a teacher for both technical construction subjects and English language at Vocational College it's a demand and aim that our trainees can orientate themselves in a uniting Europe across language borders and cultures and they should be able to learn from each other and work together in their job in order to enlarge their mind.
Wals, 5.12.2001,
Hans Berner