Officials have busy week in Germany

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HANNOVER, Germany — The Troy Development Council and Upper Valley Career Center delegation attending the Hannover Messe Industry Fair in Hannover, Germany have wrapped up a busy week and are looking forward to another.

Jason Haak and Tony Trapp, representatives of Upper Valley Career Center and J. C. Wallace, CEO of Troy Development Council, attended a panel discussion that examined workforce development strategies employed by German-based companies with operations in the United States.

“We met with the president of the Germany American Chambers of Commerce,” said Haak, executive director at the Career Center. “They are excited that Upper Valley Career Center has started to implement a Dual Education System of vocational education similar to the German model.”

Wallace shares his perspective, ““These presentations have been a great opportunity to learn about the efforts of economic developers, educational organizations and employers. What we are learning is that it is possible to modify the German Dual Education System to benefit manufacturing in the U.S.”

According to the INDO-German Training Cetre’s website, the Dual Education System has helped Germany maintain a low youth unemployment rate, has secured a supply of skilled labor to its companies and has increased the competitiveness of Germany’s economy.

Trapp, who is the Career Center’s apprenticeship coordinato, has filed pictorial reports on the school’s facebook page throughout their first week abroad. Their time has included conversations with Ohio Lt. Gov. Mary Taylor and members of the JobsOhio delegation early in the week as well as representative from Rittal a Germany company with a facility in Urbana, Ohio. Trapp has successfully placed apprentice at that location. They visited a school BBS|ME in Hannover which he says is the Germany equivalent of Upper Valley.

“It was extremely interesting to observe their facilities and teaching methods,” said Trapp.

Trapp has especially enjoyed time spent with the students.

“Their students gave me a few tips for improving soldering techniques,” he laughs.

The coming days are booked full with employer/apprenticeship site visits throughout northwestern Germany including a stop at SEW Eurodrive.

Upper Valley Career Center’s Apprenticeship Coordinator Tony Trapp is schooled in soldering technique by a German apprentice.
http://aimmedianetwork.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/47/2016/05/web1_Photo2_soldering-1.jpgUpper Valley Career Center’s Apprenticeship Coordinator Tony Trapp is schooled in soldering technique by a German apprentice. Courtesy photo

A representative from Rittal met Jason Haak, Tony Trapp and J. C. Wallace at the Industry Fair.
http://aimmedianetwork.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/47/2016/05/web1_Photo3_Rittal-1.jpgA representative from Rittal met Jason Haak, Tony Trapp and J. C. Wallace at the Industry Fair. Courtesy photo

Jason Haak, Lt. Gov. Mary Taylor, Tony Trapp and J. C. Wallace met during the group’s visit to Hannover, Germany.
http://aimmedianetwork.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/47/2016/05/web1_Photo-1-1.jpg-1.jpgJason Haak, Lt. Gov. Mary Taylor, Tony Trapp and J. C. Wallace met during the group’s visit to Hannover, Germany. Courtesy photo

Tony Trapp shows his finished soldering project. With him is a student who is a German apprentice.
http://aimmedianetwork.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/47/2016/05/web1_Meeting-students-1.jpgTony Trapp shows his finished soldering project. With him is a student who is a German apprentice. Courtesy photo

Staff report

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