At the interface between school desks and workplace

Those who enjoy working with their hands may choose to study wood. Pupils of the sixth and seventh years at Don Bosco Sint-Denijs-Westrem (B) are immersed to the maximum in the wonderful world of joinery. Inside and outside the school walls. Fittings specialist LMC has been a training partner of the school for many years. "During a visit at our company I like to take the woodworkers of the future in tow through our wide range of products," says LMC's Kris De Prycker.\

LMC's customers are crying out for good employees. Schools, in turn, are asking for apprenticeships for their students. The influx into vocational and technical education is now in decline. Yet it remains a wonderful craft. By building bridges between training and the shop floor, LMC and Don Bosco want to increase the appeal and enthusiasm of future woodworkers.

The industry does not stand still. So at Don Bosco, they think it makes sense that their training offerings don't either. "We are in the process of reforming our wood training," explains teacher Koen Stock. "There will be a division within wood techniques into a direction 'interior joinery and interior' and a direction 'interior and exterior joinery'. This will allow us to go deeper into certain aspects of the sector during school and better prepare our students for the shop floor. Especially in combination with company visits, such as to LMC. Moreover, we expect an additional shift towards dual learning, the valuable combination of classes and real work experience."

Kris De Prycker agrees: "Dual learning enthuses students even more. They discover in practice how things are done and know what they are talking about. This is exactly why we find it important to really welcome these students into our company. It is a good way for them to get to know LMC. Of course, these apprentices are also our potential customers and ambassadors."

Every school year, teacher Koen and his class trek for half a day to Module, LMC's training and innovation center in Waasmunster (B).
At this remote location, students get to see much more than is possible at school. They hear passionate professionals talk about their craft and gain inspiration. Sometimes even for their final paper. "Actually, we started Module as a program for our customers," Kris looks back, "but soon we opened it up to schools as well. Don Bosco was, about eight years ago, the first to take it up. In my eyes, this is a real model school, giving students so much more than school knowledge and skills."

Usually the company visit takes place at the beginning of the school year. And that is no coincidence. Koen: "This is the time to get ideas for the integrated test (part of the Flemish final exam program). In the fifth grade we work mainly around solid, in the sixth grade the focus is on sheet materials. We gear the study visits to this. LMC goes one step further. Every student gets an account on the online platform. This allows them to view technical sheets and prices. As a teacher, I can check it from home and LMC checks that - when ordering - they don't forget any parts. This support of education from the field is priceless to us. We attach great importance to good cooperation between our school, suppliers and apprenticeships. LMC is an important link in this network."