Hans Viessmann School and Technical College cooperate

The Hans-Viessmann-Schule, then known as the Kreisberufsschule Frankenberg, now a legally independent vocational school, has been supporting the Fachschule für Technik e. V. Kassel since 1953, when it was still called the Abendschule für Technik e. V., in its further training courses for certified industrial foremen in metal at the Frankenberg site. Now, the organisation and implementation of the classroom events for the participants of the so-called industrial foreman courses, which prepare them for the exams, are to be secured by the two vocational training institutions signing a cooperation agreement. The contracting parties met in the auditorium of the Hans Viessmann School to sign the agreement.

The Fachschule für Technik e. V. Kassel (FTK) remains the legal entity for the courses offered, while the Hans Viessmann School (HVS) and the FTK are jointly responsible for the organisation and supervision of the courses at the Frankenberg location. The cooperation is based on a concept that differentiates between external and internal organisation. For example, it is the FTK's responsibility to employ the necessary lecturers and to pay them on a fee basis. The HVS, in close coordination with the FTK, is responsible for the deployment of the lecturers. There is also a division of tasks in the basic planning: framework hours and assignments fall to the FTK, the necessary rooms are made available by the HVS in agreement with the school authority. All financial arrangements are also the overall responsibility of the FTK.

Klaus Lötzerich, as managing director of the Hans Viessmann School, pointed out the great importance of the industrial foreman courses not only as a flagship for the educational institute but also for the region. It was important to maintain such offers for young people, which the cooperation agreement now contributed to. District Administrator Dr. Kubat, as Chairman of the Administrative Board and at the same time representative of the school authority, was also pleased that the close cooperation, which has existed for a long time, would now be consolidated and thus open up the best possible future prospects for the students as well as for Waldeck-Frankenberg. "The industrial master craftsman course is an important part of our continuing education programmes," the district administrator emphasised. He thanked the lecturers for their dedicated work and for passing on their knowledge. Thanks to the industrial foremen from the Viessmann company, for example, respirators could have been repurposed for use in the pandemic - a real help for the people in the district in this crisis situation.

On behalf of the Fachschule für Technik Kassel, board members Herbert Baar and Bernd Kleem gave an insight into the history of the cooperation and an outlook on the future of the industrial master craftsman courses in the Waldeck-Frankenberg district. Founded in 1950 by industrial companies in North Hesse and quickly expanded to include branch offices such as the one here in Frankenberg, the FTK has now been offering, among other things, degree-related continuing vocational training courses with examinations before the Chamber of Industry and Commerce for over 70 years. However, the good cooperation has only ever been possible because the district, as the school authority, has become a reliable third cooperation partner. Already 750 industrial foremen have successfully completed the two-and-a-half-year in-service training.

Bernd Kleem, former deputy headmaster of the Hans Viessmann School, has been in charge of the industrial foreman training as a professionally competent networker for the past 20 years, but will now hand over this task to the two lecturers Kurt Naumann and Henning Schwarz. The demand for industrial foremen in Waldeck-Frankenberg remains high; the contractually agreed cooperation between the two schools creates a strong synergy effect. Professional development opportunities and perspectives for employees - the industrial foreman courses are recognised nationwide at Bachelor level - but also new demands on skilled workers in the region - such as home office - are thus taken into account. Hans-Viessmann-Schule and Fachschule für Technik Kassel e. V. are looking forward to working together and are ready to meet the challenges ahead together.