A partnership between a vocational school, a foundation, and three municipalities is sending hundreds of primary school students to EuroSkills 2025 in Herning.
Aksel Gaardsted Christiansen is the Head of Education for the Construction and Agricultural Machinery programs, as well as Kitchen/Canteen at Himmerlands Erhvervs- og Gymnasieuddannelser (HEG) in Aars. He is a strong supporter of the Skills competitions and one of the initiators behind the idea of sending primary school students from the northern part of Jutland, Denmark, to EuroSkills Herning 2025. Aksel Gaardsted Christiansen has personal experience with international Skills championships, most recently at WorldSkills in Lyon, where a former student from HEG’s agricultural machinery mechanic program, Birgitte Brunsgaard Jacobsen, won a bronze medal.
Skills Inspire
“There are so many great experiences to be had at a EuroSkills event, but not everyone has the opportunity to travel and witness it firsthand. Since EuroSkills is being held in Denmark this year, we saw a fantastic opportunity to give our primary school students a chance to experience vocational education at its best,” says Aksel Gaardsted Christiansen.
However, HEG was well aware that sending hundreds of school students from North Jutland to Herning and back would require funding.
“That’s why we reached out to the Sparekassen Danmark Foundation, which has a strong local focus, and presented the idea of sending all 8th and 9th-grade students from the municipalities of Vesthimmerland, Mariager, and Rebild to EuroSkills in Herning. We also wanted to include a group of career counselors and role models so that the time spent on the buses could be used to discuss educational choices,” explains Aksel Gaardsted Christiansen.
3,000 Students Will Attend
The plan is to send 3,000 primary school students and fill up to 50 buses.
“A hesitant 13- or 14-year-old would have to be very indifferent not to feel inspired to pursue a vocational education after witnessing the competitions at EuroSkills – the young competitors are incredibly skilled and truly inspiring to watch,” says Aksel Gaardsted Christiansen. “And of course, we also hope that these young people will take an interest in Open House events at vocational schools and HEG when choosing their future education,” he adds.
A Strong Local Network
Sparekassen Danmark Fonden Himmerland, together with Sparekassen Danmark Fonden Hobro, has covered the transportation costs for the initiative.
“The foundations are supporting this initiative for several reasons. The most important is to give young students the opportunity to see EuroSkills and ‘get a feel’ for their future educational possibilities. In the long run, we hope this inspiration will lead more students to choose a vocational education at HEG. And in an even broader perspective, skilled young professionals will help secure the local workforce for our businesses. But for now, we’re starting with a bus trip and some packed lunches, which have also been donated locally,” says Michael Jørgensen, Chairman of Sparekassen Danmark Fonden Himmerland.
The initiative is built on a strong network between local businesses, HEG, and the municipalities of Vesthimmerland, Mariager, and Rebild.
“All three mayors, school directors, and business development managers were supportive from the beginning when we proposed sending students to EuroSkills. This is undoubtedly because we have a strong network and support the same objectives,” says Michael Jørgensen.
With this joint effort, the hope is that EuroSkills Herning 2025 will be an inspiring and motivating event that opens doors for even more young people to choose a vocational education, ultimately strengthening the workforce of the future in North Jutland.