Vantaa Vocational College Varia introduces an innovative training program for the automotive painting industry. A local company, Amoy, builds the premises for the school and provides the latest knowledge and equipment in the field. For the first time in Finland, a private company is integrally involved in education planning and implementation, starting from the construction phase.
According to Antti Karetie, Varia’s Car and Aviation Education Manager, the school does not have a paint shop, so previously merely spot painting has been covered in automotive painting.
”We discussed various options, such as placing a portable solution outside. However, building and maintaining a paint shop and staying involved in development would be expensive and challenging for Varia.”
The problem was solved with business cooperation, in which a local company, Amoy, specialized in car painting products and training, offered to build teaching facilities tailored to the school’s needs. At the same time, the latest methods and products can be integrated into teaching so that when the students graduate, they will have the knowledge corresponding to the current needs of working life.
The cooperation ensures that teaching stays up to date, which has been a general challenge in vocational education. Traditionally, it has been hindered by continuing education for teachers and cooperation in working life.
Respected expertise in the automotive industry
Many more car mechanics graduate in the automotive industry than painters, whose skills are highly valued. The appreciation shows, for example, in their salary level. With baby boomers retiring, the need for a workforce is more significant than ever. Electric cars and new materials, such as carbon fiber, also increase the demand for trained experts.
”The automotive painting industry offers broad career opportunities for creative craftsmen. Not all professionals choose to work in car dealerships or paint shops, but the path can lead to becoming an entrepreneur or, for example, working with special vehicles within the manufacturing industry.”
Varia invests in flexible and high-quality teaching, the success of which is reported in dropout rates lower than the average for vocational schools. Varia’s teachers believe that, for the first time, a fully working-life-oriented education program will increase the field’s attractiveness and attract new students.
This fall, the first students have started the basic studies of body repair and will specialize in automotive painting in January 2023. Karetie hopes that plenty more new students join them next fall. Moreover, the car painting line is looking to fill an open teacher position in the car painting line.
”I look forward to the training program progressing and the completion of new facilities. Our goal is to increase awareness of the industry and train people for jobs that do not have enough workforce. With this unique cooperation model, we can serve society and create the best possible education for students, considering their future work.”
