Wear the master craftsperson title with pride

A day of celebration for 18 successful young carpenters—following successful completion of their part-time or full-time master craftsperson course, they were presented with their sought-after master craftsperson certificates in the glass annexe of the Franz-Eyrich-Halle. As mentioned numerous times in the speeches made, these will provide them with excellent future prospects.

The finished pieces are "genuine masterpieces" emphasises Johannes Haas, deputy of the District Gild of Master Craftsmen with reference to the elm and smoked oak planning table, the walnut sideboard, the oak and smoked oak bureau and many other masterpieces, all of which have been produced to the very highest level.

Max Stadler, director of the training centre, commented that "showing what the skilled crafts were capable of was a very good tradition" and added that a successful career pathway without a degree was also possible. He pointed out that increasing value was currently being attached to vocational education. The young master craftspeople had now created excellent future prospects for themselves and had impressed with a high level of technical competence. He added that the individuality of the skilled crafts clearly sets them apart from industrial production. This was demonstrated impressively by the masterpieces.

Deputy District Administrator Josef Konhäuser stressed the importance of carpentry for the district, commenting that it was an "exquisite skilled craft". He added that the young skilled workers "have learned the skilled craft from scratch and the master craftsperson certificate is the crowning glory". He added that dual education and training was essential: "Without it we only have academics who may well know how it works, but no one that knows how to make it."

Andreas Weinzierl, Head of the Craft Guild of Carpenters in Traustein referred to excellent future prospects. In his view he also expects an alignment in the future of master craftsperson salaries and salaries paid to holders of a Master's degree. He added that the master craftsperson certificate would now enable the successful craftsmen and women to work their way up to a senior position in their current company or to establish or take on a new company.

Johannes Haas, deputy of the District Gild of Master Craftsmen commented in his address that he saw before him the happy faces of young master craftspeople who could be proud of the fact that they had climbed up an important rung on their professional career ladder. "They can look to the future with confidence." He explained that they had certainly chosen an established training pathway which was respected around the world. "They can wear their master craftsperson title with pride."

Following the speeches, the successful craftsmen and women were presented with their reward for successfully completing the master craftsperson course and received the much sought-after certificate. The outstanding performers among the 18 master craftspeople were the best-placed Robert Pat from Kirchanschöring and in particular Matthias Egger from Waging who had the best result and whose planning table of elm and smoked oak was particularly impressive.