Xella Poland is the patron of the 60th anniversary of “Kopernik”, the Mikolaj Kopernik School Complex No. 6 in Ruda Śląska. A part of the vocational school is dedicated to construction and architectural crafts, making it the ideal place for training future builders. With this branch, it is even one of the longest-established construction schools in its region of Upper Silesia. Representatives from Xella Poland prepared a theoretical and practical workshop there in December, together with special occupations for the students.

Theory is good, practice is even better 

Young people benefit from modernized vocational training workshops and the school’s approach is always adaptive to the times and seeking for innovation. There is even the city's first renewable energy systems laboratory.  “We know that nowadays practice is the basis and theory is an addition, that is why we focus on workshops, vocational workshops and apprenticeships," says Małgorzata Kaszuba, the school's director. Kopernik educates future construction workers, electronics engineers, IT specialists, programmers and specialists in renewable energy devices and systems. For the anniversary in December, Xella Polska, prepared a day of training and competitions. Students were able to try their hand at bricklaying with Ytong blocks and also work with the support of an innovative exoskeleton. The activities took place under the guidance of Xella employees.

“Knowledge of new building technologies is very important in the work of a builder. Nowadays, we shouldn’t associate the profession of bricklayer with very hard physical work. We use modern construction machines, equipment and systems, which allow us to work highly efficiently and make our work more comfortable and safer," says Wojciech Łasut, Director of Technical Sales Support at Xella Polska, who led the theoretical part at school. The participants in the training were students of classes III, IV and V of the Building Technical School. During the practical part of the training, two people from each class were selected for the competition. The competition was fierce, with the teams performing the assigned construction work at a high and equal level. Xella presented the participants in the practical part with valuable prizes and commemorative diplomas.

“I am positively surprised how the students performed during these workshops and competitions. Practical classes with manufacturers contribute a lot when it comes to young people's skills and preparation for work, which is why we try to give our students opportunities to learn about the latest technologies and materials, as well as practical exercises," says Tomasz Siekiera, teacher of construction at Kopernik. Initiatives like these meet the high demand for employees in the broadly defined construction industry in Poland.