Useful links
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Country: France |
Country: Chinese Taipei |
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Stronger pre-16 TVET training The state-run system is much better equipped with equipment of the quality found in industry. and on a much larger scale, enabling a greater number of students and apprentices to be trained. Educators from TVET are better remunerated and valued so their knowledge of their subject is much greater. Companions’ system is probably the most interesting model and one where lessons could be learned for the UK. Having completed initial training in skills the companions offer the opportunity to apply to become a journeyman over a period of two to four years depending on the skill. During this time, they will work in industry spending up to six months in a company before moving on to another in different region or country learning the ways different companies operate. Accommodation is provided by the companions in hostels where they will meet other journeyman from other skills, leading to an appreciation across skills and developing wider life skills as well. At the end of each employment/year they will produce a practical project reflecting the skills they have learned, and this is presented to the companions. They have to pass this assessment before they can continue their training. This is an updated version of the old guilds system. During this time, they will participate in theory training, but the focus is on practical skills development. This system provides learners with a much wider understanding of their industry and positions them well to become leaders in management or developing their own firms who then offer places to new journeyman. |
Stronger pre-16 TVET training Furniture and cabinet making is seen as a manufacturing skill and the training is run alongside engineering. Students will specialise from the start in either metal or timber but will join together for the CAD and CNC training as well as other classes on manufacturing (health and safety, lean processes, production planning etc.) After the initial training in a college the student is given the opportunity to continue their studies to levels 4 & 5 at university in the department for Wood Science which covers everything from forestry to furniture production. Students then study to degree level manufacturing using timber, spending at least three years studying. The workshops are extremely well equipped with both traditional and advanced manufacturing equipment applicable to the timber processing industry. In the UK we have nothing like this as any degree courses in the field focus on design rather than manufacturing. Chinese Taipei also have links to industry at their degree level.
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Country: France |
Country: Chinese Taipei (Taiwan) |
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Employ a wide training team made up of past competitors as the UK does. Their training period tends to be shorter than the UK. They have sponsorship from equipment manufacturers, so they have the latest models in place to work with.
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The Expert is not the trainer but is a skilled person in the field, their role is to oversee the training and identify the team who will carry out the training. The lead trainer takes responsibility for the competitor’s wellbeing during this time as well as the training. In competition, they attend and provide support during the competition. |
| Country: Finland, Switzerland, Brazil, China, Chinese Taipei, Denmark
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Country: Denmark/Chinese Taipei (Taiwan)
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Example: Equipment All these countries have invested in current industry standard equipment, fixed machines both traditional and advanced, and have many more available for students to use therefore raising the skills base for all learners. Unfortunately, in many FE colleges in the UK, access to machinery training is very limited; in some they are not allowed to use any of the larger fixed machines on grounds of H&S resulting in learners leaving colleges with none or limited experience on industry standard machines. So not surprisingly the UK has a very high accident rate on woodworking equipment in the industry.
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Example: Drawing skills Chinese Taipei and Denmark both have more focus on developing technical drawing and CAD skills as part of their manufacturing training. This equips learners to better work with advanced manufacturing equipment. The training will start with the development of traditional drawing skills (pencil and paper) and then quickly move on to CAD. These skills are not developed within the UK which has resulted in the slower take-up of advanced manufacturing equipment within the industry leading to lower productivity within the UK industry.
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The furniture industry is very broad and within each country there is a very wide range of standards and quality which are largely price-related, although the highest end of the market appears to be found within Europe where the highest standards are expected.
The WorldSkills Standard Assessment Guide (SAG) has been developing over several cycles with input from all competing nations and provides an excellent guide to excellence within the industry.
Advanced manufacturing is being incorporated into the industry, for example use of CNC, 3D printing and lazer cutting technologies. Training programmes need to evolve to keep abreast of these developments without losing sight of the importance of hand skills as the foundation.