Here's how to get Generation Z into the construction industry

KÉSZ Csoport has built up a remarkable vocational training in Szeged in more ways than one: a tour of the Edupark training centre was a special part of the programme of the ÉVOSZ annual conference in Szeged. Prior to the tour, Zsuzsanna Naderi, Edupark Nonprofit Kft.'s managing director, gave a detailed report on the philosophy and achievements of the centre.

End of the world where one training course lasts a lifetime

Since 2017, KÉSZ Csoport has been more conscious of its training activities: the company considers training for the next generation as one of the main factors of competitiveness in the group. "The time is gone when someone with a vocational qualification or a degree in engineering could work for many years without interruption: you have to learn and adapt to the digitalization and changing world", the CEO stressed.

Turning to the background of the training in Szeged, he said that KÉSZ Csoport has entered into a strategic alliance with the Diocese of Csongrád-Csanád, and together with the secondary school run by the latter, they have started to develop training in the construction industry. "They provide the theoretical training, and we have set up a training workshop in the former ship repair facility in Szeged.

Two years ago, we carried out a major renovation here, increasing the number of classrooms from two to five and creating more classrooms. The renovation budget exceeded 700 million HUF: the mechanical and electrical systems were renewed and the building was equipped with solar panels."

Building services engineering is a growing focus in the sector and in Edupark

He added that since 2017, the range of professions has also been steadily expanding. "Our professional portfolio is primarily defined by the areas of activity of KÉSZ Csoport, but it also reflects sectoral trends."

As stated at the ÉVOSZ conference in Szeged before the Edupark's launch, building energy and building services engineering are becoming an increasingly important part of the construction industry's performance. However, KÉSZ Csoport has traditionally been at the forefront of structural engineering. "Accordingly, our first two trades were welding and building and structural trades, followed immediately by the launch of the electrician apprenticeship. At the moment, however, we are seeing the biggest growth in the number of apprentices in building services and building electrics!"

Initially trained for KÉSZ Csoport workers, now open to anyone

He stressed that adult education has a significant weight in both the Szeged and Kecskemét centres. "We see that specialised work is becoming more and more important in the construction of buildings, so there is a growing interest among companies of different sizes for employees with such skills."

Each year, around 700 students and adults attend Edupark training courses in Szeged and Kecskemét, with the two municipalities roughly equally divided. Of the two centres, Szeged has a greater emphasis on training young people. Adult training was initially started for KÉSZ Csoport employees, but now the door is open to anyone."

How to succeed by focusing on innovative methodological tools

The success of the system developed by the Hungarian construction company is demonstrated by the fact that the number of students dropping out of school was only 2 percent last school year, which is an outstanding result. "This is coupled with an 87 percent student satisfaction rate and a 97 percent pass rate in exams.

It's really the merit of the team, and the result of our basic philosophy. Apart from the fact that we are all professionals in our profession, we believe in development and in people: hence in the development of people. This is also important because construction is a highly collaborative sector."

He added that the economic difficulties in the sector can cause burnout, but in the Edupark workshops, special attention is paid to the continuous motivation of students and their connection with the industry. "Talking to and giving feedback to learners on a regular basis may not seem like an important part of vocational training, but focusing on the so-called 'soft' factors leads to the kind of results we have been able to achieve."

Young people are highly motivated to learn in innovative workplaces

Students spend around 40 percent of their time in the field. Some of these are carried out at KÉSZ Csoport, but more than 70 micro, small and medium-sized enterprises also assist: the latter are drawn from the subcontractor community and the region. "Efficient fieldwork and up-to-date training are helped by the fact that KÉSZ Csoport is at the forefront of innovative, modern solutions. At the same time, we see that we can work with competitive companies that are also serious about training. As a result, trainees in these workplaces are exposed to very modern technologies, which we have found to be particularly motivating."

It's also a challenge, as young people have to get up every day and physically cope. "But this way, they get used to the need to do it, so it's not the first employer who has to deal with it."

They can motivate Generation Z by being people-centred

Education itself is not immune to innovative solutions and alternative teaching tools thanks to the KÉSZ Csoport approach, which Zsuzsanna Naderi has already reported on in detail in our newspaper. „We implement project-based education and continuous assessment and feedback. We use student portfolios to make their development over several years transparent, thus ensuring that their performance is completely transparent.”

A noteworthy achievement is that the Edupark's teaching methods have also reached Generation Z.

"My experience is that Generation Z members need real activities and are not attracted to a traditional hierarchical, power-oriented organisational culture, but rather to a people-oriented company culture. We have actually been able to implement this people-facing organisation in our training centre: that's why I don't remember any cases in recent years where we had to deal with generational differences."

A love of the profession combined with humility and a good sense of humour

Of course, the right teachers are also needed to make these values a reality. "Our trainers are characters who love their profession, treat it with respect and humility, and complement this with a solid set of values and self-confidence - so they are psychologically ideal father characters. They also have a very good sense of humour, which allows them to relate well to these guys; at the same time, they are not afraid to be tough when the situation calls for it and they get involved in conflict resolution, but they do it in a transparent way."

A modern centre near the city, yet in a positively charged natural environment

The above philosophy is complemented by a strong infrastructure: the Szeged centre has 1300 square metres of space with well-equipped classrooms. "We have a so-called entry-level sector workshop, where students learn the basics of the trade in a practical way: the use of tools, materials and manual operations. We also have two modern building services workshops, as well as a welding and locksmithing workshop and an electrician's workshop. This is complemented by four classrooms and common areas."

A special feature is that the Szeged centre is located in the middle of a brownfield site, yet in a green environment. It is the only ship repair workshop on the Hungarian stretch of the Tisza with a slipway large enough to haul large vessels - it used to be Mahart's ship repair workshop. "It's important to add that we are in the floodplain of the Tisza, in a green environment, next to water: I used to say that the place itself has a healing energy. Although the embankment gives you very quick access to the city, it's still a very natural environment."

Both training centres are expandable, and there is likely to be demand...

The Szeged centre is also well placed geographically because the current BYD investment and other large-scale developments will fundamentally rewrite the employment structure of the region. "We expect that continuous learning and professional development will be essential in the technological renewal.

There are many activities and skills in the sector that require a high degree of manuality and cannot be done digitally alone. To master these, modernly equipped workshops are needed. This is why it is important that we have the capacity to expand both our training centres with additional workshops. We are therefore at the disposal of all companies with training needs in the labour market!"