When the bike is vibrating, he had the wind in his face and the world is flying past him, Dirk is in his element: Rock’n Roll in the Rhön. It doesn’t bother him that he has to tighten the odd screw after cruising around on his old Softtail Harley Davidson. On the contrary, Dirk is a passionate petrol head. “There would be hardly a single part in my machine I have not fiddled with during the past 12 years”, he says. “I really enjoy it”. He is also deeply convinced that cubic capacity is irreplaceable when riding a bike. He converted his 1,340 cc Harley into a 2 litre machine as soon as he could. He cruises with his bike through the panoramic routes of the Rhön as often as possible. When the weather is good, preferably in fifth gear and in total serenity.
Dirk is not just interested in the technical aspects of his bike; although he will study it until he understands the very last detail of it. His passion for exploring these aspects brought him to EDAG some 38 years ago, where he started his training to become a technical draughtsman. “Everything was rather manageable and “in the family” with less than 100 employees at that time”, he says, reminiscing. It was family-like in more ways than one”, he adds; “a distant relative of his, Horst Eckart, had founded the company.” Not that he could have “taken it easy” due to the family relationship. On the contrary, “We all worked really hard. We were always able to meet our deadlines. When necessary, one had to put in a night’s work here and there”, he says. His voice carried some pride. “We worked hard, and partied hard afterwards. Always at full throttle”, he adds laughing.
Later, Dirk transferred this inquisitiveness and the joy in the active creation and work from his drawing board into imparting knowledge and experience to the trainees. At EDAG PS, he was one of the first to develop a new training concept for the company and to implement it in the teaching and coaching of trainees. It was all about the theory of design, technical communication and all skills revolving around CAD construction.
“It all began with six trainees at EDAG PS; today, there are 152 trainees and working students. It thrills me to see how young people develop and what becomes of them”, says the trainer. Every now and then there are the “trainees with initiative” who absolved their education with extreme ease, while others needed a little more support. “It concerns me personally when someone aborts their training”, says Dirk with a wink. Having a good, trusting relationship with his trainees and students is truly important to him. “It is quite common sense that not everything falls into your lap on your career path. That’s where I like to help, wherever I can. Ultimately, I was also young once and never an eager beaver, so I know all the ups and downs on the road of education.”
This is why he is anxious to not appear as an authoritative teacher and know-it-all. “Personal contact is important to me. I trust my trainees and students and, conversely, they can rely on me and confide in me if matters don’t go to plan.” It was like being in a family, explains the father of two grown children.
The long wall in the hallway on the ground floor of the EDAG training and seminar building is covered in awards. IHK, universities and other educational institutions attested the top performance of the EDAG graduates along this Wall of Fame. “I am very pleased and that makes all of us here are a little proud”, says Dirk. However, that does not mean that we are only looking for high-flyers. “I am happy about anyone who completes his final exam with a score of “good”, Then we have achieved everything we need to. If it then turns out to be a ‘very good with distinction’, all the better. Nobody will object.”
“We have terrific junior staff which is motivated to learn and excited to be part in designing the future.” However, Generation Z, meaning those young adults of today who were born around the time of the millennium change was facing entirely different challenges than those that went before them. Our trainees grew up with the Internet, with smartphone connections and permanent online availability not only of their community, but the entire knowledge of the world. Having been born and raised in the age of digitalisation is a huge advantage. On the other hand, digital natives are virtually drowning in the flood of information”, Dirk notes.
For example, it was not enough that generation Z was able to quickly “Google” the latest findings or acquiring new knowledge via a YouTube tutorial. “You just have to have learned a few basics: fundamental mathematics such as mental arithmetic or simple rule-of-three, mastering the German language or good manners and being attentive and appreciating interaction with people in one’s own environment,” says Dirk. The fact that G9 is once again replacing G8 at the high school is a move in the right direction.
He was surprised about some “quite avoidable mistakes” in the educational system, but continued to look at his protéges with optimism. Last September, EDAG PS had gathered all of its new trainees and students in Fulda for “Education Tuning” training. The youth hostel in Gersfeld provided the opportunity of getting to know each other and having casual conversation with the managing director of EDAG PS. “That was a real hit with the participants”, says Dirk. In the evening, he had half expected that all would withdraw with their mobile phones in hand to check what was happening on the Internet. “They unpacked board games and had loads of fun with each other until long after midnight. Entirely unplugged”, reports the trainer. “I am quite sure that our trainees have a few surprises for us yet. I am not worried about their future.”
