Festive Graduation Ceremony: Welcome new Journeymen/women!

The Hearing Acoustic craft is pleased about the highly-qualified reinforcement of 536 young professionals from all over Germany, who have successfully completed their dual apprenticeship as hearing-aid professionals with the journeyman/woman examination this summer. Together with family and friends, they celebrated in the Lübeck Music and Congress Hall (MuK), which offers room for 1,400 people. A live stream of the event was available online.

Many honorary guests from the crafts, politics and the economy had accepted the invitation and expressed their congratulations. Daniel Günther, Prime Minister of Schleswig-Holstein, send his wishes via video message: „In our society, there is a growing number of people with hearing impairments – also in younger years – and with your work, you make a vital contribution to more inclusion, enabling people with hearing problems to actively take part in the life of the community and acquire social skills. So you have really chosen to work in a very special profession.“

In line with craft traditions, Eberhard Schmidt, President of the Federal Guild ceremoniously declared all 536 successful graduates of the summer examinations “journeymen/women” and absolved them off their duties and responsibilities as apprentices. “You have selected a fantastic, very innovative health craft and have become part of a fast, flexible world of progress”, Eberhard Schmidt told the young professionals. “This profession requires a lot of diligence and empathy, but will always put a smile on your face, when you manage to improve another person’s quality of life through good hearing.” 

In his speech, Ralf Stamer, President of the Lübeck Chamber of Crafts, welcomed the journeyman and journeymen to the family of crafts. „Here you see the future of the hearing acoustic craft, you are the answer to the need for and lack of skilled workers”, Ralf Stamer told the graduates, who stood up to accept the applause from the crowd in the festive hall. He praised the Campus Hearing Acoustic as an exemplary project worldwide and unique training center.

Stephan Fuesers, Director of Studies at the Federal Vocational School for Hearing-aid professionals (LBS) congratulated the journeymen and journeywomen to successfully completing their dual apprenticeship. He was especially pleased about the very good exam results. Overall 46 candidates reached the overall grade “very good”.

„The skills and knowledge acquired during your vocational training, will prove helpful in your professional career, for example, when you take the next step and start a Master Craftsman/Woman training”, said Stephan Fuesers, who announced his retirement, after giving many years of commitment, love and energy to his profession. Moreover, he proudly declared that the Federal Vocational School for Hearing-aid Professionals had been recognized as “ideal school of the future” in the Federal state of Schleswig Holstein this year, and had received a special award of the Minister President of Schleswig Hostein for inclusion and diversity.

Christian Willam, Head of the Journeymen/women exam committee announced the best exam results this summer and honored the examinees.

On behalf of all journeymen and women, Mira Monzel, spokeswoman of the examinees, thanked all training companies, teachers and lecturers on Campus Hearing Acoustic, the Federal Guild of Hearing Acoustics as well as families and friends for their support during the apprenticeship. Looking back on the three-year apprenticeship period, she said: „We have taken on many challenges together and came out stronger.”

In his congratulatory remarks, Hans-Jörg Friese, President of the Rheinhessen Chamber of Crafts, told the young craft professionals: „You are an integral part of our society.” He went on to thank all the examiners, whose commitment contributed to the success of the young skilled workers’ final examinations. 

With popular cover songs, such as „Ein Hoch auf uns“, „You´ll never walk alone“ and „We are the Champions“ musical duo Birte Prüfert and Nikolai Juretzka (vocals and piano) took care of a festive atmosphere. In the end, everyone in the audience got to their feet and the graduation ceremony, which marks an important step into the professional future for the journeyman and woman, ended with a cheerful dance.