Electrical and mechanical engineering are the focus of training courses and training for employment programs offered by the EGC through Siemens Energy. Up-to-date qualifications improve people’s opportunities on the labour market. A participant and a trainer talk about their experiences.

Amr is a mechanical engineer and wanted to further develop his knowledge. He works as an engineer in a private factory. To get a better job, he needs new knowledge in the field of electrical engineering. He found a suitable training course offered by the Egyptian-German Center for Jobs, Migration and Reintegration (EGC) in Cairo.

The course was held at the Siemens Energy Egypt Service Center on the outskirts of Cairo. There Amr improved his skills in installing and operating small computers. In technical language, these devices are called "stand-alone controllers". They are used in a large number of electrical appliances and function as control devices.

Learning new skills did not come easy to Amr at first, but he did not give up. "It was a bit intimidating at first. But I know that the field of mechatronics and control is very important these days. I really wanted to learn more about it," says the 36-year-old.

Interesting practical training component

In the training, Amr learned the technical basics. This includes automatic processes. These are controlled by a computer, for example. The training covers the installation, adjustment, maintenance, diagnosis, repair and programming of stand-alone controllers. It focuses on practical skills that are very useful in everyday work.

The curriculum is 30% theoretical and 70% practical. “The practical part was particularly interesting for me – you start with the theory and then you dive into the practice. The training showed me many new ways to combine the electrical and mechanical fields in my job,” said Amr at the end of the training. Amr hopes that the training will give his career a boost. “I wanted to gain new knowledge and skills, in an area I have not specialised in before. The training has enabled me to do this."

Amr hopes that the training will give his career a boost. “I wanted to gain new knowledge and skills in an area I have not specialised in before. The training has enabled me to do this."

Learning by doing

Nermin is an engineer at Siemens Energy and led the course. She emphasises that an introduction is an important part of the training. This is necessary, she says, even if the participants already have prior knowledge. "We have to go through the theoretical basics and then put the knowledge into practice," she says.

As a course leader, Nermin has great determination and self-confidence. She does not hold back, even though there are many men working in the industry. "I train the participants so that they can always face challenges. They then have to find ways to solve them. That way they learn by doing," says the 49-year-old. "By having access to the latest technology, participants can get the most out of the course."

Modern technology, complex training

During the five-day training, participants have access to the latest cutting-edge technology. Such training courses are held regularly and information on the current training schedules can be obtained directly from the EGC. For some training courses, participants have to fulfil certain basic requirements. All training courses are free of charge. By autumn 2022, more than 280 participants had already completed courses provided by the EGC.

As of: 03/2023

This text is written in simple language to ensure that it’s easy for everyone to understand.