Taking part in the European Competition of Young Electricians (CYE) organised by the A.I.E.
by Klaus Träger, Chairman TF CYE
What are the advantages of taking part in the CYE? This is the type of question we hear from time to time, but there is no answer to them because the question starts from the wrong vantage point. It is important to note that the CYE is a European Championship of the profession of electrical engineers and that only one candidate from each of the AIE member states has the privilege of taking part - and that only once.
The participants of the CYE 2006 in Lisbon at work
This competition is by no means open to everybody - candidates are tested and selected by their respective member organisations to find out whether they are suitable to represent their country in this European competition. Those candidates that have been selected by their member organisation will then have the privilege of representing their country at European level.
Participation is a once-only honour and opportunity and is something for candidates to be proud of for the rest of their lives - and for good reasons.
Only the best candidates of each country take part in this professional competition, showcasing the advantages of high-quality professional training to the general public.
Through individual exchanges and direct comparison of the practical outcome resulting from the different education systems and training methods, professional knowledge, tools and skills, this professional European competition offers all candidates and experts the opportunity of forging a greater unity in the European aspect of electrical engineering. This is a challenge and task that is only open to those candidates and experts that have been delegated by their respective countries.
This small circle of candidates and experts from all those countries taking part - as well as the participating countries themselves - can rightly be proud of the fact that by taking part in the competition they are playing an important part in maintaining and promoting European safety standards. What is the benefit of harmonising regulations and directives when there are enormous discrepancies in the education and training of the electrical trade in different European countries?
Obviously, all these concerns will not manifest a direct monetary return for the candidates, experts or participating countries but they indicate that participation in this competition will bring long-term benefits when one recognises that the issue here is not an individual person or an individual nation.
What is at stake is Europe and the most precious asset we have, i.e. the next generation of electricians. To take a responsible role in this task means taking part in directly shaping the future of electrical engineering in Europe. But only those who take part will make an impact on that future.
20th February 2008
Download:
- Guidelines of the AIE for the european professional competition of young electricians (2006)
