Chemical process apprentices Wilhelm Lochmann (23) and Nikita Schmunk (19) from BASF in Germany will be part of shift 3 at INEOS Bamble for the next four weeks through the Erasmus exchange programme.
Wilhelm and Nikita chose to go on an exchange to see a new country and experience working in a new culture. None of them have been to Norway before and they are looking forward to the next four weeks at INEOS Bamble.
Whereas in Norway you first go to school and then are an apprentice, school and apprenticeship are more integrated in Germany over a period of three and a half years. The entire BASF Group has a total of around 112,000 employees and Nikita is one of over 2000 apprentices at the BASF plant in Ludwigshafen. With an area of about ten square kilometres, the area is one of the world's largest integrated chemical complexes, with well over 30,000 employees.
There have previously been apprentices from BASF on exchange at INEOS Rafnes, but this is the first time INEOS Bamble has had apprentices visit through the Erasmus scheme," said HR adviser Stian Sem.
Erasmus+ is an EU programme for education, training, youth and sport. The scheme supports internships (work stays) for students enrolled in vocational education and training (VET). These opportunities are also open to apprentices in companies and to recent graduates from vocational training. The cultural understanding and language skills you gain from working in another country can make it easier to get a job after graduation.