The EdUP project, with the support of LEON-SERVICE PLUS LLC, organised a study visit to Italy. 9 students training in plumbing-related professions at five EdUP partner vocational schools, along with two graduates, visited the factories of LEON-SERVICE PLUS LLC https://www.leon.ua/ partners — Caleffi, Valsir and Atlas Filtri. There, they learned about the work of leading European manufacturers of plumbing equipment and engineering systems.
The group visited Pressco S.p.A., part of the Caleffi Group, as well as the Caleffi factory and headquarters. The company manufactures components and equipment for heating, water supply and other systems. The participants saw the entire production cycle — from manufacturing individual components to assembly, quality control and shipment of finished products.
The participants then toured Valsir, an Italian manufacturer of engineering systems for water supply, heating and wastewater systems. In the showroom and production facilities, the participants saw modern technological processes and how production is organised.
Another stop was Atlas Filtri, a manufacturer of water treatment and filtration systems and equipment. The participants learned about the company’s products and toured its production facilities.
“I learned a lot of new things. We visited three different factories. We saw that in modern production, robots do more of the work than people. And this is very good because technologies need to develop, while people should have time to rest and live their own lives.”
“I saw a lot of new equipment and fittings, as well as the production process itself. This is development. It is something that each of us needs because new equipment and new technologies are constantly emerging. And we need to learn about them.”
“Now I understand what happens at factories abroad. Before this trip, I didn’t know how factories operated there. It has greatly improved my understanding of production and how it is organised. This will definitely be useful to me in the future.”
According to Myroslav Trishch, Technical Representative of LEON-SERVICE PLUS LLC, such visits are valuable because future professionals can see not only the companies’ finished products but also the production process.
“I believe that this kind of study visit is important because we can show young people not only these high-quality products but also how they are manufactured. We can demonstrate the quality and precision of production made possible by robotic technology.”
During the visits, the students had an opportunity to speak with engineers, technical specialists and company managers and ask questions about production, new technologies, career development and the requirements for modern professionals in the industry.
Kristina Dakhal, EdUP Private Sector Engagement Expert, notes that study visits help connect theoretical training with real-world production experience.
“Visits to production facilities are an important part of the practical training of future professionals. They help combine theoretical knowledge with real-world production experience, introduce students to advanced European technologies and inspire them to pursue further professional development. It is very rewarding to see students showing interest, asking questions and discovering new career opportunities.”
According to Anna Arnaut, EdUP Private Sector Engagement Lead, cooperation with businesses should be systematic and focused on concrete results.
“Together with LEON-SERVICE PLUS, we implemented a comprehensive training programme that included testing, methodological support, practical training and resource support for vocational schools. Formalising the partnership through a memorandum and agreements enabled us to establish systematic cooperation and assess its results. The outcomes included not only new knowledge and skills for the participants, but also an international study visit for the best-performing students. Such practices encourage young people to explore their profession more deeply and see opportunities for their professional development in the sector after graduation.”