Stefanie and Gerry share skills at NWRC

Stefanie Seitlinger from Engelsberg, Germany, who is on an exchange visit to Ireland with Erasmus+ pictured with North West Regional College lecturer Gerry Burke.

But during a recent Erasmus + exchange programme, student Stefanie Seitlinger from Engelsberg

and NWRC lecturer at the college’s Springtown Campus, Gerry Burke, found they had something to teach each other.

Stefanie got to try her hand at welding for the first time, while Gerry got to refine his already accomplished skills in speaking the German language.

Stefanie is currently studying to become a Mechanical Engineer at Staatliche Berufsschule Traunstein and works as an apprentice with Heideehain.

She said: “I applied to Erasmus because I always wanted to visit Ireland. The trip has been an opportunity to improve my English and to see how the work is done in Ireland. I’ve been lucky enough to meet Gerry Burke at Springtown who has given me great help and guidance. Welding is a skill that’s very new to me and at Springtown I’ve been able to get hands on experience. “Like Ireland, in my country there are not a lot of women working in this field, but it is improving.”

Gerry said: “Stefanie has shown good understanding and is a quick learner, once she grabs a concept that is it. She’s been helping me with my German.”