Meet Oskar Andersson, head teacher in elevator at Xenter

Oskar Andersson is the head teacher in elevators at Xenter Vocational College in Botkyrka. We had a chat with Oskar about the 1-year training for service technicians in the elevator and escalator industry.

At Xenter's training for prospective elevator and escalator technicians, people of different ages and backgrounds gather. Oskar says about the prerequisites needed:

– The only prerequisite is to be fearless in trying something new. That's probably the most important thing. If you look at those who have passed during the years I've been here, I see that those who have excelled the most have very different backgrounds. You shouldn't be limited by your background.

It is therefore sufficient that you, who are curious about the education, have basic qualifications for the university of applied sciences and are curious about trying something new.

”The only prior knowledge needed is to be unafraid to try something new.”

The training is divided into modules and includes both theoretical and practical elements. Among other things, students get to help build an elevator from scratch, screw in real escalators, and internship (LIA) is an important part of the training.

– We try to mimic reality as much as possible to make it as real as possible. The training starts with basic industry knowledge, then we talk about mechanics and how elevators and escalators are mechanically structured. This is followed by the electrical course and then we finish with a practical part where we talk about installation and hydraulics, says Oskar.

Some students are theoretically good, others have more practical skills, but with motivation you will go far:

– Those who are mechanically inclined and like to tinker with things like mopeds and cars have a great chance of succeeding well. Whether the students are strong theoretically or practically is evident at the beginning, the best is a mix of both. What is most crucial is how motivated a student is. You can be very good, but if you are not motivated it doesn't matter, says Oskar.

The program has two internship periods, a shorter one during the first semester and a longer one during the second semester. When the students return to school after completing the LIA period, the classroom is full of energy and conversation:

– The first day after the internship when all the students have returned is like the first day after the summer holidays, everyone is talking over each other and is happy to see each other again and share experiences, says Oskar.

A cornerstone of the education is that the teachers have work experience, and Oskar is an elevator technician himself. When asked what he finds most enjoyable about the profession, he quickly answers:

– The variety! I don't know how many times I've tried to plan a week and have to think about it five past seven when more high-priority jobs come in. If an elevator at a nursing home breaks down, they can't wait a week. During a day, I carry out troubleshooting and repairs, take care of the work orders that come in and previously planned jobs. In my role as a service technician, I work alone, but have colleagues around me. For major repairs or modernization of an elevator, we often work in pairs. The industry is relatively small with good cohesion. Once you get into the elevator and escalator industry, you rarely leave it.

Read more and apply during the spring at Xenter.se.

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