Radio Friborg: You have been a trainer for over 30 years, coach at the Swiss Skills for many years, expert in the world championship of trades, the Worldskills. Your specialty is automotive technology. So, I would like to start by wondering, have you always known that you wanted to do this?
Michel Tinguely: Yes, I always knew I wanted to do that. Besides, I may have a little anecdote. I started learning in 1974 and 1973, when I wanted to ask for a day off to go and present myself to do an exam to be an automotive mechanic, my professional advisor had told me, forget Mr. Tinguely, there is no future. I still wanted to do that.
You told me earlier that at the age of 20, you would have dreamed of participating in international competitions such as the Swissskills, Euroskills, Worldskills system. Can you explain to us a little how it all works?
In Switzerland, for the Swiss Professional Automobile Union, we will look for someone to go to the world championships. But as we have several linguistic regions, we do what is called a preselection. We will choose 20 candidates who will participate in the Swissskills, so in September this year in Bern, with all the other professions. And then, from these 20, we will take the first three to go to the world championships in 2026 in Shanghai.
Last fall, for the Worldskills in Lyon, your Mecatronician candidate had made a silver medal. And the German Swiss candidate gold. Is your preparation method working?
Apparently yes. It is also thanks to the Swiss Dual training system, so learning and school, which is, I think, jealous of certain countries. They come to look at how we work in Switzerland. I think it’s the right formula.
What are the qualities of a good candidate according to you?
He must show commitment and perseverance because it is necessary to hold four days, and there is the pressure of the watch too. You just have to hold on for four days, that’s what is important.
What is the point of rubbing the international elite, to rub shoulders with Chinese or Brazilians?
It allows you to get to know each other, to measure yourself to others, and then to make a network. This is networking too, that’s what is important for the future afterwards.
Do you see more and more girls in this area?
Yes, we had just in the utility vehicle sector a girl who has shown that she is able to beat the guys in the heavyweight workshop, and also in other professions, we see more and more girls.
Find the full interview:
RadioFr. – Karin Baumgartner
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