A training deficit

Charles Chang, Topline Products

Globally, the number of people following courses in packaging, regardless of the sector, is very low compared to industrial demand. "In Europe, only 10 schools train students in the field of packaging, hence the offer is scarce, while industrial demand is high," confirms Serge German, the ESEPAC director. You need only witness the placement rate of ESEPAC graduates to evidence this: 96% of them find a job less than four months after graduation, which is a feat in the current period. In the U.S., there are 21 dedicated courses and that of Rutgers University is the first to offer an integrated curriculum with studies in engineering. " All students take a 1st year in engineering before specializing in packaging," confirms Charles Chang.

Courses adapted to the industrial world

Courses are designed to train young students who are fully operational once they have graduated. "Students are placed in a industry-like context: reporting to a pole manager, assignments for companies on real size projects, workload, pace and work tools similar to those of companies," emphasises Serge German. A great part of the teaching staff comes from the industrial world, as 35 professionals provide their expertise to the ESEPAC. To remain at the leading edge of advanced technologies used in the field, the school invests more than 20% of its annual budget in the purchase of new equipment.

Serge German, second from the left, at the inauguration of ESEPAC’s new premises

For its part, the Rutgers University has created since 2011 an advisory committee of 50 members coming from the industry and such companies as L’Oréal, Estée Lauder, Avon, Revlon, Bayer, Johnson&Johnson, Bristol-Meyer, Colgate-Palmolive, Mars… All the main packaging actors and users are present to make recommendations on study programs and the choice of speakers, research projects to develop, training periods to perform within companies. Both schools emphasize on the need for students to immerse into the corporate world, to complete their training. 95% of students from an ESEPAC promotion follow a work-based training.

The training offered by the University of Applied Sciences in Stuttgart (Hochschule für Technik - HFT Stuttgart) is also in close connection with the corporate world. "Since 1972, date of creation of our training which initially focused on printing, our relationships with the industry has always been a priority," confirms Ursula Probst.

Specializations tailor made to the needs of companies

To continue to adjust to industry requirements, the ESEPAC started in September 2011 a specific training on luxury packaging to which cosmetics belong. "On the initiative of Guerlain and Puig, we created a luxury packaging module which is part of the current master. 15 Students have a total 240 hours dedicated to cosmetics and perfumery" underlined German . The whole includes the intervention at the ESEPAC of professional in the perfume - cosmetic industry, the setting up of tutored projects, the submission of technical subjects to be worked by students. "There was a real shortage in young graduates with a technical expertise in cosmetics" testifies an actor of the industry.

Hochschule für Technik - HFT Stuttgart

Across the Atlantic, the focus is on eco-friendly packaging. "We have identified that sustainable development was a key area for the future of packaging. From one company to another, the evaluation of the eco responsible characteristics of a product range varies and we would like to be in a position to propose measurement standards." The Rutgers University leads workshops with manufacturers on this subject and develops research projects on alternative materials. " We are the only university to propose this, "underlines Chang.

Students are delighted about these trainings that stick as much as possible to the industrial world. As have emphasised Amandine Paulet, student-apprentice at Guerlain and Guillaume Drouilly, student-apprentice at PUIG "Professionally, the training has provided us with the necessary weapons: technical knowledge, , spirit of innovation, optimization and analysis, in order to begin a career as a Packaging project manager (...) and highlight true Technical qualities ."