Talent meeting at the secondary schools in Kappl and Pians: businesses engaging directly with pupils

The Talentetreff was held at two secondary schools in 2026: the third edition took place on 19 May at Paznaun Secondary School in Kappl, and on 27 May the successful programme was rolled out for the first time at Vorderes Stanzertal Secondary School in Pians. This enabled the project to be expanded further, offering even more young people the opportunity to gain practical insight into regional businesses and a variety of career paths.

In total, around 100 Year 3 pupils took the opportunity to get a taste of various fields of work. Working in small groups, they visited different stations on a rotation basis, gaining an insight into careers in the skilled trades, the hotel and catering industry, hairdressing and other sectors.

Thirteen businesses from the Paznaun valley prepared work-related tasks for the event. This meant that the young people not only had the various tasks explained to them, but were also able to try them out for themselves. This brought the job profiles to life and encouraged direct interaction between the students and the businesses.

The events were launched in the presence of the participating companies, schools and representatives from the Landeck Job Centre, who were also in attendance and emphasised the importance of career guidance in the region.

“Initiatives such as the Talentetreff play a vital role in introducing young people to local businesses and training opportunities at an early stage,” emphasises Gerhard Kubin, branch manager of the AMS Landeck. “It’s fantastic that the Paznaun – Ischgl Tourism Association organises this event and runs it in collaboration with schools and businesses. It brings career profiles to life and gives young people valuable guidance for their future careers.”

From the schools’ perspective, too, the Talentetreff is a valuable addition to career guidance in the classroom. Young people get to see first-hand which businesses operate in the region, can get involved themselves and gain initial insights into their future careers.

“It is precisely this practical approach that makes the Talentetreff so valuable for our pupils,” emphasises Andreas Juen, headteacher of Paznaun Secondary School in Kappl. “They get to talk directly to the companies and gain a better sense of which career paths might be of interest to them.”

At the Vorderes Stanzertal Secondary School in Pians, the inaugural Talent Meeting was also well received. “It is particularly important for our pupils to see at an early stage the wide range of training and career opportunities available in the local area,” said Thomas Juen, headteacher of the Vorderes Stanzertal Secondary School in Pians.

The Talentetreff offers young people valuable support with career guidance. At the same time, it gives businesses the opportunity to make early contact with potential future employees and to present their fields of work in a practical way. This creates a win-win situation: young people gain a realistic insight into the regional job market, whilst companies can showcase their diversity and, ideally, attract future employees.

The aim of the event is to give young people practical insights into various career paths, to highlight apprenticeship and work placement opportunities, and thereby to play an active role in nurturing the next generation of talent and ensuring a supply of skilled workers in the region.