The success of a trade fair depends in no small part on attracting the right visitors. The results of the latest AUMA (German exhibition and trade fair committee) survey show that trade fairs are extending their scope and are increasingly functioning as jobs markets. Pupils, students and trainees constitute nine percent of the visitors to trade fairs on average. Encouraged by the experience at VisCom 2001, PRO SIGN - the international trade fair for advertising techniques and digital printing - will be featuring an expanded Education Pavilion of 186 m² in Hall 1.1 of the Frankfurt Exhibition Centre from 14 - 16 November 2002. Admission to this pavilion is free of charge and it is aimed at all initial and further training institutions and colleges offering courses in signmaking, media design and design. The purpose of the Education Pavilion is to provide a forum which offers graduates an ideal opportunity to present themselves and make contacts. A further aim is to encourage the industry to take on more young trainees once again. At the same time the exhibitors and visitors find out just what innovative potential and qualities the new generation of designers has to offer.

The pupils and trainees of the Goldenberg Berufskolleg school of design and technology in Hürth near to Cologne were pleasantly surprised by their first highly promising experience of the "Job Market Training Pavilion" at VisCom 2001. The presentations and the direct contacts to the exhibiting companies and visitors made the education pavilion a success - and something which the Goldenberg Berufskolleg is keen to repeat at the PRO SIGN in September. "At VisCom 2001 the emphasis was on providing high quality products and services," said Markus Beusch, a teacher at the Goldenberg Berufskolleg, "And, as a school, the onus is on us to help maintain this quality." The staff of the Goldenberg Berufskolleg regard taking part at PRO SIGN 2002 as a logical extension of the school's regular teaching activities. At the PRO SIGN 2002 Education Pavilion, participants can take full advantage of the opportunity to set up valuable links to educational institutions and to international companies.

"Unfortunately the new PRO SIGN Education Pavilion plans have not been embraced by very many schools up to now," said Project Manager Daniela Rose. "Yet this is a great opportunity for exhibitors, visitors and schools to interact outside the traditional communication channels. PRO SIGN 2002 provides the ideal platform for this. From the other trade fairs which our company organises we know just how popular jobs markets are with our exhibitors and visitors. And PRO SIGN, as a specialist trade fair, provides the ideal setting for such an exchange of ideas and interests."

The PRO SIGN team will be on Stand A91 in Hall 3 at the Euroshop in Düsseldorf.