Vocational Training

In order to maintain its leading international position, the Volkswagen Group not only continually invests in new processes, machines and products, but also to the same extent in the development of its employees. Fostering young talent is an essential part of any sustainable corporate policy. By applying different training methods to give young people the expertise necessary for a role in our Group, we are also safeguarding our own competitiveness in the long term. At the same time, our aim is to gear our training as closely as possible to the practical realities of the workplace and to integrate young employees into enterprises and work processes as early as possible.

Training for a secure future
At year-end 2006, a total of 9,199 young people were being trained across the Group. By 2009, at Volkswagen AG in Germany alone, we will have taken on 1,250 new apprentices and trainees, including students on the StiP integrated degree and training scheme. Furthermore, the Group has set aside € 600,000 to create up to 80 additional training places over the next two years for disadvantaged young people in small and medium-sized businesses in Germany.

“Wanderjahre” at foreign sites
The new “Wanderjahre” programme (the name refers to the traditional practice of newly qualified craftsmen travelling the world, acquiring experience) promotes the posting of trained personnel to positions in other countries. On completion of their initial training – and with the support of additional training and language courses – employees in Germany are offered an opportunity to take up jobs at Volkswagen locations abroad. This allows them to gain invaluable experience within a global Group and broadens their personal horizons. When they return to the home country, the “wanderers” pass on their experience to their colleagues.

Student Talent Bank
We provide young graduates with a range of opportunities to join our Group, of which the Student Talent Bank is just one example. This project fosters students who have completed a minimum three-month internship at Volkswagen and who have demonstrated particular talent in both the specialist and social fields. Young graduates also have excellent prospects at Audi. Since 2007, the company has recruited 450 employees with a university education, 100 more than originally planned. Apart from computer science and business administration graduates, there is considerable demand for electrical, industrial, mechanical and communications engineers.

Integrated training scheme
Those wishing to combine training and study can do so by applying for the StiP practical study scheme. This combines university degree courses within the catchment area of a Volkswagen plant with vocational training at that plant. Degree courses cover fields such as Mechanical Engineering, Economics, Logistics Management, Materials Management and Technical Sales. The integrated degree and training scheme celebrated its 10th anniversary in 2006.

Start up with mentors
University graduates join Volkswagen as part of the “Start-up” programme. This lasts 24 months and provides young graduates with optimum preparation for their role in the company. Key elements of the programme that create a 1a-Professional Career Start at Volkswagen include interdisciplinary seminars, international projects and support through the mentoring programme.

A centre of learning for specialists and managers
At Volkswagen, Ph.D. students receive comprehensive support in the form of individualised programmes, an internal network and a graduate forum. The aim behind the systematic promotion and support for Ph.D. students at Volkswagen is ultimately to generate new ideas and specialist knowledge that will eventually lead to innovations in processes and products at the Group.

Our Group-wide educational institution AutoUni combines state-of-the-art academic teaching from international universities with the comprehensive practical knowledge of a globally active Group. The objective of lectures, events and research projects is to make the latest results of scientific research accessible. The activities of the AutoUni are aimed principally at the Group’s expert employees and executives.