Volkswagen India starts the fourth batch of Mechatronics Apprenticeship Programme at its Academy at Pune Plant. Students from the new batch of 16 apprentices including 25 percent girls will undergo the three and half year programme which is based on the German dual system of Vocational Education and Training (VET). This programme ensures that the students are exposed to theoretical and practical knowledge as well as get trained in interpersonal skills right from the first year.
Volkswagen India initiated the Mechatronics Apprenticeship Programme at its Academy at Pune Plant in 2011. Every year, for the past three years, 16 best students have been admitted to this three-year course. The students getting admission to this course need to have scored at least 70% or above in Science and Mathematics in their 10th standard and need to clear a written test and a personal interview conducted by training faculty of the Volkswagen Academy.
The Mechatronics Apprenticeship Programme is designed in such a way that the apprentices get hands-on experience at the shop floor as well as learn various streams like Metal, Electrical & Electronics, PLC Automation, Hydraulics, Pneumatics, IT, Welding, Robotics and CNC machines. In addition to this, Volkswagen Academy also emphasises on developing the apprentices’ interpersonal skills as a part of the programme. Volkswagen Academy conducts the programme without charging any fee to the apprentices. Additionally, a stipend is paid to the apprentices every month.
On successful completion of the course, the apprentices will be eligible to take up jobs at Volkswagen Pune Plant in various departments such as Production, Maintenance, Planning, Quality Assurance and Research & Development. Volkswagen Academy awards the best talent with the Wanderjahre programme every year. Wanderjahre is a programme conducted after completion of Mechatronics Programme that enhances the skills of an apprentice by providing international exposure at other Volkswagen Plants.
Mr. Peter Raussendorf, Executive Director – HR & Administration, Volkswagen India Private Limited said, “At our Volkswagen Academy, we conduct the globally recognised Mechatronics Apprenticeship Programme to develop a highly skilled workforce that we require at our state-of-the-art manufacturing facility. With this kind of education we are setting up a strong foundation of well-educated employees which are a necessity for the sustainable growth of a company.”
Mr. Vijayan KT, Head of Volkswagen Academy Pune Plant, said “We are now in the fourth year of our Apprenticeship Programme and it is extremely inspiring to see how the apprentices have been developing over the years. The progressive development of the apprentices so far assures us that we are moving in the right direction of cultivating skilled workforce. Furthermore, it is encouraging to have as many as four girls in our new batch.”