System of dual training at Audi: Career start into the digital future

Audi is expanding its activities in the field of dual occupational training: 804 young people, more than ever before, will start their occupational training in Ingolstadt and Neckarsulm this September. The company will continue to provide training to such large numbers of young people in the coming years, and will thus strengthen its position in the future areas of digitization and electric mobility.

Audi is taking on 531 new trainees at its site in Ingolstadt and 273 in Neckarsulm. So compared with previous years, the company has increased the number of young people in occupational training by about ten percent. “The system of dual training continues to be a success for Audi,” stated Thomas Sigi, Board of Management Member for Human Resources at AUDI AG. “We provide talented young people with qualifications with a firm technological grounding and an orientation towards the future. In this way, we protect jobs at our sites in Germany over the long term, also in the age of digitization.”

The Chairman of the General Works Council sees this increase as a key step into the future, when in‑house digital expertise will be more important than ever. “Our joint objective was to have more young people in training at Audi, and the Works Council strongly advocated that policy,” said Peter Mosch.

AUDI AG currently provides vocational training in 20 different occupations and is strengthening its position in areas of the future, especially in the commercial and technical fields: For example, the number of mechatronic apprentices has increased compared with the previous year by about 20 percent to 162. Audi is systematically structuring the content of its vocational training to be fit for the future. Mobile and digital learning with tablet computers are now standard in all occupations. At the same time, the automobile manufacturer is continually adapting its training occupations to reflect the latest developments. For example, the job profile of computer specialist for system integration includes an additional qualification as a specialist electrician.

Audi has thus created a new, multidisciplinary training course. “We provide young people with important expertise for working in the digital factory,” stated Dieter Omert, head of vocational training and the development of specialist expertise at AUDI AG. “We also optimally prepare them for working in an increasingly connected company.”

The high quality of vocational training at Audi has been confirmed by a recent study by the business magazine “Focus Money.” This places the automobile manufacturer as “Germany’s best training organization” in the categories “Automobile” and “Companies with more than 10,000 employees.” Everyone who successfully completes his or her training is guaranteed to be taken on into permanent employment. Approximately 30 percent of the trainees are female, one of the highest ratios in the industry.

Audi also offers talented young people the possibility to combine their university studies with practical phases at the company. 24 young people are starting their dual studies at the site in Ingolstadt and 18 in Neckarsulm this year.

The deadlines for applications for the 2017 training year are September 11 in Neckarsulm and September 25 in Ingolstadt. Applications are to be submitted online at www.audi.de/ausbildung.