Volkswagen Group India has launched a Mechatronics Apprenticeship Programme in Pune. The 3-year programme is based on the German Dual System of Vocational Education and Training. It will provide employability in the areas of Production, Maintenance, Planning, Quality Assurance, and Research & Development. The Volkswagen Mechatronics Apprenticeship Programme has been designed keeping in mind the increasing complexity of production processes, which demands a workforce that has expertise in mechanical, electronic and informatics skills as well as in other modern automation technologies. Apart from these skills, the workforce will also develop their interpersonal skills through the programme. The existing Volkswagen Academy Training Centre with its seminar rooms and labs for Soft Skills Training, Electrics/Electronics, Robot, IT and Automation Technology will be a part of the premises utilized to impart this training. In addition to this, two additional workshops and two additional classrooms will also be used to provide training as part of the Programme.

Speaking on the occasion, Dr John Chacko, Volkswagen Group Chief Representative India, President and Managing Director, Volkswagen India Private Limited, said, "The automobile industry in India has seen a very strong growth in the past few years. The need of the hour is to have industry ready people to take care of the challenges raised by this steady growth. The 3 year Mechatronics Apprenticeship Programme by Volkswagen Group India is a step in this direction by developing mechanical, electronic and informatics skills of the workforce in the ever growing automobile industry."

Mr. Upadhyay, Executive Director, Human Resource and Administration Volkswagen India Private Limited, said, "The Mechatronics programme will develop well-rounded specialists who are able to handle the complexity of high quality production. They would play a very important role in the competitive world of highly automated industries. This programme under the dual system will give an edge to the Volkswagen Group workforce in this highly competitive auto industry."

Mr. Ralf Mayer, Head of Apprenticeship and Technical Training, Volkswagen India Private Limited, explained, "The Volkswagen Academy at Volkswagen India Private Limited is accredited as BTC & RI (Basic Training Centre & Related Instructions) by the Indian vocational training institutions DVET and NCVT, who approved the apprenticeship programme under the regulations of the Indian trade Mechanic Mechatronics. The syllabus of the programme has been divided into 3 parts beginning with the basic skills training at the Volkswagen Training Academy to the project work which includes an insight into the manufacturing and production processes."

Mr Jaiprakash D Bhutange, Director, Directorate of Vocational Education & Training, Maharashtra said, "It is a great honour for us to be associated with Volkswagen Group India and this course will bridge the gap between the need and the requirement from the industry. This initiative will definitely boost the technical know-how of the work-force in the industry and the academia giving them employment opportunities in the automobile sector."

The training workshops are fully embedded into the Volkswagen plant's manufacturing environment. This hand-in-hand approach, which is typical of the dual system of vocational education and training in the Volkswagen locations worldwide, guarantees the best possible practice orientation for the apprentices right from the start of their training.