Schaeffler, a leading global supplier to the automotive and industrial sectors, hosted 20 local students for a tour of its global manufacturing hub in Bien Hoa City earlier this month as part of a new vocational skill development project it has launched together with a technical college.

The programme will focus on developing a highly skilled workforce for industries by providing advanced training based on German standards.

The company launched the project by signing a memorandum of understanding with the LiLama 2 International Technology College for a three-year pilot programme for theoretical and practical training.

Students enrolled in the pilot programme receive two and a half years of college learning and half a year'a on-the-job training at Schaeffler at its CNC metal cutting line.

They get access to highly qualified teachers and modern equipment at the college and an opportunity to learn from industry experts at the manufacturing plant.

Vietnam is the first place in Southeast Asia where Schaeffler has introduced the long-standing tradition of the German Vocational Training System, also known as the dual training system.

“As a global family business, providing vocational training and continuing education opportunities to our employees as well as skilled youth in the local communities we operate is a tradition that we have always held in the highest regard,” Oliver Rother, senior vice president human resources at Schaeffler Asia Pacific, said.

The Vietnam plant, which opened in 2019, has been developed into a global production hub with state-of-the-art production concepts and a digital pilot plant for Schaeffler’s global production system.

With range and product line extensions over the past year, it is geared to serve an ever-increasing number of regional and global customers with best-in-class products and systems for a wide range of industrial applications.

“In Vietnam we have found a talented, well-educated and ambitious population with great faith in their future and excellent attitude towards manufacturing,” Klaus Mueller, COO Schaeffler Asia Pacific, said at the MoU signing ceremony.

“We are excited to have LiLama as a partner to help us to build the right technical education system and develop young people to support us to become successful.”

Schaeffler has a vision to develop Vietnam as a strategic lighthouse location for the Asia Pacific region with a dual focus on continuously increasing local manufacturing and technical excellence.

Based on the success of the pilot programme with LiLama, Schaeffler plans to expand local training capabilities over the next few years.