- Over 500 talented individuals in training throughout Germany
- 137 trainees starting out in Germany
- Over 700 young people have received training in India
Weinheim, Wednesday, September 1, 2021. Digital learning, modern technologies and collaboration in interdisciplinary teams: The Freudenberg Group trains more than 500 young people across Germany for the job market of the future. The number of apprenticeships has remained the same as last year, attesting to the company’s commitment to investing in young peoples’ future in the long term. A total of 137 young people are starting their training in Germany. Freudenberg provides training worldwide: For instance, over the last ten years, more than 700 young people in India have received qualification for a profession under the dual vocational training system.
“We offer in-depth, professional training in a modern learning environment on cutting-edge equipment in an international work environment,” says Dr. Rainer Kuntz, Head of the Training Center at the site in Weinheim. “Helping trainees grow to become independent and entrepreneurial employees who understand and have command over modern high-tech processes is an important goal,” says Kuntz. “Employees are a significant contributor to a company’s success – which is why the expert training of young talent worldwide is a key task for Freudenberg,” said Esther Loidl, Member of the Board of Management and Chief Human Resource Officer of the Freudenberg Group. Works council member Bernd Egner was on hand to welcome the trainees. Sixty-nine young people at the Weinheim site are starting their apprenticeships today. Thirty-four trainees are starting for the global technology company, alongside 35 for affiliated partners. Among the trainees are 18 students from the Baden-Württemberg Cooperative State University.
A turning point in the field of training: Technology and learning companion
Trainees not only gain knowledge in state-of-the-art processes at the training center, but they also deal with the topic of sustainability at a learning factory under fully automatic control. It replicates an entire production line on a small scale, from a high-bay warehouse to a robot station to quality control, thus making it easy to experience digitalization. After all, the next generation of skilled laborers will coordinate the use of smart factory lines, control processes on highly complex machines and solve IT problems.
This also transforms the apprenticeship: The content is becoming more complex and interdisciplinary. Self-management, an enthusiastic approach to lifelong learning, and knowledge of technology are required. Process management and IT skills are just as much in demand as digital learning is. All training in the training center makes use of digital equipment such as touch monitors and tablets. Learning islands and an area for free learning and presentations also enable interactive learning. In the process, the instructors are learning companions and coaches instead of conventional imparters of knowledge. The trainees work together in inter-professional teams, independently create learning maps and work together to solve tasks.
