The new
training year will focus on major opportunities for developing the digital
learning environment. “We’re providing our students with the digital tools to
survive in our modern corporate culture in times of digital transformation, and
embrace the imperative of lifelong learning. For us, the virtual world is full
of possibilities where digital content and conveying that content digitally go
hand in hand,” said Barbara Ofstad, Head of Siemens Professional Education in
Germany.
“Digitalization
is the key to overcoming the major challenges our society faces. But
digitalization is not just about the technologies themselves, but our attitude
toward it,” said Thomas Leubner, Head of Siemens Professional Education
worldwide. “That’s why we’re not only trading technological know-how with our
apprentices, but imparting the necessary attitude toward digitalization. We
know that new technologies require new skills and qualifications. We want to
make our apprentices and university students in work-study programs as fit as
possible for the future.”
In the 2021
training year, this development is also reflected in the professional
orientation of the program for trainees and university students in work-study
programs. As in previous years, the focus of the training will be on technical
and IT professions, accounting for 87 percent of the total. Overall, over
50 percent of the apprenticeships are for university students in
work-study programs.
The SIEYA
virtual tradeshow portal, which has already won two awards from an external
jury, enables school graduates to make a successful transition to an
apprenticeship or work-study program despite the COVID-19 crisis. Siemens is
also contributing to professional career guidance with its Digital Insights
program that gave 750 students many insights into different companies.
Participants in the program included SAP, Microsoft, MINT-EC and the SIEGEL
school network. Schools in both the MINT-EC and the SIEGEL school network have
particularly good scientific profiles and career orientation opportunities for
their students. In addition, the online assessment function was complemented by
a gamification approach. These measures make important contributions and ease
the students’ entry into a professional career.
The second
round of the International Tech Talents training program will start this year,
underscoring Siemens’ commitment as an international ambassador for work-study
programs. As part of this program, 16 young people from nine countries
will complete a 12-month training program in Berlin. The primary focus will be
on future-oriented skills. Alongside modules on project management, robotics
and cybersecurity, the tech talents will also learn to apply theory to practice
and, by doing so, benefit from key aspects of the work-study program.
With a total
of around 6,800 apprentices and students in work-study programs around the
world, Siemens has one of the private sector's largest and most innovative
training programs worldwide. In fiscal 2020, Siemens invested more than €159 million
in the training of young people.