“Occupational
training is foundational for our company’s future. One clear focus of our
training program is on the responsible use of digital technologies, which are bringing
enormous change to the working world and to society. For years now, we’ve been
continuously adapting our training programs to new requirements, to digital content
and to agile teaching methods in order to keep pace with these changes. In this
way, we can ensure that our trainees are well prepared for the future,” said
Thomas Leubner, who heads the company’s Learning and Education department.
Siemens integrates
key topics related to digitalization – such as data analytics, artificial intelligence,
additive manufacturing, robotics and cybersecurity – into the curricula for
company-based apprenticeships and for work-study programs for university students.
The didactics and teaching methods are continuously adapted to accommodate the
digital transformation of the programs’ training content and of the occupational
subject matter. Challenging project work, for example, helps convey knowledge
and foster interdisciplinary collaboration. In addition to the latest technical
equipment, the programs increasingly use digital media such as e‑learning and
virtual courses, extended reality, knowledge challenges, videos, quizzes and podcasts.
As in
previous years, the primary focus of this year’s training will be on technical
and IT professions, with about 85 percent of the participants being prepared
for occupations in one of those two fields. Roughly 40 percent of the training
positions are for university students in work-study programs. While apprentices
pursue vocational certification from the German Chamber of Industry and
Commerce (IHK), work-study participants complete their studies with a bachelor’s
degree in engineering or science, often combined with an IHK qualification. With
a total of around 10,900 apprentices and students in work-study programs around
the world, Siemens has one of the private sector’s largest and most innovative in-company
training programs worldwide. In fiscal 2018, Siemens invested more than €234 million
in the training of young people globally, nearly €182 million of which was
spent in Germany.
Siemens is
also blazing new trails when it comes to recruiting trainees. In its “MINTfluencer”
social-media campaign, short video clips star Siemens trainees as influencers.
The campaign name is a word play on “MINT,” which is the German equivalent of
science, technology, education and mathematics (STEM). Since the campaign has
been very well received so far, other work-study participants and apprentices
will be accompanied by media activities for one week and featured on Instagram
beginning this month.
“It’s
important to gain solid initial training, but continuous professional
development is equally important. We all need be ready to constantly learn new
things over the course of our careers. The speed at which new technologies emerge
makes it necessary for us to learn throughout our lives,” said Leubner.
This press release as
well as press images and further material is available at
www.siemens.com/press/vocational-trainingFurther information on
the topic of training is available at
www.siemens.com/career and on Instagram (in German only) at
www.instagram.com/siemens_ausbildung.