They are the first graduates of the centre as well as the first specialists of this kind in Slovakia to be trained via the German system of dual education – with 80-percent practical experience and 20-percent theoretical. All of the graduates have immediately taken up jobs as maintenance workers and leaders at VW SK facilities.
“The graduates of our Mechatronics Programme have acquired not only the most modern theoretical knowledge but also top-notch practical skills,” Eric Reuting, a member of the VW SK board for personnel policies, told the TASR newswire. “Dual education with 80-percent practical experience is a recipe for the successful future of the Slovak automobile industry, and thereby of Slovakia.”
VW SK is a pioneer of dual education in Slovakia, according to Reuting. In 2016, it would like to take an extra step and together with its partners set up a dual academy, a special technical dual education project. It will begin with four study courses, oriented to a greater extent towards practical and modern education. As of January 2016, VW SK will look for 100 graduates for the first year of studies at the academy.
Dual education is one of the most topical and serious topics in society, Slovak Education, Science, Research and Sport Ministry State Secretary Romana Kanovská said. The introduction of a dual education system in the professional education sector via a law on professional education has been a great success. The ministry evaluates the activities of VW SK - which began training its future workforce via its Mechatronics Programme in 2013 - positively.
A requalification programme that should help to fill vacant posts in the future is gradually being implemented, Labour Ministry State Secretary Branislav Ondruš emphasised. Requalification councils are being established to analyse the need for practical experience and to recommend which requalifications to support to the ministry and labour offices .