Boost from BBA apprenticeships

As a vital part of human resource development, BMW Brilliance Automotive's vocational education offers an effective way for young people to start successful careers.

In 2012, BMW Brilliance Automotive, or BBA, worked together with Shenyang Equipment Manufacturing Engineering School to develop a vocational education program that introduced an innovative apprenticeship model combining school and company work.

Based on German Dual Vocational Education System and the company's experience in training automotive professionals, the program provides local vocational education and sets a good example for the school-enterprise partnership, said company officials.

BBA learned from the method in Germany but adapted it to China.

After passing a serious of systematic assessments organized by both schools and BBA, the apprentices learn basic theory at school, strengthen their practical skills at the BBA's training centre, and rotate among various shop floors for on-the-job training under the guidance of experienced employees.

The most outstanding feature of the program is getting apprentices involved in the work environment from the very beginning of their campus life while teaching them knowledge and skills.

The well-established training system and workflow-oriented teaching methodology helps apprentices deepen their understanding of work processes and enhances their skills.

Since the program was launched, it has matched courses with industrial demand, content with professional standards and teaching processes with working process, said the company. The first apprentices have now finished their apprenticeships and started careers at BBA.

To reinforce hands-on skills, the program's practical training workshop at BBA's Foresight Training Center came into use in October 2014.

In the future, the program will establish training in more occupations according to the requests from technical departments in collaboration with additional vocational schools.

BBA said the program is beneficial for all parties as apprentices receive comprehensive vocational skills and job opportunities, vocational schools have quality graduates, BBA has trained new employees and even the government, which helps advance society in the city.

Local vocational education also enjoys more vigorous development as a result.

With a new round of enrollments about to start, the company will help more young people to achieve their career dreams and work hard to develop larger numbers of outstanding technicians for Chinese society, said BBA.

liuce@chinadaily.com.cn

(China Daily European Weekly 01/02/2015 page18)