Under the umbrella of the European Year of Skills, Automotive Skills Alliance and Wirtschaftsförderung Region Stuttgart GmbH organized on June 14-15 ASA Study visit in Stuttgart Region.
The agenda proposed to participants included among others a visit to the Bosch GMBH premises to discuss the Misson to Move program as a part of the Bosch learning company, as well as a factory tour of Mercedes-Benz AG to see the assembly line and exchange on future workforce upskilling needs.
Multiple networking opportunities were offered to participants who jointly discussed the role of learning in the transition towards a green and digital environment, the opportunities and constraints of the transformation process as well as up-/re-skilling. In the Motor Vehicle Competence Center of the Stuttgart Region Chamber of Crafts, participants had the chance to exchange ideas on the topics of VET and apprenticeships.
The representatives of Bosch GMBH – Andreas List -, and Mercedes Benz – Folko Grothe, Head of Tech.academy MO and Hanna Meinhardt, Tech.academy MO -, were a source of inspiration for the participants.
Sabine Stützle-Leimüller, Head of Labour Market and Skills Department, WRS Anna Spechtenhauser, Deputy Head of Office, Stuttgart Region European Office, the organizers of the event together with the Automotive Skills Alliance, commented on the event: “The aim of the first ASA study visit was to make the transformation in the automotive ecosystem tangible, to not only discuss it in theory with the relevant stakeholders but show practical examples of up- and reskilling activities along the entire value chain – always with the focus on the human-centric approach. We as the Stuttgart Region are very happy with the result as we managed to involve big companies such as Mercedes and Bosch as well as the chamber of crafts where we got an insight into their apprenticeship programme and direct access to a repair shop where we could exchange with the apprentices and the trainer.
We appreciated the openness of the involved stakeholders who showed their up- and reskilling programmes, and talked about their strengths but also about the challenges they are facing. We have learned once again how important the focus on the employees and their involvement from the beginning is to make the up and reskilling journey a successful one.
Through the involvement of the regional partner of the platform for up- and reskilling we managed to bring the regional and European level together and we once again proved that an in-person networking among European partners is essential for mutual learning and future collaboration”.
Participants in the event expressed their interest in the event and in the networking opportunities that it offered: “Two very intense days participating in the Study Visit of @ASA_Mobility EU in Stuttgart. Really interesting Programme and a great opportunity to share knowledge, experiences and discussions about the skills and training needed in the automotive sector” Tweeted Xabier López de Santiago after the event.
The ASA Study Visit in Stuttgart is one example of an initiative that celebrates the Year of Skills and creates important opportunities to get together representatives of the automotive-mobility ecosystem and offer them an appropriate environment for gathering new ideas and exchanging success stories about the transfer of qualifications, up-/re-skilling needs and initiatives to address them.
More information about the event agenda: HERE
