German Federal president visits Bosch Vocational Centre in Bangalore

The German Federal president Joachim Gauck visited the Bosch Vocational Centre (BVC) in Bangalore yesterday. On his tour of the centre, he was given insights into the Bosch Group's activities in vocational training, and in particular how it trains young people in India for technical trades. “Bosch as a company has always been acknowledged for its commitment to building talent and contributing back to the industry, thus looking beyond immediate financial gains,” said Germany's Federal president. “The number of people being trained at the Bosch Vocational Centre exceeds the company's own personnel needs; this demonstrates its responsibility to Indian society and makes it a true role model.”
President Gauck's tour took in the apprentices' workshop and the mechatronics laboratory, where state-of-the-art equipment and machinery are used to prepare apprentices for their later careers. The president used the opportunity to speak with a number of Indian Bosch apprentices about their experience with the German vocational training model.

A proven model for developing skills
Each year, 60 young people start a three- or four-year apprenticeship at Bosch in India. Bosch trains more people than it actually needs in India, and in this way fulfills its social responsibility to provide vocational training for young people. 
“We see it as an essential part of our corporate philosophy to offer apprenticeships, thus enabling many young people to get a head start in their careers,” said Peter Tyroller, the Bosch board of management member responsible for Asia Pacific. “For more than 50 years, Bosch in India has developed extensive expertise in the realm of occupational training. The proven Bosch model helps us ensure the high quality-standard of our products and maintain our competitive edge.”
Training at the BVC in Bangalore takes its lead from the German vocational training model. More than 20 percent of the curriculum is taken up with theory, while 30 percent focuses on gaining practical skills and abilities in the apprentices' workshop. The apprentices spend roughly 50 percent of their time on the shopfloor, where they put what they have learned into practice. 
Sixteen instructors train the young people in seven trades – as electricians, for example, or as mechatronics engineers, toolmakers, and machine operators. A total of 172 apprentices are currently being trained, of which 28 are young women.
Since the Bosch Vocational Center was set up in 1961, just under 2,400 young people have been trained at Bosch. During this time, the company's apprentices have won 211 gold medals in national competitions run by the Indian Ministry of Labor and Employment to find the best apprentice. In addition, the BVC has won the Indian president's ‘Best Establishment Award’ 46 times – a distinction that no other company in India has received.