The existing Volkswagen Academy Training Centre with its seminar rooms and labs for soft skills training, electrics / electronics, robot, IT and automation technology will be a part of the premises utilised to impart this training. In addition to this, two additional workshops and two additional classrooms will also be used to provide training as part of the Volkswagen Mechatronics Apprenticeship Programme.

''The Volkswagen Academy at Volkswagen India Private Limited is accredited as Basic Training Centre & Related Instructions (BTC & RI) by the Indian vocational training institutions DVET and NCVT, who approved the apprenticeship programme under the regulations of the Indian trade Mechanic Mechatronics," Ralf Mayer, head of apprenticeship and technical training, Volkswagen India Private, explained.

The syllabus of the programme has been divided into three parts beginning with the basic skills training at the Volkswagen Training Academy to the project work which includes an insight into the manufacturing and production processes.

Piyush Upadhyay, executive director, human resource and administration, Volkswagen India Private Limited, said, ''The Mechatronics programme will develop well-rounded specialists who are able to handle the complexity of high quality production. They would play a very important role in the competitive world of highly automated industries. This programme under the dual system will give an edge to the Volkswagen Group workforce in this highly competitive auto industry.''

Jaiprakash D Bhutange, director, directorate of vocational education and training, Maharashtra said, "This initiative will definitely boost the technical know-how of the work-force in the industry and the academia giving them employment opportunities in the automobile sector.''

The training workshops are fully embedded into the Volkswagen plant's manufacturing environment. This hand in hand approach, which is typical of the dual system of vocational education and training in the Volkswagen locations worldwide, guarantees the best possible practice orientation for the apprentices right from the start of their training.

With its headquarters in Pune, the Volkswagen Group is represented by three brands in India - Volkswagen, Audi and Skoda. The Volkswagen Group is completing 10 years of its India journey which began with the entry of the Skoda brand in 2001, Audi brand and Volkswagen brand in 2007.