On the 27th, BMW Group Korea held a ribbon-cutting ceremony to commemorate the completion of an exclusive training center for the BMW apprenticeship program at Ajou University.
The BMW apprenticeship program is a flagship academic-industry collaboration initiative by BMW Group Korea aimed at fostering specialized automotive technicians. In January, BMW Group Korea signed an MOU with Ajou University to provide a tailored BMW curriculum and high-quality education that sets it apart from existing programs.
The ceremony, held at Ajou University in Boryeong, Chungcheongnam-do, was attended by Kim Yeon-tae, head of the BMW Group Korea Training Academy, faculty members including President Lee Su-hoon of Ajou University, and about 60 current students.
The dedicated training center spans two floors with an area of 553㎡. The first floor features four workshop bays and a versatile lounge with 40 seats, designed with a large LED display to facilitate role-play training.
The second floor is designed with the BMW CI colors of blue and lime, creating a warm and comfortable atmosphere. It features a large lecture hall with 90 seats to provide students with practical and systematic education.
Additionally, from the first semester of this year, special classes of the BMW tailored apprenticeship program are being held for second-year students at Ajou University. After completing the first semester curriculum, students will be selected to participate in the program, with the opportunity to work at official dealerships.
During the opening ceremony, Kim Yeon-tae, head of the BMW Group Korea Training Academy, expressed, “We are pleased to be able to directly and indirectly transmit the latest maintenance technologies of BMW Group Korea, built on years of expertise, to students of Ajou University. We will make every effort to discover and nurture more technical talents for the sustainable future of the Korean automotive industry.”
President Lee Su-hoon of Ajou University stated, “BMW is the company students at Ajou University aspire to work for. The inauguration of this dedicated training center signifies a meaningful environment where our students can study with pride, free from employment concerns. We will create a successful model of academic-industry collaboration to acquire the latest technologies supported by BMW Group Korea’s top-notch training curriculum and help students achieve their dreams.”
Since 2004, BMW Group Korea has been selecting participants from graduating students in automotive-related programs nationwide for its apprenticeship program, providing internship opportunities and supporting employment at official dealerships post-completion. Currently, it collaborates with 31 universities, and by 2022, a total of 1,546 students have entered dealerships through the apprenticeship program.
Lee Sang-jin daedusj@autodiary.kr