The Volkswagen Group Korea has launched a non-profit social contribution foundation named ‘Volkswagen Group Our Foundation’.
The Volkswagen Group Our Foundation was established in accordance with the Ministry of Land, Infrastructure and Transport’s approval as part of the celebration of Volkswagen Group Korea’s 20th anniversary in the Korean market. The foundation aims to contribute to the advanced automotive sector while pursuing two missions: sustainable growth and fulfilling corporate social responsibility, intending to act as a trusted partner in Korean society. Based on Volkswagen Group Korea’s legacy of focusing on education, the environment, and community, it plans to engage in more active and systematic social contribution activities through financial support from the group and its four brands (Volkswagen, Audi, Lamborghini, Bentley).
The foundation’s name reflects its identity as a mobility company pursuing innovation and sustainability, incorporating the pure Korean word ‘uri’ symbolizing cooperation, unity, and inclusivity. It embodies the intention to cultivate automotive software talent in Korea, create a sustainable future environment, and participate in community support programs, contributing to a better tomorrow for Korea.
Til Schar, CEO of Volkswagen Group Korea, stated, “Marking the 20th anniversary of our entry into the Korean market, we launched the Volkswagen Group Our Foundation to contribute more meaningfully to society as a member of the community and promote positive growth, building a sustainable future together.” He expressed his intention to enhance customer trust in the company and its brands following the foundation’s establishment.
The newly launched Volkswagen Group Our Foundation will continue several social contribution activities that Volkswagen Group Korea has been focusing on, developing three main initiatives aimed at creating social value.
The first initiative is ‘We Run’. ‘We Run’ encompasses educational programs aimed at training automotive software talent, recognizing the importance of software as the brain of vehicles. The flagship program for university students, ‘SEA:ME (Software Engineering in Automotive and Mobility Ecosystems)’, operates based on an agreement signed with domestic universities (part of the innovation convergence university program aimed at advanced fields) and the German non-profit coding school ’42 Wolfsburg’. The SEA:ME program, which focuses on coding and mobility, is the first applied curriculum that takes a comprehensive 360° approach to mobility, developed with the participation of experts in mobility technology, research, and education. Students will acquire the skills to work as software developers in companies/institutions providing mobility software solutions in just 12 months.
After sending four Korean students to Germany in 2022, Volkswagen Group Korea sent ten students in 2023. The Volkswagen Group Our Foundation plans to continue this initiative by selecting ten COSS university students each year for the next two years to receive training at 42 Wolfsburg until 2026. Additionally, efforts are underway to introduce the SEA:ME program into the undergraduate programs of Korean universities. To date, over 10,000 students have participated in Volkswagen Group Korea’s coding education program related to mobility, and the foundation also plans to continue various coding education initiatives targeting elementary and middle school students.
The second initiative is ‘We Preserve’. ‘We Preserve’ focuses on providing environmental education content covering topics such as the importance of carbon neutrality. So far, over 5,400 elementary school students nationwide have participated in this program, and over 57,000 trees have been donated. Going forward, the Volkswagen Group Our Foundation will further develop and expand this initiative.
Lastly, there is ‘We Share’. ‘We Share’ concentrates on supporting marginalized groups in need of social attention and fostering a healthy community. Notable programs include the ongoing ‘Secret Santa’ and ‘Winter Kits’ donation activities since 2018. The Secret Santa program aims to support the dreams and hopes of children who will lead the future. The Winter Kits program delivers winter supplies and nutritious food to neighbors spending winter alone in sub-zero temperatures. The foundation plans to generate necessary funds through a 1:1 matching fund from the company for voluntary employee donations in cooperation with Volkswagen Group Korea.
In conclusion, this initiative reflects the Volkswagen Group’s commitment to making a meaningful impact in society and enhancing the well-being of local communities.
Contact: 이상진 daedusj@autodiary.kr