Inspiration from Switzerland
The leadership team from the Pune (India) location had a chance to become acquainted with the dual education program during a visit in Switzerland and was impressed: Providing young people with training on both the practical and theoretical aspects of precision engineering was the solution they needed to make the planned capacity expansion at the location in India a reality.

A new training center arises
The new “Gurukul” training center was built in Pune within the space of just six months. Roughly translated, the word “Gurukul” means “House of the Guru” and was selected in reference to the old Indian education system. The new building will feature both modern classrooms as well as a workshop where trainees can practice what they’ve learned in hands-on exercises.

Holistic trainee development
The local HR department recruited the first group of trainees at the same time. A structured, two-year curriculum was drafted with the help of “SkillSonics”, an organization working to establish the concept of the dual education system in India. These efforts are aimed at offering trainees a holistic development opportunity: Practical skills, like how to operate a machine, supplement technological know-how for manufacturing precision components

Grand opening ceremony for “Gurukul”
Volker Dostmann, CFO, and Alfred Schneider, Head of the Automotive division, also attended the official grand opening of the new training center in August 2023. The parents of the new trainees were invited as well to accompany their children as they begin this new phase of their lives.