Audi 2008 Annual Report Download - page 157

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In this context, Audi Group Human Resources is both instigator and service provider. Its
human resources objective is clearly to establish the workforce as the most important factor
for success. Therefore, the aim is to demonstrate that the Company’s success is actually the
success of all its employees.
High appeal as employer among the 2008 class of engineers
In two of the major employer ratings surveys taken in 2008 of graduates and students nearing
the end of their studies, AUDI AG captured first place among students in the engineering
sciences – a key group. Both the survey conducted by the market research institute Universum
(“The Universum German Student Survey,” 5/2008) and the one taken of college graduates by
the Berlin trendence Institute (“The German Student Barometer – Business and Engineering
Edition,” 8/2008) saw the Company pull clear of the leading group to take top spot. A similar
picture emerged among economics students. The survey conducted by the market research
institute Universum placed AUDI AG among the top five companies, while the trendence
Institute ranked it as the third-best employer.
One of the Company’s four strategic goals is attractiveness as an employer. In addition to offer-
ing a good working environment, factors such as inspiring products, interesting tasks and room
for personal development play an important role. Thanks to its long-term model initiative, the
Company is also creating a wide range of operational areas for engineering and economics
graduates.
Vocational training
From a field of some 5,000 applicants, 682 were selected to enter the vocational training year
beginning in September 2008: 453 for the Ingolstadt plant and 229 for the Neckarsulm plant.
AUDI AG has thus kept the number of apprenticeships consistently high. New, attractive options
have also been added to the overall scope of training programs. Young people entering the
latest training intake can now complete a dual education in a choice of four vocations, qualifying
them to enter a university of applied science. This program has already been available for tool-
making apprentices for several years; the new options are training to become an automotive
mechatronics specialist, a mechatronics specialist or an electronics specialist for automation
technology, combined with courses at the technical college in Ingolstadt. The company has a
similar apprenticeship program at the Neckarsulm plant. All in all, AUDI AG offers training pro-
grams for more than 20 vocations at both German sites.
The Company places great emphasis on preventative health care even during vocational training.
For example, the Audi Sports Days 2008, which took place at both German locations, used
“Fitness and Fairness” as their slogan. 1,700 apprentices chose to take part in the sporting
competition, held in July. The Health Care Department at AUDI AG was on hand to offer specific
advisory and training services.
In April 2008, and in partnership with a vocational school in Ingolstadt, AUDI AG launched a
pilot project called “Fit4u” aimed at preventing and reducing incidences of excess weight in
youth. Some 13 classes at the vocational school – 300 students – are receiving special health
tuition over a period of 18 months. Besides giving these young people expert qualification, the
course is aimed at helping them develop as individuals. The various course units are prepared
and taught by speakers from the vocational school’s “Health” seminar, by health education
students from the Catholic University of Eichstätt-Ingolstadt and by the AUDI AG Health Care
Department. The main objective of the preventive program is to sensitize young people to the
dangers of excessive weight from an early age upward, and to encourage them to eat healthily
and keep fit. First-year apprentices, for instance, can take part in a free Nordic walking course at
the Neckarsulm plant’s training center.