The Korea-Germany Chamber of Commerce and Industry (KGCCI, represented by Marie Antonia von Schönburg) held the '2025 Ausbildung graduation ceremony' at the Grand Hyatt Seoul on the 24th, in collaboration with Mercedes-Benz Korea, MAN Truck & Bus Korea, Volkswagen Group Korea, and BMW Group Korea, as announced on the 25th.
Ausbildung is a dual vocational education program introduced by the KGCCI in Korea, where participants complete a total of 36 months of training that combines practical training in corporations (70%) and theoretical education at universities (30%), ultimately earning a professional associate degree and a training certificate awarded by the German Chamber of Commerce.
The graduation ceremony began with a speech by Georg Schmidt, the German Ambassador to Korea, followed by congratulatory messages to the graduates from Choi Bo-young, Director of the Higher Vocational Education Policy Division of the Ministry of Education, Achim Derks, Deputy Representative of the German Confederation of Skilled Crafts, and Marie Antonia von Schönburg, the representative of the KGCCI.
Ambassador Schmidt noted, "Ausbildung is more than just a vocational training program; it serves as a bridge connecting tradition and innovation, Germany and Korea, future talent and industry leaders," adding that "the graduates will become key talents equipped with essential skills across various fields, including the future mobility industry, leading advancements in industry and economic development amidst changing technological landscapes."
Achim Derks, Deputy Representative of the DIHK, through a video message, said, "Today's graduation is the fruit of the efforts made during the past time and simultaneously a new starting point in your career journey," encouraging them with, "It is now time to demonstrate your skills in the corporations."
At this graduation ceremony, a total of 58 trainees received their DIHK certificates, and there was time to reflect on the journey over the past three years. The trainers expressed warm congratulations and messages of encouragement to the graduating trainees, adding emotional weight to the shared experiences. Additionally, based on the results of the final evaluations conducted twice during the program, the 'Best Trainee' and 'Best Trainer' were selected for each brand to celebrate their outstanding achievements.
△Mercedes-Benz Best Trainee Yoo Do-kyum, Best Trainer Oh Yong-hoon (Motorone/Il-sun) △MAN Truck & Bus Best Trainee Lee Kang-woo, Best Trainer Kim Sang-min (MAN Truck & Bus Korea/Yongin) △Volkswagen Best Trainee Jeong Ji-seob, Best Trainer Kang Hyun-seok (Autobahn VAG/Chun-an) △Audi Best Trainee Park Sang-min △BMW Best Trainee Ha Heon-jin, Best Trainer Noh Seung-seon (Samchuly/Chungju)
Yoo Do-kyum, a trainee at Mercedes-Benz, said, "The decision to pursue Ausbildung, which allows me to balance employment and studies, was the best choice for my growth," adding, "Based on the experiences gained through Ausbildung, I will strive to grow as the best technician contributing to improving customer service at Mercedes-Benz." He also expressed gratitude to Trainer Oh Yong-hoon, saying, "I truly appreciate your help in enabling me to develop not only my technical skills but also to find my dreams and plan for the future."
Kim Young-jin, the deputy director overseeing the Ausbildung program at the KGCCI, stated, "The Ausbildung trainees are a source of pride for all of us, and their future is also the future of the Korean industry. Starting as high school students, they have now established themselves as skilled talents in their respective corporations. I ask for your continued interest and support to help them grow further."
The KGCCI introduced Ausbildung to Korea in 2017 in collaboration with German automotive companies Mercedes-Benz Korea and BMW Group Korea. Following this, Daimler Truck Korea and MAN Truck & Bus Korea joined the Ausbildung program in 2018, Volkswagen Group Korea in 2019, and Porsche Korea in 2021, with five specialized universities in Korea participating. Education is conducted in over 150 service centers in fields such as general automobile maintenance, bodywork, painting, and service advising, resulting in a cumulative total of 270 graduates, including this year's graduates. Currently, approximately 320 trainers and 360 trainees are participating.
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