Tognum supports next-generation technical specialists

• Junior Engineers’ Academy visits Tognum
• Cooperation project between secondary schools, universities and companies

Friedrichshafen, 2 February 2009. In January and February, propulsion and power specialist Tognum shows secondary school students various areas of work for engineers as part of the Junior Engineers’ Academy project. This project is being offered for the first time this year, and is intended to promote secondary school students’ interest in technology and to encourage them to enter technical occupations or to study engineering.

The schedule of Tognum’s first event with eleven girls from the St. Elisabeth Secondary School in Friedrichshafen included a tour around the production and assembly of Series 4000 engines in Plant 2 of Tognum’s subsidiary MTU Friedrichshafen. The girls showed great interest and asked many questions on the various stages of production. “This allows the young people to see not only our wide range of engines, but also the numerous stages of work from close up, thus gaining an insight into industrial manufacturing,” explained Andreas Blank, a training supervisor at Tognum.

As the next step, the potential next-generation technicians get to work themselves and make their own key fobs. In February, they will experience engine design using CAD programs, before they have a close look at the area of product electronics on the fourth afternoon. Following a virtual journey through an mtu engine on the final visit in the middle of February, the year-nine students (15-16 years old) will be informed about the content and areas of work available at Tognum during engineering studies. Their discussion partners will be students from the Professional Academy and Tognum executives. Tognum currently participates in the Professional Academy bachelor’s degree courses of mechanical engineering, electro-technology and industrial engineering in combination with business administration.

Sandra Haller from the training institute BBQ, which organized the project initiated by the Confederation of Metal and Electrical Industries, summarized the participants’ motivation: “During these project days, the students want to make contact with technically advanced companies and to gain some general guidance for their choice of studies or occupation. And in times of engineer shortages, companies like to present themselves as potential employers for technically minded students.” Following their visit to Tognum, the school students will get an insight into occupational training at EADS in Immenstaad and will visit the Professional Academy in Ravensburg.