Dräxlmaier offers new field of study in Balti

"By creating the whole curriculum, we have ensured the implementation of European standards as well as technical requirements of the automotive industry within the course of study," emphasizes Prof. Dr. Jörg Elsenbach, who is responsible for continuous improvement within the Dräxlmaier Group. Another reason for the participation: "Not only can we educate the employees who are urgently needed in Moldova; we can also meet our internal requirements for long-term business by qualifying young people," he adds.

By setting up the internationally recognized bachelor’s degree, the family owned company from the lower Bavaria region in Germany, which operates two plant sites in Balti, increases the profile of its international production and development network. In close cooperation with the University of Applied Sciences Landshut and the Technical University of Aachen, both Germany, Prof. Dr. Elsenbach created the new curriculum according to German standards.

On September 1, 2012, the official start of the winter semester, 30 students began their studies in "Engineering and Management in Automobile Construction," which is marketed as the "Automotive Academy" and which contains a large amount of practical knowledge. "In the four-year bachelor program, the main modules in the curriculum are manufacturing technology, technical mechanics and electrical mobility in passenger cars," explains Dr. Pavel Topala, dean of the faculty of natural science at the Alec Russo University of Balti. The technical focus is supplemented by lectures in quality management, logistics, administration, human resources management as well as production and corporate process management. Since Dräxlmaier places high importance on learning foreign languages, many courses are held in German and English.

"With our high technical and practical applications, oriented toward European standards, we are able to prepare the Moldavian students in the best way for the wok at a global acting company like the Dräxlmaier Group," adds Prof. Dr. Dieter Greipl, vice president for teaching and learning at the University of Applied Sciences Landshut. The best students are also granted a scholarship awarded after the first semester, which pays for all tuition fees.  The cooperation has his advantages for both parties: The students are prepared in both theory and practice for the demands of the automotive and supply industry; in return Dräxlmaier is provided with high-quality, well-educated employees.

DAA Draexlmaier Automotive of America LLC is a wholly owned subsidiary of the Dräxlmaier Group of Germany. The company’s main lines of business include interior components, cockpits, wiring harness and electrical management systems. Customers in North America include BMW, General Motors/Cadillac and Volkswagen.