By Diplomacy Journal Lee Kap-soo

The Korean-German Chamber of Commerce and Industry (KGCCI), led by President & CEO Marie Antonia von Schönburg, jointly held the “2026 Ausbildung Information Session” with BMW Group Korea, MAN Truck & Bus Korea, Mercedes-Benz Korea, Porsche Korea, Star Truck Korea, and Volkswagen Group Korea at the ibis Ambassador Suwon on November 4, 2025.

The Ausbildung Program is dual vocational training education from Germany, where on-the-job training and theoretical education from school are carried out simultaneously. The training is a 36-month educational program combining on-the-job training (70%) at work and theory-based education from colleges (30%), covering professions of general auto maintenance, car body, painting and service advising.

Upon completion of the program, trainees receive Ausbildung certificate issued by the German Federal Chamber of Commerce and Industry (DIHK) and KGCCI and undertake their roles as a key technician in companies. In particular, the Ausbildung program in field of general maintenance and painting is equally recognized in Germany.

This year’s Ausbildung Information Session targeted education officials and teachers, focusing on enhancing understanding of the program following personnel rotations. The Service Advisor career pathway drew notable interest from teachers at commercial-track schools, as it offers both technical and customer-service career opportunities.

During the briefing, Ausbildung managers from participating brands presented program structures and career paths. Hyoung-Soo Park, Manager at STAR Truck Korea, and Jae-Hoon Kim, Associate at BMW Deutsch Motors—both Ausbildung graduates—shared their career journeys, demonstrating how the program provides a solid foundation for advancement within global companies. Ji-Min Lee, trainee at Porsche SSCL, also shared her experiences and engaged in an active Q&A session with teachers.

Ajou Motor College, the program’s academic partner, introduced detailed curricula for automotive body repair, painting, and service advisory tracks, highlighting diverse career options in the automotive industry.

“We hope teachers will use this experience to help students realistically plan their careers and learn directly from successful trainees,” said Marie Antonia von Schönburg, President & CEO of KGCCI. “The program exemplifies our commitment to fostering Korea’s next generation of highly skilled talent in partnership with industry and academia.”

“Many students from our school participate in the Ausbildung program every year,” said Sang-Cheol Ha, Vice Principal of Gyeonggi Automotive High School. “It provides invaluable experience for young professionals to grow into globally competitive talent under world-class automotive brands.”

KGCCI introduced the Ausbildung program in South Korea in collaboration with German automotive companies Mercedes-Benz Korea and BMW Group Korea in 2017. Subsequently, Daimler Truck Korea and MAN Truck & Bus Korea joined in 2018, followed by Volkswagen Group Korea in 2019 and Porsche Korea in 2021. Currently, five Korean colleges are participating in the program in four different Ausbildung professions – general auto maintenance, car body, painting and service advising. The program has seen an impressive growth that around 460 trainees and 280 trainers are currently involved in the program, operating at 130 service centers. A total of 211 trainees have successfully completed the Ausbildung program.