Cars Mania

With production of the Passat now underway in Chattanooga, Volkswagen looks to future development at the plant. The automaker helped two higher education institutions develop an automotive program like what’s offered in Germany. WDEF News 12′s Joe Legge explains why in Volkswagen news.

Expansion of Volkswagen’s Chattanooga plant may be dependent on how the Passat sells… But if the German automaker finds itself with a hot product, it needs a well-trained pool of applicants ready to fill new positions.

Jans Herbert Jagla: “we need bright and very educated people in the engineering field to develop the automotive industry here in this region.”

A partnership between Volkswagen, Chattanooga State, and Tennessee Tech will create a new B.S. Degree in Industrial Technology. Chatt State will handle the first two levels of courses… While students will takes classes like Industrial electronics and automation from Tennessee Tech.

Joe Legge “all of the classes will be held here at the Volkswagen Academy, making it easier for duel enrollment… Or taking classes at Chatt State and Tennessee Tech at the same time.”

Jim Barrott “we’re looking for 20 highly prepared and motivated students that really want to be successful in this program. There will be competition to get into this program.”

While the new educational offering doesn’t come with a guaranteed job from Volkswagen or its suppliers, it does put graduates on the fast track.

Hans Herbert Jagla: “our opinion here at VW is if you see it here at the academy you learn much more and better and more intensive if you experience, or touch the robots or program them, not in the classroom.”

Students like Ben Brock attending Tennessee’s Governors School for Engineering this summer like the concept.

Ben Brock: “you look in this room and see the actual machines that are used in the facility, as opposed to the classroom. You get to see the object instead of just thinking about it.”

Classes for the new degree program begin September 6th. In Chattanooga, Joe Legge, WDEF News 12.

Fall classes at the academy will take place in the evenings, Monday through Thursday. The degree takes four-years to complete.

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