Press Releases

Growth in numbers of vocational students learning skills for the European automotive sector

Brussels, Belgium, 16 September 2014

Across Europe this academic year, fifteen countries will run the JAYE Europe – Hyundai Skills for the Future programme 2014-2015. That represents a 300% increase in the number of countries participating since Hyundai Motor Europe started its collaboration with JAYE Europe in 2012. Inspired by the impact of the initiative on young students, schools in seven new countries will integrate the programme into their academic activities this school year 2014-2015. These are Denmark, Norway, Romania, Bulgaria, Slovenia, the Netherlands, and Austria.

 

JA-YE Europe works with Hyundai Motor Europe to provide students with skills for the job market. The automotive industry is constantly looking for skilled automotive professionals who are difficult to find due to missing skills and competencies. The partnership between JA-YE Europe and Hyundai Motor Europe is helping to increase the employability skills and entrepreneurship spirit of the young generation in Europe.

We are committed to helping drive economic growth in Europe, and by investing in the business leaders of tomorrow we are contributing to a more prosperous future. Our education and mentoring initiatives will help tackle the skills gap in Europe’s job market, inspiring the next generation of entrepreneurs and providing them with a valuable platform for business success,” commented Byung Kwon Rhim, President of Hyundai Motor Europe.

The Skills for the Future scheme aims to inspire young people to consider STEM subjects and careers, help develop an entrepreneurial approach, and help them see how their education is relevant for their future career choices and prospects. “We believe there is a real need to raise awareness about entrepreneurship, employability and teaching students soft skills to succeed in the labour market,” added President Rhim. The ‘soft skills’ so frequently sought by employers like Hyundai Motor Europe include communication skills, flexibility, self-organisation, problem-solving and entrepreneurial skills.

Winners of the 2014 Hyundai Skills for the Future Award were CROSS from Slovakia who developed, marketed and sold a new mobile app called “Careful Eye’. Marek Kaminicky from the team CROSS said “We are really proud to have won the first place since we felt we had a good presentation, we were confident and above all we had an innovative product. I also would like to thank Hyundai that stood behind us and pushed us to bring our product to the next level!” The Careful Eye app uses wireless technology to allow adult drivers to safely communicate with children travelling in the back seat of their car while driving. CROSS won because Hyundai felt it was a genuinely breakthrough product with great marketing and huge customer benefit. The CROSS team were lauded in November at the Slovak Republic’s International Day of Students by the Minister of Education, Science, Research and Sport, for successfully representing their country abroad.

In the 2013/2014 academic year, Skills for the Future reached almost 4400 students in over 100 vocational schools. The number of participating students has risen from 1000 in 2012, to 5400 registered for the academic year 2014-2015. Hyundai Motor Europe focuses on vocational schools because they are often preparing students for a job, and the Skills for the Future programme aims to bring industry and education closer together to ensure schools are equipping students effectively for the world of work. Skills for the Future promotes greater understanding among young people about STEM skills, entrepreneurship and the skills needed for future employability.

Over the course of the school year, those students who are taking technical skills and entrepreneurship courses in vocational schools, create and manage their own real businesses. Supported by Hyundai Motor Europe mentors and trained teachers, these businesses develop products and services that have a connection to the car industry and its needs. Students improve STEM skills during this experience, understand the value of the market economy and entrepreneurship, and learn how to transfer ideas into viable business propositions.

The ideas for car services and products are pitched to a jury in national heats and the best teams are selected to participate in the European final for the Skills for the Future Award, to be held in 2015 in Prague, Czech Republic on 8-10 June. The Hyundai Skills for the Future Award is the culmination of a year of entrepreneurial business learning and practice, in a business-education partnership involving corporate mentoring, recognised by the European Commission as best practice in entrepreneurial education.

About Junior Achievement – Young Enterprise Europe

JA-YE Europe is Europe’s largest provider of entrepreneurship education programmes, reaching 3.2 million students in 39 countries in 2013. Funded by businesses, institutions, foundations and individuals, JA-YE brings the public and private sectors together to provide young people in primary and secondary schools and early university with experiences that promote the skills, understanding and perspective that they will need to succeed in a global economy. The JA-YE Company Programme is recognised by the European Commission Enterprise Directorate General as a ‘Best Practice in Entrepreneurship Education’. JA-YE Europe is the European Regional Operating Center for JA Worldwide®

About Hyundai Motor Europe

In 2013, Hyundai Motor Europe achieved registrations of 422.930 units, taking a new-car market share of 3,4%. Almost 95% of the vehicles Hyundai sells in the region are designed, engineered and tested in Europe to meet the needs of European customers. And 90% are built at its two local factories in the Czech Republic and Turkey, which have a combined annual capacity of 500.000 units. Hyundai sells cars in 30 European countries across 2.500 outlets.

More information about Hyundai Motor Europe and its products is available at www.hyundai.com/eu. Follow Hyundai Motor Europe on Twitter @HyundaiEurope.

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