(Seoul, July 28, 2025) The Korean-German Chamber of Commerce and Industry (KGCCI, President & CEO Marie Antonia von Schönburg) has signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with the Daejeon Regional Skills Council and Hyundai Vocational Training School to bolster Korea’s industry-ready talent development through practical, hands-on education.
The MoU, signed on July 25 at the KGCCI office in Seoul, outlines the three organizations’ commitment to jointly promote field-oriented vocational training programs aligned with real-world industry needs. The agreement also paves the way for collaborative curriculum development and the exchange of information, technologies, and human resources — setting the foundation for a more integrated and regionally anchored industry-academia cooperation in Daejeon.
A key outcome of the agreement is the expansion of the German Ausbildung program—a dual vocational training system that combines company-based practical training and academic education. Previously limited to vocational high school students in Korea, the program will now be open to adult learners, including those seeking mid-career transitions into technical fields such as automotive maintenance. This shift reflects increasing demand for lifelong learning pathways and more inclusive access to industry-relevant skills.
“Expanding Ausbildung to include adult learners is a meaningful step toward building a more inclusive and future-oriented workforce,” said Marie Antonia von Schönburg, President & CEO of KGCCI. “KGCCI is committed to scaling this model and setting a new benchmark for sustainable, industry-driven skills development that benefits both companies and individuals.”
KGCCI introduced the Ausbildung program in Korea in 2017, in collaboration with German automotive companies such as Mercedes-Benz Korea and BMW Group Korea. 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 four different Ausbildung professions – general auto maintenance, car body, and painting and service advising. The program has seen an impressive growth that around 450 trainees and 330 trainers are currently involved in the program, operating at 145 service centers. A total of 270 trainees have successfully completed the program.
About the Korean-German Chamber of Commerce and Industry (KGCCI)
The Korean-German Chamber of Commerce and Industry (KGCCI) has been serving as an official representative of German Business in Korea since its foundation in 1981. It is the second largest foreign chamber of commerce in Korea with a network of around 500 members. As the first point of contact for German and Korean companies exploring business opportunities in each country, KGCCI and its subsidiary KGCCI DEinternational serve as a communication channel and offer professional services to support market entry and expansion. The services include, among others, market research, business partner matching, trade fair business, delegation trips, and investment promotion. Additionally, KGCCI supports governmental initiatives such as the Korean-German Energy Partnership. KGCCI belongs to the global German Chamber Network Abroad (AHK) with more than 150 German Chamber offices in 93 countries and over 50,000 members worldwide. Its umbrella organization is the German Chamber of Commerce and Industry (DIHK) with offices in Berlin and Brussels, serving the 79 Chambers in Germany (IHK) and their 3.6 million member companies.
Ausbildung program
Ausbildung program is dual vocational training education from Germany, where on the job training and theoretical education from school are carried out simultaneously. Germany utilizes this program in over 300 career sectors, including auto mechanic, baking, dental technician, policemen, banking, and around 1.5 million trainees participate in the Ausbildung program annually. In addition to Germany, more than 30 nations worldwide are implementing the Ausbildung program.
From 2017, the Korean-German Chamber of Commerce and Industry started the Ausbildung program with the initiation of German Automobile manufacturers, BMW Korea and Mercedes Benz Korea. Currently, all German automobile brands, Daimler Truck Korea, Man Truck & Bus Korea, Porsche Korea, and Volkswagen Group Korea are participating in the Ausbildung program.
In Korea, there are four Ausbildung professions - auto maintenance, car body, painting and service advising. Trainees sign an employment contract with the official dealerships of German Automobile brands. Under the instruction of DIHK certified trainers, trainees receive on-the-job training (70%) at work and theory-based education from colleges (30%). Excluding the military service period, trainees complete a 36-months long program with a college degree and DIHK Ausbildung certificate.