Anniversary / 130-years-September-2
OK
Pioneer in Dual Education
1927 The concept of apprentice training in the 1930s was closely tied to the economic conditions of the time. The development of the automotive industry, in turn, was directly connected to the need for skilled workers. It was, therefore, logical that some vocational schools in Mladá Boleslav responded to this need and began to educate and train these specialists.
As early as the 1920s, Mladá Boleslav was selected as the seat of the Provincial Industrial School due to its local industry. Its development was closely linked to the development of the carmaker, which cooperated with it.
The year 1927, when the body shop building that today houses the Secondary Vocational School of Engineering (SOUs) was built, is linked to the beginnings of dual education at Škoda Works, although that was taking place in Plzeň at the time. The first mentions of apprentices joining the company after the completion of their training date to 1928. Of the fields taught, locksmithing had the largest number of graduates. In January 1928, the total number of apprentices employed in all fields was 58. In 1929, there were 74, and in 1930, there were 49 apprentices.
However, the employment of apprentices was becoming increasingly problematic due to a lack of work, so on 31 May 1932, a proposal was submitted to the Škoda Works management to establish an apprentice workshop. Practical training was divided so that third-year apprentices could experience the most important workplaces – engine and chassis assembly, car repair, toolroom and dispatch. The only thing missing was a suitable space. The best location for the apprentice workshop appeared to be the first floor of the Brons building (today’s Škoda Museum).
Since around 1934, the carmaker has offered high-quality vocational training in mechanical and electrical engineering, with all successful graduates receiving job offers. Since its inception almost a century ago, a total of 22,900 students, 12% of them girls, have graduated from the company’s training centre.
In 2000, the carmaker also founded the Škoda Auto University, which remains the only university in the Czech Republic established by a large multinational company. In 2023, the carmaker also co-founded the 42 Prague educational institute. In addition, it cooperates with Czech universities in numerous activities, promotes technical education for girls and provides support to various secondary schools in the regions where it operates.