A modular approach for training employees in the automotive service sector a case study in Turkey

Abstract

Certified education aimed at developing and documenting professional growth is an important issue for lifelong learning in developing countries. Some firms and educational institutions have applied different educational models to keep up with technological innovations. This study examines a Turkish programme for employees in the automotive sector and asks how the programme should be developed, where it should be conducted, and how it should be evaluated. The aim of the analysis is to develop a certification programme with the cooperation of both the academy and the business sector. Within the scope of the model, 560 people were trained and certified in three years with the support of institutional partnerships and non-governmental organizations. During this process, Bosch Aftermarket signed the Modular Education Act and, consequently, 220 Bosch employees were also trained. The effectiveness of the three-year educational programme was assessed using 360-degree self- and peer-evaluation. When the goals and the outcomes of the programme are compared, the levels of participants' satisfaction and demand for increasing collaboration are encouraging.