Developing international professionals –
Education knows no boundaries
How can quality standards, technical expertise and innovative strength be sustainably maintained across international sites? The following case study of a German-American partnership shows that the answer lies not solely in modern machinery or digital technologies, but above all in a well-qualified workforce.
Christiani develops practical educational solutions, modern learning resources and technical training systems that prepare people for the demands of an increasingly interconnected industry. The aim is to combine theory and practice in a meaningful way and to impart technical knowledge in a way that is retained over the long term.
This commitment does not stop at national borders. On the contrary: more and more German companies are expanding their production and service sites abroad and require highly skilled staff there. This is precisely where the export of education comes in. Christiani works with companies worldwide to develop modern training programmes based on the German model and supports them in establishing sustainable skills development structures.
Christiani’s collaboration with the company United Grinding in the USA demonstrates just how successful this approach is in practice.
Case study: United Grinding opts for dual vocational training in the USA
United Grinding employs around 5,000 people worldwide and is one of the leading manufacturers of precision and CNC machine tools. In order to attract and train qualified specialists for the long term at its site in Miamisburg, Ohio, the company made a conscious decision to adopt a vocational training approach modelled on the German system. Together with Sinclair Community College and Christiani, United Grinding developed a four-year mechatronics programme that consistently adapts the strengths of the dual vocational training system to the American education system.
Right from the design phase, Christiani contributed his many years of experience in the development of training programmes, educational materials and practical teaching systems. At the same time, a modern mechatronics laboratory was set up at the site, complete with training workstations and electrical and pneumatic training systems.
The apprenticeship programme combines theoretical study at college with intensive practical placements within the company. During the first two years of the programme, participants are partially exempted from their regular duties whilst continuing to receive their salary. United Grinding covers the full cost of tuition fees, tools and all learning materials. In this way, the company creates attractive conditions and underlines the high priority it places on the apprenticeship programme.
There is a particular focus on developing practical skills. In the first year of the apprenticeship, trainees complete the Christiani course on manual material machining. Through 26 coordinated exercises, they learn fundamental skills such as marking out, drilling, thread cutting and the precise machining of various materials.
A challenging practical exercise – a U-profile with a maximum tolerance of just 0.2 millimetres – impressively illustrates the high quality standards of the training programme. Mistakes cannot simply be corrected; if too much material is removed, the workpiece must be completely remade. It is precisely this experience that teaches the trainees just how crucial precision is for their future work in industry.
In addition to technical skills, the programme specifically fosters competencies such as problem-solving ability, analytical thinking and the ability to work independently. This is because service technicians and mechatronics engineers, in particular, will frequently need to develop bespoke solutions in their future working lives that cannot be found in textbooks. This combination of technical expertise and methodological competence meets the exact requirements of modern industrial companies.
“United Grinding ensures that we offer our apprentices the best possible training”
(Andreas Brockmann, Training Manager at United Grinding)
Upon successful completion, participants are awarded an Associate Degree from Sinclair Community College, several specialist certificates and a state-recognised skilled worker qualification – a qualification that is exceptional within the American training system and opens up excellent career prospects for graduates.
Exporting education creates sustainable added value
The collaboration with United Grinding impressively demonstrates that the export of education is far more than simply trading in teaching materials or training technology. The key lies in working in partnership to develop sustainable training structures that meet the requirements of international industrial companies whilst, at the same time, opening up new career opportunities for local people.
For Christiani, this means not only equipping companies with modern training systems, but also supporting them in the long term as they develop effective skills development frameworks.
The example of United Grinding illustrates how combining German expertise in vocational training with local educational institutions leads to sustainable solutions that benefit companies, employees and entire regions in equal measure. Education thus becomes a strategic factor for success – both for international competitiveness and for the economic development of the partner countries.
