European Training Network in the Car Service Sector

The project aims at the establishment of a European training and best practice network and its guidance during the first pilot phase. The net-work will be set up in some selected European member states within the framework of this project.

During the last decade the car service sector has witnessed considerable structural changes which have entailed the development of a different service and repair behaviour and alternative forms of work organisation in the European Member States. As these changes are simultaneously ac-companied by a considerable improvement of the service quality, per-sons engaged in car enterprises are facing the challenge to adapt to these new quality standards and to accept an expansion of their fields of tasks. In both authorized dealerships and small independent companies this process results in higher requirements for qualification which can only be met by best practice of continuing vocational training (CVT). This situation has already been identified by car manufacturers a long time ago and is increasingly influencing associations and training institutions offering CVT measures in order to cope with this problem. All over Europe the main deficit is that CVT measures are basically segmented. This means that a number of institutions offer courses, material and other support above all with regard to cater for regional or local interests. This impedes a transparent CVT structure and the opportunity for employees to choose from CVT offers most appropriate for them.

Target group

Employees of car service centres on all levels.

Focus of resarch

The objective of a training network is to identify models of best CVT prac-tice in selected European Member States, to assess them with regard to the requirements and to join models with high grading into a European CVT model of best practice. Finally a compendium will be prepared which will be available via the Internet and as a hardcopy both in English and German language. The next step is the implementation of the created CVT model in selected institutions and to offer highly transparent CVT measures. A contact service point will be implemented in these institu-tions for the support of the users. Multipliers will be prepared in short training courses. With the help of the partners, the models of best prac-tice should be disseminated all over Europe with the objective to imple-ment them in the most efficient and successful training institutions. There will be no restrictions regarding the contents. The entire enterprise and its major needs should represent the focal points of all approaches.

Innovation

Creation of a comprehensive European wide CVT network. An innovation can be seen

• in the development of an assessment instrument for best practice and CVT measures and
• in joining models with high grading into a European CVT model of best practice in order to offer highly transparent CVT measures and a compendium of best practice methods.

Transnationality

Cooperating partners in Ireland, UK, Greece, Spain and Germany

• A European model and compendium of best practice and CVT-measures via Internet and as a hardcopy, the network itself, the contact service point with multipliers for the users in every participating association and training institution in English and German languages.
• Web based database of best practice CVT measures.

Publications

R. Berger; A. Biswanger; G. Spöttl: Das erfolgreiche Autohaus - Personalentwicklung, Organisation, Qualifikation. Flensburg 2002.