An export success for training: First trained apprentices at Bauer Equipment Malaysia

Shah Alam, Malaysia – The dual study program, traditional to Germany, is eagerly adopted in many parts of the world – last but not least, by foreign subsidiaries of German companies. BAUER Equipment Malaysia Sdn Bhd, a subsidiary of BAUER Maschinen GmbH near Kuala Lumpur, first hired three apprentices in 2018. Now after three and a half years, they have successfully completed their training as mechatronics engineers.

“The apprenticeship here in Malaysia is identical to the apprenticeship in Germany, it is divided into theory and practical application”, reports Arnold Nestler. The trained mechatronics engineer for motor vehicles has been with Bauer Equipment Malaysia for more than 10 years and became the training manager there in 2018. While the practical training was conducted on the company’s premises, lessons were held at the German Malaysia Institute (GMI). There, lessons strictly followed the curriculum of the German vocational school. After passing the Chamber of Industry and Commerce (IHK) exam, which is obtained from the Chamber of Foreign Commerce (AHK) in Germany, the Malaysian colleagues received their apprenticeship diplomas.

“We have maintained contact with the German Malaysia Institute for a long time now”, reports Robert Neukäufer, Managing Director at Bauer Equipment Malaysia, who has lived in Malaysia for more than 25 years. “For many years now, the institute has offered technical apprenticeships and we have also been able to recruit a few graduates from there for our customer service team”.

n mid-2014, Robert Neukäufer came up with the idea for the company to invest in training itself. “In this way, we ensure that we have enough qualified young talent”. In Malaysia, many mechanics start as laborers – without further technical training. Many of them lack foundational basic knowledge.

Support came from Schrobenhausen: Bauer training manager Gerhard Piske helped with the necessary preparations and provided valuable assistance to ensure the prerequisites for vocational training in Malaysia. Arnold Nestler and personnel manager Jan Chau worked locally and were ultimately able to recruit the first three trainees in 2018. Three more trainees joined each year. Not counting the three graduates, seven trainees are currently active in different program years.

“We are very pleased with our first graduating class and would like to warmly congratulate our three colleagues. In the future, they will predominantly work in our customer service team”, explains Robert Neukäufer. Of course, additional practical training is needed here at the plants and on sites. The BAUER Maschinen Group also has big expectations for these qualified employees and would like to employ them worldwide.