Volkswagen apprentice receives international award

The Volkswagen Group recently presented its Best Apprentice Award 2012 to its top young achievers from all over the world. Volkswagen Group South Africa's Mechatronics technician, Magdalene Pokbaas, was one of the talent recipients at this year's international awards.

The accolades for excellence and professional competence during vocational training were presented to a total of 29 young talents from 13 different countries around the world. In recognition of their achievements the award winners were invited to Germany to participate in an exciting three day programme.

After a stringent internal selection process - where competency, efficiency and initiative were evaluated - the applicants were short-listed and thereafter assessed through individual and group presentations as well as interviews.

Paint shop operator

Pokbaas was ecstatic about her win: "I am so proud that I have been recognised, not only by Volkswagen South Africa, but also by the Volkswagen Group. I have worked really hard to develop and prove myself."

She started working at Volkswagen in 2000 as a paint shop operator. After nine years in the paint shop, she applied for a learnership in Mechatronics at the Volkswagen Learning Academy. "I successfully completed my Mechatronics NQF Level 4 in April 2012. After three months of experiential in-plant training, I decided to broaden my horizons by starting with gap training in the electrical field," said Magdalene.

The awards are held every two years and have been running for the past 12 years with Volkswagen South Africa apprentices receiving eight Best Apprentice Awards during that period.