IT IS NOT JUST A MEN´S GAME

"I'm good at maths and have very good spatial perception. I can imagine that I might develop a car some time in the future," said a 12-year-old girl at the end of today's Girls' and Boys' Day at EDAG Engineering GmbH in Fulda. The Wiesbaden-based design engineering company could not wish for a better result, as qualities like these are in particular demand when it comes to the development of vehicles and production plants. Already, a great deal of the work that goes into automotive development is car-ried out on the computer. "In actual fact, none of the more than 20 apprenticed profes-sions or dual study programmes we offer can be described as classic male professions – not even in the commercial fields," points out Melanie Heinzerling from EDAG's training department. "We are therefore pleased that Girls' and Boys' Day gives us an opportunity to pass this message on to young girls who are still at school, and en-courage them to overcome any reservations they might have about what they see as male domains."

Employees with technical qualifications are the mainstay of the company, which de-velops vehicles and production plants for the international automotive industry and has for more than 40 years shown a deep commitment to junior staff development. The advancement of women in the workplace is a matter of great importance to the Wiesbaden-based company. "For us, Girls' Day is an important step in our endeavours to interest young girls in particular in the variety and fascination that professions in automobile development can offer," explains Christoph Horvath, Press Spokesman of EDAG Engineering GmbH.

Once again, there was a positive response to EDAG's Girls' Day 2016. More than 90 girls and boys participated in events held at the Fulda, Ingolstadt, Munich and Sindelfingen branches. The youngsters visiting Ingolstadt were given the opportunity to experience virtual and actual crash situations, and to find out more about what it means to be a technical product designer or a simulation specialist.

The young participants at the Munich branch had the chance to try out CAD systems for themselves and to demonstrate their spatial perception in design exercises from the apprenticeship programme.

In Sindelfingen and Fulda, the participants were allowed to take an active part and do something themselves. They had 2 hours in which to assemble, completely wire and then paint an acrylic model car. The result: gleaming VW Beetle models and happy faces!

Throughout Germany, EDAG offers an apprenticeship and dual study programme covering more than 20 different professions in the fascinating field of vehicle development. With a current total of 439 apprentices and dual system students, the company is one of the leading training companies in the engineering service market.