The Northwood University and the German Federation for Motor Trade and Repairs (ZDK - Zentralverband Deutsches Kraftfahrzeuggewerbe) continue their cooperation of qualifying young automotive talents. Keith A. Pretty, President of Northwood University based in Michigan, USA, and Birgit Behrens, Managing Director Professional Education at the German Federation for Motor Trade and Repairs (ZDK), signed the contract in the framework of the NADA Convention in Las Vegas in March.
Thus, after 26 years and more than 450 recruited students the cooperation was again sealed in a written way. The contract allows automotive students to finish postgraduate studies as a Bachelor of Business Administration at Northwood University within the academic year. As a consequence, their apprenticeship and certificate as a Business Administration Graduate in the Automotive Business (Betriebswirt im Kfz-Gewerbe - Hwk) at Bundesfachschule für Betriebswirtschaft im Kfz-Gewerbe (BFC) will be credited. At Northwood University, they will be able to choose between a focus on Automotive Marketing / Management or International Business. Thus, the students will have a dual education, will be a Business Administration Graduate in the Automotive Business and a US Bachelor, plus staying abroad and knowledge of English after only five or six years. After university, some of them will even stay in the US for 12 further months in order to work in one of the car dealerships. According to ZDK, the graduates will get job offers from car dealerships, car manufacturers, importers or will work in their parent’s company back in Germany.
(kle)
