Lincoln Tech Launches Chicago Audi Training Partnership
Melrose Park, IL – November 8, 2016 – Lincoln Tech in Melrose Park is excited to announce a new partnership with leading auto manufacturer Audi of America. The campus hosted a ribbon-cutting celebration to mark the start of the new program on Thursday, November 3rd, and rolled out the 2012 TT and 2015 A3 models that were provided by Audi for training.
Audi corporate representatives, Chicago-area Audi dealers, and Lincoln Tech executives, faculty and staff inaugurated the Audi Education Partnership Program. This new training option is designed to open doors to career pathways for students in the school’s Automotive Technology program.
Through the Audi Education Partnership Program, students can apply to enroll in an Automotive Service Management degree program that allows the student the option to take training on Audi-specific servicing, maintenance and roadside assistance skills. Lincoln Tech graduates are also invited to return to school and build these manufacturer-specific skills.
Manufacturer-supported Chicago Audi Training Arrives at Lincoln Tech
Audi is providing the curriculum and equipment for the program, with the goal of providing dealers in the region a steady pipeline of candidates who are already familiar with the technology used on today’s vehicles. Audi estimates that they have a need to grow their technician workforce by more than 50% in the next five years, leading to more opportunities for Lincoln Tech graduates across Illinois and around the country.
According to careeronestop.org, an organization sponsored by the U.S. Department of Labor, Employment and Training Administration, more than 20,000 positions are projected to become available each year for automotive technicians around the country through 2024. These jobs demand skills beyond just ‘turning wrenches,’ and training programs like Lincoln’s Audi Education Partnership Program help our students build the highly technical skills that employers look for.
The Melrose Park campus is the fifth Lincoln Tech campus in the country to offer the partnership program, joining Mahwah, NJ; Denver, CO; East Windsor, CT; and Nashville, TN following the kickoff event last fall at the Mahwah campus. Through this hands-on training program, Lincoln Tech is helping both graduates and employers bridge the skills gap – the lack of candidates with the right skills to fill open positions around the country.