People.cn reported in an article entitled Chanelling Regional Resource to Build a Talent Cultivation Community a new model initiated by Tongji University in its actively chanelling the regional resources to cultivate practically innovative talents for automotive field jointly with the industry. Volkswagen Shanghai and School of Automotive Engineering of Tongji University worked together to build a cyclic eco-system incorporating human resources, capital and technology based on Anting International Automobile City.

Volkswagen Shanghai and School of Automotive Engineering of Tongji University made a Pre-Engineer Joint Program and set up a platform as national engineering center of practice and education in accordance with the development in auto industry and auto discipline. Great efforts have been made to help students understand auto products, techniques and management sooner so that they are better prepared with a vision of innovation on the one hand, and Volkswagen Shanghai can get easier access to quality students.

The joint program mainly targets at fourth-year undergraduates and postgraduates from School of Automotive Engineering. The fourth-year undergraduates participate in the phase of concept induction to get an initial understanding of Volkswagen Shanghai through company tours and internships. Postgraduate students take part in the phase of close observation to gain better understanding of Volkswagen Shanghai by doing their research or composing their graduation theses based upon real projects from Volkswagen. On the one hand, professors from related fields of the University work with people from Volkswagen Shanghai to explore a better oriented and more effective way of talent cultivation; on the other hand, people from Volkswagen offer lectures and provide real projects to help students with their design of graduation thesis and exploration of research.

The joint program will improve student practical and innovative abilities through a close link among teaching, internships, research and production. Specialized courses of Modern Automotive Technology and Practice and Engineering Design of Automotive Electronic Products are offered by the rich expertise with Volkswagen with the help of advanced software developed by Volkswagen. Professors of the university and Engineers from Volkswagen Shanghai are seeking all round collaboration by encouraging professionals to co-teach at the university and inviting young teachers to do field work with the industry. So far, 22 engineers from Volkswagen have been invited as adjunct teachers by Tongji University and two teachers have been working with Volkswagen for engineering practice.