Siemens Healthineers has opened as new Education & Development Center (EDC) in Erlangen, Germany. The open-plan building offers space for the currently 240 trainees and integrated degree program participants in Erlangen and Forchheim.
In addition, the new center houses training courses for customers and in-house specialists for around 150 participants. and users can be trained daily on medical devices. The EDC is an extension of the existing education and training center with Erlangen being one of the company’s three global training centers and the central location for education in Germany with a focus on IT, electronics, and business administration.
The company says that investing in in-house training is a building block in Siemens Healthineers’ strategy to counteract the predicted shortage of skilled workers. The construction period of the building was three years with an investment of about 60 million euros.
“We want to continue to be one of the most attractive employers in the region and in Germany. Lifelong learning for our employees is our focus,” said Elisabeth Staudinger, member of the managing board of Siemens Healthineers, at the official opening. “That’s why we invest in high-quality training opportunities in an appealing working environment that benefit customers and employees alike. Erlangen and the region is and will remain a global hotspot for innovative medical technology.”
The center was built according to the latest construction standards and is to be awarded the “LEED Gold” sustainability certificate. The building is located in the Siemens Healthineers Quarter in the north of Erlangen opposite of the factory for magnetic resonance imaging scanners on Allee am Röthelheimpark.
The company says that the proximity to production ensures a close integration between practical and theoretical training. The 11,000 square meters of space of the EDC are spread over seven floors and has among others, 10 fully functional magnetic resonance imaging scanners and two angiography systems for training purposes. A photon-counting computed tomograph of the latest generation is also housed in the building.
In addition, five large training rooms offer space for virtual courses with cameras and state-of-the-art transmission technology. Siemens Healthineers also offers digital training with the support of VR glasses or simulators. The training areas on the upper floors include five electrical laboratories, a technical project room, and four additional training rooms.
Siemens Healthineers offers apprenticeships for commercial and technical professions as well as integrated degree programs in the business, IT, and technical fields. In September 2023, 185 new apprentices and dual students will start their training at Siemens Healthineers in Germany, 120 of them in Erlangen and Forchheim.
