Amazon and the Mondragon Polytechnic High School have announced the launch of the Apprentices program for those Amazon employees who are being trained in Mechatronics. This innovative study model has a duration of 2 years, and will allow Amazon apprentices to receive specific and official theoretical training from the School and put it into practice at the company's centers.

The agreement was presented at the institutional opening of the 2023-2024 academic year of the Mondragon Goi Eskola Politecnico Apprentices program. The event was inaugurated by Jokin Bildarratz, Minister of Education of the Basque Government, and welcomed by Carlos García, the main coordinator of the center. Gorka Aretxaga, the School's Vocational Education coordinator, Oriol Homs, a sociologist and university professor, Marta Casasayas, head of Amazon Spain's Apprentices program, and the students of the program were there.

"We believe in Amazon's young talent and we want to support their professional development in technological specialties through the Apprentices program. It is important for us that during the training period our employees acquire regulated knowledge of mechatronics from a reference center such as the Mondragon Goi Eskola Politeknikoa and then have full practical experience from the company's professionals", says Marta Casasayas, manager of the company's Apprentices program.

Carlos García, for his part, the main coordinator of Mondragon Polytechnic High School, says: "Educational centers are a decisive focus in the future of talent. We establish the foundations of knowledge that will later be used in a practical way. That's why agreements like Apprentices are essential to guarantee training according to the needs of the sector, which will give great opportunities to its students."

What is the Amazon Apprentices Program?
Apprentices is a rotating vocational training program that aims to improve the professional qualification of young people through a mixed process of employment and training. This allows the student to combine professional practice in the workplace with theoretical learning.

Thanks to the collaboration between Amazon and the Mondragon Polytechnic High School, Amazon students will have the opportunity to train in the facilities of the school in Mondragon and, at the same time, they will be able to incorporate practical learning in the operation centers. This rotation of learning will be divided between residential stays in Monsoon and stays at Amazon, so blocks of stays of 6-8 weeks will be made in Monsoon to acquire the official contents of the training cycle curriculum. 4-6 weeks in Amazon centers to consolidate these contents and acquire more specific contents.

Amazon, for its part, will also participate in the training phase, since during the cycle different professionals will go to the classrooms to give some sessions. Through this initiative, the students of this course will be able to see the knowledge they learn in the classroom transferred to real cases told by Amazon employees. In addition, the course will include training sessions, specific technologies in logistics centers, as well as additional English classes. Amazon and Mondragon Goi Eskola Politecnico are collaborating to align the knowledge that will be obtained during the phases of stay in the company with the academic content.

Apprenticeship Program
The Apprentices program arrived in Spain in 2020 with the aim of promoting young talent and offering training and development opportunities to professionals in technological specialties. This program ensures the continuation and integration of the official content of the training cycle with specific training accessories for the profession in Amazon centers. In addition, it guarantees the people participating in the project, 40% of whom are women, an official qualification, professional experience, a work contract for the two years of the program, a study grant and competitive remuneration throughout the period.

About Amazon
Amazon is guided by four principles: a consumer focus on competition, a passion for invention, a commitment to operational excellence, and a long-term vision. Amazon strives to be the world's most customer-focused company, best employer and safest workplace on the planet. Customer reviews, 1-click shopping, personalized recommendations, Amazon Prime, FBA, Amazon Web Services, Kindle Direct Publishing, Kindle, Career Choice, Fire, Fire TV, Amazon Echo, Alexa, Just Walk Out technology, Amazon Studios and The Climate Pledge These are some of Amazon's pioneering creations and initiatives.