Learning centre now operating in Italian factory

Citation

(1999), "Learning centre now operating in Italian factory", Journal of European Industrial Training, Vol. 23 No. 7. https://doi.org/10.1108/jeit.1999.00323gab.012

Learning centre now operating in Italian factory

Learning centre now operating in Italian factory

Keywords: Workplace learning, Self-managed learning, Italy

A learning centre is now operating at the Melfi factory (near Potenza, Italy) of Fiat Auto. It is an innovative structure created to promote self-learning among employees of the car manufacturer. The first of its kind in Italy, it has 35 multimedia computers, two telematic workstations and a room for videoconferences. One hundred electronic programs, CD-ROMs, encyclopaedias and Web sites, specialist books and magazines are also available.

The centre is open from 11.00 a.m. to 7.00 p.m. to meet the needs of the three workshifts in which the enterprise is organized at present. Everyone working at the factory is eligible to use the services offered for a maximum of two hours per day and there are 200 places available. The first contact with the learning centre takes the form of guidance by a number of tutors.

There are self-managed training paths, but a tutor is always on hand to guide the users. It is possible to study languages, learn how to use a computer, link up to the Internet and follow specialist courses in a wide range of subjects. Under an agreement with the Polytechnic of Turin, 20 people a year are able to take a short degree course in production logistics engineering.