NEWS

Beijing, September 27, 2023. The Youth Summit 2023 Award Ceremony concluded in Beijing. Executives from Volkswagen Group China, project partners, industry experts, and student representatives came together to discuss mobility trends related to electrification and intelligentization, and to explore innovative mobility solutions for the future.

Jens Pfitzinger, Executive Vice President of Volkswagen Group China, responsible for Human Resources, Organization & ITP, said: “Over the past three years, the Youth Summit has witnessed our commitment as a Top Employer to embrace our social responsibility by nurturing young talents of the Chinese automotive industry towards future mobility. The project creates a platform where students can improve their skills and show their creativity. With competence training and innovation camps, we are excited to see the rapid growth of young students. We look forward to driving progress in the automotive industry and drawing the blueprints for future mobility together with more young talents.”

Cheng Liang, Deputy Secretary-General of China Education Development Foundation, added: “The ‘Youth Summit’ project has been continuously optimizing the platform and allocating resources to offer young students great opportunities, allowing them to showcase themselves and unleash their potential. We hope that our students will further enhance their creative thinking to shape the future of mobility together. Moving forward, the Foundation and Volkswagen Group China will maintain our collaborative efforts to support talented young people and advance high-quality development of education.”

Outstanding student teams from 2023 presented lots of innovative ideas to address pain points in the mobility industry, such as EV charging challenges and accessibility for the elderly and disabled. Students infused their discussions with a fresh, youthful perspective, delving into more inclusive and convenient mobility solutions. Student representatives also engaged in lively and constructive debates about the issues facing the future mobility. 

In 2023, Youth Summit organized five campus events in Shanghai, Hefei, Wuhan, Chengdu, and Beijing, providing students with the opportunity to exchange ideas with industry experts and gain insights into the latest mobility trends and industry knowledge. The project also provided tailored training in career and skill development, automotive industry trends, capacity building, and more. It aims to promote students’ innovative thinking, enhance their overall competitiveness, and nurture interdisciplinary talents. 

In 2021, Volkswagen Group China partnered with the China Education Development Foundation to launch the Youth Summit. The project has invited 92 cross-industry experts and mentors to provide 103 tailored training sessions. More than 35,000 students in 193 universities have benefited from the project. After dedicating 700 hours to study and discussion, the students have generated 441 proposals that offer a fresh, new outlook on future mobility.

Jens Pfitzinger, Executive Vice President of Volkswagen Group China, responsible for Human Resources, Organization & ITP, delivered a speech

Cheng Liang, the Deputy-Secretary General of China Education Development Foundation, delivered a speech

Group photo of distinguished guests and 2023 outstanding student teams

Li Ying, Head of Group CSR and Media Events, presented the awards for the 2023 Most Popular Online Teams