CTNA Sending Plant Workers to College

(Akron/Tire Review) Continuing its emphasis on its sole remaining active North American tire plant, Continental Tire North America has teamed with Rend Lake College to start Continental University, an on-site program that will allow CTNA workers at its Mt. Vernon, Ill., tire plant to earn college degrees.

The program gives employees the opportunity to earn a two-year associate’s degree by attending classes at the plant and a bachelor’s degree from nearby Southern Illinois University-Carbondale.

“I’m pleased to announce a direct investment in the education and professional growth of our employees through Continental University,” said Heinz-Gerhard Wente, global human resources chief for Continental AG. “It is a meaningful program that promotes higher education and advances employees’ career paths at Continental, and one that also promotes the exchange of knowledge and ideas and cultivates a high-performance culture in the workplace.”

The Continental University concept was created by Continental AG in 2005. To date, said the company, nine universities have been launched, including at facilities in Mexico, the Philippines and Romania.

CTNA and Rend Lake College have run a tuition-free pilot program at the Mt. Vernon plant since 2005. With the addition of Southern Illinois University, CTNA offers employees the opportunity to earn a bachelor’s degree in technical resource management, and many will qualify for tuition reimbursement.

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