Ford: Reskilling Information Technology Chops Through Corporate Education

“For Ford, as a company striving to position itself as a provider of mobility and technology, being connected and staying ahead means being competitive and driving our business forward. To do so, we require those with us on our journey to be well-prepared.” – Bruno Figueiredo, Product Development Manager – Vehicle Software.

In a global scenario where technology and digitalization profoundly shape the way we live and work, the ability to adapt and innovate has never been more crucial. Even century-old companies, already well-established in innovation and adaptation, understand the critical need to continuously develop in their employees the most in-demand competencies and skills for the current era.

In this context, Ford, a pioneering company in automotive innovation, sought CESAR and CESAR School to implement a Corporate Education program focused on Information and Communication Technologies (ICT). The campaign consisted of establishing a learning culture that is truly aligned with the challenges and opportunities of the current Digital Age.

The importance of innovation in the automotive industry

Innovation needs to be a guiding principle in any sector or company. Organizations with a deep understanding of new enabling technologies can build innovative solutions and, thus, stay at the forefront of their respective industries. For the automotive sector, it is no different: leveraging technology knowledge means building smarter vehicles, more efficient operating systems, and more agile processes.

With this in mind, Ford’s chosen path to innovate in the market began with the development of its employees. The company desired to empower engineers and other individuals not from the software development field, thus promoting the reskilling and upskilling of these professionals. It, therefore, promoted the opportunity for employees to take on roles more related to digital solution development.

The corporate education program, called NexT (New Work Experience), aimed to develop people in competencies and skills related to software development projects, fundamentals of programming in Python and Java languages, and the development practices for back end and data engineering. The training also included cross-disciplinary subjects, such as agility and UX Design.

“Our main goal was to empower Ford employees to transition into different roles and responsibilities within the company’s technology sector. Through NExT, we provided practical and accelerated training, even enabling those without prior programming experience, in the use of essential methods and technologies in the software development process.” – Rodrigo Cursino, Head of Projects and Educational Solutions. 

Active listening to design a comprehensive and strategic training

With the help of active listening, CESAR composed the training program in alignment with Ford’s primary objectives. Based on this, we developed a curriculum with two initial tracks focused on more general subjects. Then, we offered employees the opportunity to choose between two more specific tracks for in-depth learning.

The first track included topics taught to all students to promote leveling and updating of knowledge that would serve as the foundation for the specific tracks. This initial phase included subjects such as:

• Logic Programming;
• Introduction to Programming with Python;
• Object-Oriented Programming with Java;
• Configuration Management;
• Agile Methods;
• Design Sprint.

Once leveled, in the second phase, the idea was for employees to decide between the Back-End or Data Engineering tracks. Wonderfully, however, due to the sharp logistical planning of the training, all professionals had the opportunity to complete both tracks, one after the other, making the training even more comprehensive.

“The NexT program was a great opportunity that Ford provided employees who were willing to learn, innovate, and pursue a career change, and for some, even a radical one, within the company. Having contact with professors from outside the automotive world, involved in various contemporary technologies and methodologies, was key to expanding knowledge and perspectives that allow us to go further when thinking about solutions that benefit our customers.” – Marcelo Amorim, NexT student and Ford Engineering Supervisor.

Extensive reach and employee engagement

Prior to the training, Ford conducted an internal selection process to choose employees based on their interest in undergoing a change in their roles (reskilling). In total, there were over 100 applicants, and 20 were selected. This group consisted of individuals from different areas, with varying skills and hierarchical levels, ranging from juniors to executives.

The course lasted approximately seven months and was conducted in a remote format. This approach allowed Ford to reduce operational costs (logistics/allocation) and provided greater comfort while promoting commitment and dedication from employees during online classes. Moreover, since there were no geographical limitations, the organization had the freedom to reach strategic employees from different locations in Brazil, expanding innovation throughout the country.

To optimize learning, we devised a strategy so that the training only consumed a portion of the employees’ working hours, from 4:00 PM to 7:00 PM. Since this period was at the end of the workday, people were no longer tied up in meetings and other commitments. This approach facilitated team engagement and allowed all employees to allocate time for learning, resulting in a 100% course completion rate.

Key achievements through corporate education 

By empowering its employees, Ford expanded and further consolidated its software development team; as a result, it increased productivity and project deliveries. The training program also facilitated promotions and career advancements for professionals and executives.

Today, NexT program graduates have become internal knowledge multipliers, sharing the expertise gained during their training with the rest of the organization. The program created this exponential effect, making it possible to attract and develop new talent from within.

“We were looking for an institution with a solid reputation in the market and qualified professionals to deliver what we needed. Another key factor was to bring in a different external perspective. We have a vast intellectual capital, but we wanted to make this discovery outside our shell. It was very enlightening to bring in these external viewpoints, and CESAR, as a major knowledge hub, provided us with insights into what’s happening beyond ourknowledge. This partnership opened up new opportunities for us.” – Bruno Figueiredo, Gerente de Desenvolvimento de Produto – Software Veicular.

Develop your company’s talent with CESAR

 

Developing skills and knowledge in Information and Communication Technologies (ICT) is a way to empower employees to think about new areas of operation, intelligent solutions to complex problems, process improvements, and even new ways to create value for the company.

Innovation is a strategy that produces effects and results. CESAR can be a strategic partner in designing and executing a Corporate Education program to train employees in innovation, technology, and design skills.

Learn more about how corporate education can be the ideal way to address your organization’s challenges. Contact CESAR, and we will be more than happy to help.