Axalta Coating Systems, a global supplier of liquid and powder coatings, has signed a partnership agreement with the University of Oviedo, Spain. The first stage of this partnership will involve Axalta offering students internships at the company’s offices in Asturias, starting in November 2015.

Four of the University’s best students, chosen based on their academic record, will be offered a six-month internship to work in the procurement, finance or human resources departments of Axalta’s local Asturias office.

“At Axalta, we always have an eye on the future and are passionate about investing in it.  One way in which we put this into practice is by partnering with universities and other institutes of higher education to work with students so they can develop the skills they need to become the professionals of tomorrow,” said Kolja Hosch, Head of Country Human Resources for Axalta in Europe, Middle East and Africa, at the signing ceremony.

Through these affiliations Axalta actively supports young people in applying their knowledge in real-life business situations. The partnership provides students with the opportunity of first-hand experiences in an exciting, successful, international company.

Ignacio González del Rey Rodríguez, General Secretary of the University of Oviedo, has worked in close cooperation with Axalta to bring this partnership agreement and the prized internships that form the first part of it, to fruition.

González del Rey Rodríguez says, “The agreement we have signed today with Axalta is important for our University. This type of relationship between academia and business is innovative in our region and one that we welcome. These internships offer our students an insight into a multinational work environment. They will be of immense value to our students, enabling them to leave university not only with theoretical knowledge, but also with practical skills they can take with them into their careers.”

The University of Oviedo is a public higher education and research institution in the Principality of Asturias, Spain. With a more than 400-year history, it offers a comprehensive range of undergraduate degrees in all areas, as well as postgraduate degree program in collaboration with other national and international universities and more than 500 companies.

Axalta’s program with the University of Oviedo is part of a company-wide initiative to provide internships to students in fields of study that include business, science, technology, engineering and mathematics.