PITTSBURGH--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Mar. 3, 2016--
PPG (NYSE:PPG) has partnered with ITECH Engineering School in Lyon,
France, to help sponsor the first chemical engineering master’s degree
program dedicated to paints and coatings in Europe.
PPG has worked closely with the European Council for Paints, Printing
Inks and Artists’ Colours Industry (CEPE) to help develop the ITECH
European master’s degree. The program is designed to attract students to
the coatings industry. As part of the program, students complete
extensive coursework and three internships at sponsoring
organizations. Courses are taught in English to help prepare students
for the global coatings marketplace. The program’s first cohort of nine
students will graduate in May 2017.
According to CEPE officials, each year approximately 100 trained
graduates enter a job market with an estimated 225 positions to fill.
“Our industry needs graduates,” said Olivier Tharreau, PPG director,
organizational development, EMEA, and a CEPE member who helped design
the master’s degree program. “There is high demand for qualified
graduates, but there are few candidates due to the lack of specialized
education programs.”
As a program sponsor, PPG provided $34,000 in both 2014 and 2015 through
its community engagement grantmaking program to cover tuition for four
students and will provide additional tuition support in 2016. PPG also
is providing 10-month internships at its facilities throughout Europe
for students in the program as part of its sponsorship.
“Our industry needs chemists who have a scientific and technical
understanding of coatings, and who have the ability to develop strong
management skills,” Tharreau said. “This program helps students meet
these requirements and provides them with resources they will need to
succeed. It also gives us the chance to introduce promising students to
PPG and the career opportunities that the global leader in paints and
coatings can offer them.”
ITECH-Lyon trains engineers in plastics, textiles, composites and
chemistry by examining paints, inks, adhesives, cosmetics, leather and
their uses (footwear, leather goods). With an associative status,
ITECH-Lyon is a Grande Ecole created and backed by professional unions
and companies.
PPG and the PPG Foundation aim to bring colour and brightness to PPG
communities around the world. By investing in educational opportunities,
we help grow today’s skilled workforce and develop tomorrow’s innovators
in industries related to coatings and specialty materials. Plus, we
empower PPG employees to make an impact for causes that are important to
them by supporting their volunteer efforts and charitable giving. Learn
more at www.ppgcommunities.com
and follow @PPG_Communities
on Twitter.
PPG: BRINGING INNOVATION TO THE SURFACE.™
PPG’s vision is to be the world’s leading coatings company by
consistently delivering high-quality, innovative and sustainable
solutions that customers trust to protect and beautify their products
and surroundings. Through leadership in innovation, sustainability and
colour, PPG provides added value to customers in construction, consumer
products, industrial and transportation markets and aftermarkets to
enhance more surfaces in more ways than does any other company. Founded
in 1883, PPG has global headquarters in Pittsburgh and operates in more
than 70 countries around the world. Reported net sales in 2015 were
$15.3 billion. PPG shares are traded on the New York Stock Exchange
(symbol: PPG). For more information, visit www.ppg.com
and follow @PPGIndustries
on Twitter.
Bringing innovation to the surface is a trademark of PPG
Industries Ohio, Inc.
View source version on businesswire.com: http://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20160303005123/en/
Source: PPG
PPG:
Ken Armistead
Corporate Communications, EMEA
+44-1924-354848
EMEACommunications@ppg.com
or
Mark
Silvey
Corporate Communications, Global
412-434-3046
silvey@ppg.com