Professional Development
Workshops on the 24 Principles of Green Chemistry and Green Engineering
Grow program
Cognis Acceleration Program
Cognis College
As a globally operating company and employer in job markets around the world, Cognis maintains a diversely multicultural workforce. This commitment to providing opportunity on the local and regional levels applies to our technical and labor staff as well as management: our international training programs also include measures to develop business leadership and decision-making skills. In addition, we have launched training programs in the 24 Principles across all functions.
Cognis has taken further steps in the implementation of our 24 Principles of Green Chemistry and Green Engineering, including staff training. Initial workshops, concentrating on staff with influence—senior plant employees, selected by foremen, and team leaders in R&D, application labs or marketing, among others—have been held successfully. Plans for 2010 include cooperation with the sustainability experts and authors of the 24 Principles Dr. Paul T. Anastas and Dr. Julie B. Zimmerman. With their company Sustainability A to Z, we will introduce training in the 12 Principles of Green Engineering, as well as Web-based international workshops. In addition, they will evaluate the methods we have developed for measuring according to the Principles.
Read the interview with Dr. Julie B. Zimmerman (72 KB) about her view on the topic and her expectations for Cognis.
The management trainee program Grow, aimed at creating a stronger and larger pool of talented people with the potential to take on senior leadership roles, was launched in 2009 with a focus on the Asia-Pacific region. Grow is open to graduates with no work experience in the industry as well as those with track records of up to two years.
A further career development option is aimed at high performers already employed at Cognis. Our Acceleration Program brings together exceptionally promising professionals from different countries and various disciplines to form project teams that tackle larger, strategic challenges. The program demands a high level of resourcefulness and self-motivation, and focuses on objectives that can be realistically achieved on a short-term basis. All learning activities are strictly on-the-job.
Highly qualified and motivated employees are essential to our success. Throughout the Cognis Group, we offer as many opportunities as possible to grow and learn—professionally and personally. Alongside targeted on-the-job programs, staff development options include an array of off-the-job training courses. Our Cognis College, established in 2003, concentrates on international management skills. In 2008 it was further expanded to include the Cognis Sales Academy, which offers customized training measures for sales staff on various levels.