'Seat Classroom' To Visit Several Spanish Universities

MARTORELL – November 7, 2008: Today SEAT launched its ‘Aula SEAT’ (SEAT Classroom) initiative at Gijón’s Engineering Polytechnic Centre; it will later do the rounds of different Spanish universities throughout the academic year. The idea is to bring engineering students closer to the integrated process of vehicle design - from the designer’s initial idea right through to presentation to the end customer.

The official first-day launch ceremony, held under the title ‘SEAT: design, development, safety and sportiness’, was attended by Susana López, Vice-rector for Students and Employment at Oviedo University; Victor González, director of Principado de Asturias´ Bussines Development Institut; Ricardo Tucho, director of the Gijón Engineering Polytechnic, and Ramón Paredes, SEAT’s Vice-president for Human Resources.

Mr. Paredes’ speech highlighted “the major twin role played by SEAT vis-à-vis Universities – offering students the experience of automotive sector professionals to flesh out already-acquired knowledge, while simultaneously enabling the Company to tap into top talent to assure future competitiveness”.

A typical study day keynote presentation is on vehicle design. In the same vein Jaime Puig, SEAT Sport Director, together with Jordi Gené, SEAT’s official team driver, talk about the competition strategy that has won SEAT the World Touring Car Championship (WTCC). Other issues such as passive safety, the car chassis and electronic integration amongst other items, are also covered.

But the study day at Gijón was not all work and no play – 20 lucky students will accompany Jordi Gené on a round-the-track trip on a cordoned-off area aboard a SEAT León EUROCOPA. And those who wish to do so will be able to put the new SEAT Ibiza through its paces.

The Ibiza Sport Coupé is the centrepiece of another initiative taken by SEAT vis-à-vis Spanish universities – the Ibiza Universitour, a course on Road Safety to be given by SEAT drivers, touring the campuses of the country’s main cities to raise young people’s awareness of safe driving. Participants will also be able to practise good driving at the wheel of some twenty Ibiza Scs.

The next stop of the “Aula SEAT” will be the University of Valladolid, towards the end of February 2009.