KPIT Technologies, the global technology company specialising in product engineering and IT consulting announced that its Master’s degree programs in automotive electronics and strategic engineering management for employees, in collaboration with Coventry University, has won an award under the ‘Outstanding Course Team’ category at the Annual Coventry University Excellence Awards. It won the recognition for its unique and trend-setting approach.

The industry-academia collaboration is strategic for both the entities as there is significant overlap in the areas of research and development. As the automotive industry witnesses major changes such as autonomous driving, electrification, cybersecurity, connected vehicles, and advanced vehicle diagnostics, technology firms need to skill and upgrade their workforce with new-generation engineering capabilities that serve the changing customer landscape.

To navigate the transition and promote employee competence development, KPIT and Coventry University collaborated to introduce two specialised programs – MTech in Automotive Electronics and MBA in Strategic Engineering Management – exclusively for KPIT employees in Bangalore and Pune. The two-year programs comprise eight modules and a project, all co-created, co-designed, and co-delivered by the faculty members of Coventry University and subject matter experts from KPIT. The courses are practical and application-oriented, flexible, and contemporary while also meeting the highest levels of QAA (Quality Assurance Agency) standards.

The MTech in Automotive Electronics and the MBA in Strategic Engineering Management programme aims to enable individuals to develop their managerial and leadership capabilities to assist and direct the organisation to become more effective and efficient in rapidly changing competitive environments and knowledge-based economies.

The programme is delivered in India using a ‘flying faculty course’ approach. This approach was created in recognition of the desire to provide opportunities for KPIT staff to continually develop their existing skills and gain further qualifications. The development of the course has been an ongoing collegiate relationship for the past four years between KPIT and Coventry University. During these development discussions, the ‘flying faculty’ method of delivery was seen as being the most beneficial, as it allows for KPIT staff to study without the need of long periods of time off work. The courses and modules have been created as part of a long-term development process, drawing upon experiences in both academia and industry in order to maintain focus rooted in an engineering area, combined with management skills and development.

KPIT says while the courses are available at the KPIT campus, there is no deviation in the process or rules that Coventry University follows for the programs conducted at its institutes.

Prof. KNS Acharya, vice-president - Global Head of Education & Competency Development, Talent Acquisition Group at KPIT, said, “This award is a testimony to KPIT's commitment to cultivating an environment that enhances learning and development of its employees. The collaboration with Coventry University is enabling our employees in gaining more knowledge about their areas of interest, industry trends, and technology disruptions while also getting an understanding of the business operations in the fast-evolving automotive space. We are honored to receive this award and extend our gratitude to the university and the leadership council, employees, and the learning and development teams of KPIT. It has created a unified platform for academicians and industry leaders for spreading knowledge.”

The Coventry University Excellence Awards recognises teams who demonstrate exceptional practice and commitment to the University Group.