Toyota Kirloskar Motor partners ASDC to make ITI students industry-ready

In line with its consistent efforts to contribute to India's skill development mission, Toyota Kirloskar Motor (TKM) today announced its partnership with the Automotive Skill Development Council (ASDC). This partnership is part of Toyota’s mission to upscale quality technical training in the Indian automotive industry and aims to bridge the skill gap between ITI and industry requirements.

The memorandum was signed by Arindam Lahiri, CEO, ASDC and N Raja, Deputy MD, Toyota Kirloskar Motor and Nikunj Sanghi, Chairman, ASDC in the presence of senior representatives from Toyota Kirloskar Motor including Vedprakash Tiwari, vice-president and Tadao Kidokoro, Managing Coordinator.

The initiative is targeted at ITI and diploma students with an objective to create qualified manpower that will result in enhancement of service levels at dealerships. In the first phase, TKM will extend this ASDC association with already associated 49 ITI/Diploma TTEP Institutes. This is in line with Toyota’s concept of enhancing skill levels of students and encouraging future entrepreneurs with a goal to provide well-trained, competent workforce for the automotive industry. T-TEP (Toyota Technical Education Program) will curate a cutting-edge training module, educate and mentor the aspirants on various facets of the automotive system and give them on-job training at their dealership. Based on the training garnered during the course, ASDC will certify the students enhancing their employability quotient.

Month-long crash course in second phase
In phase two, the Dealership Centralised Training Centres (DCTC) across Toyota dealerships in major metros in the country will offer a month-long crash course.  Local students can get a first- hand experience and in-depth knowledge of Toyota standards, tools and engine composition at a ground level.  The objective of establishing such centres at various dealerships is to demonstrate high quality skill standards and make aspirants future-ready by providing expert training, facilities, advanced curriculum and equipment. At the end of the crash course, the student benefit from an opportunity to work with automobile dealerships.

Commenting on ASDC’s partnership with Toyota, chairman Nikunj Sanghi said, “We are happy to associate with Toyota, which has been at the forefront of skill development initiatives. It is our commitment to work together with OEMs to build a sustainable skilling ecosystem in the automotive industry. With the ever-evolving customer needs, dynamic regulatory environment, emerging technology trends like electrified, automated, connected, shared technology, these cusps of changes demand for advanced skill levels. It is important that we provide such avenues for providing specialised trainings, apprenticeship opportunities and quality facilities to make the workforce industry ready. We hope all industry stakeholders come forward to work in an integrated manner to bridge the skill gap in the auto industry”

N Raja, Deputy Managing Director, Toyota Kirloskar Motor, said: “We are pleased to partner with ASDC to further upscale our comprehensive skill development initiatives. As reports suggest, the auto sector may face the shortage of skilled manpower and only 45.6% of youths are employable as per the skill needed by 2022.  The Automotive Mission Plan (AMP) 2016-26 aims to make the sector a significant contributor to the Skill India Program and one of the largest job-creating engines in the Indian economy. We are constantly working towards enhancing our skill development initiatives keeping pace with the rapidly changing technology trends and emerging industry needs. ASDC assessment and certification will help in boosting the competency and competitiveness of the ITI students.  Good cars and quality cars are a result of good people, quality people who think in a sustainable manner. As a responsible automobile manufacturer, we have prioritised sustainable skill development to create world class skilled workforce. This initiative is in line with the government of India’s Skill India Mission to enhance skill and increase the employability of youth workforce.”

Launched in India in 2006, the Toyota Technical Education Program (T-TEP) is a part of the Toyota’s Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR) activities in-line with the skill enhancement projects that TKM has been undertaking to bridge the skill gap faced by the Indian automotive industry. T-TEPs are established as a result of partnerships with industrial and technical training institutes across India to impart automotive trainings – General Repair, Automotive Body Repair and Automotive Paint Repair, thus, developing a highly-skilled technical workforce with bright career opportunities in the industry.  With this program TKM has been able to enhance the skill sets and employability of ITI students exposing students to the latest technology in automotive repair and on-the-job training at nearby Toyota Dealerships.