Toyota Technical Training Institute’s 10th batch of skilled students graduates

Toyota Technical Training Institute (TTTI), the Bidadi-based facility which trains youth from the rural corners of Karnataka, today celebrated its 10th convocation ceremony and conferred academic degrees to 42 students from the outgoing batch of 2016-19.

The academic honours were handed over by chief guest, Ajay Kumar Jain, CMD of PPAP Automotive and president, Toyota Kirloskar Suppliers’ Association, along with Takayuki Kitagawa, Consul General of Japan, Bangalore; Atsunori Komeie, senior vice-president, Shunichi Uchida, chief expert, Toyota Technical Skill Academy - Japan and senior management representatives from Toyota Kirloskar Motor – Masakazu Yoshimura, managing director, and Shekar Viswanathan, vice-chairman and whole-time director. The event was attended by parents, friends and relatives of the graduating students.

L-R: Atsunori Komeie; Shekar Viswanathan; Ajay Kumar Jain; Takayuki Kitagawa; Masakazu Yoshimura; Shunichi Uchida and Yoshihiro Horinouchi at TTTI's Convocation ceremony. 

World-class training
For India Auto Inc, which is struggling with a dearth of entry-level talent, TTTI inculcates world-class skills training to youth from the economically weaker sections of society in rural Karnataka and provides a comprehensive three-year program that focuses on their holistic development with knowledge, skill, body and attitude.

With a structure that ensures the highest standard of education, the curriculum offers a unique blend of complete learning experience, along with basic subjects, recreational activities and comprehensive training on automobile assembly, automobile paint, automobile weld and mechatronics. In addition, students are given practical training by applying the world-renowned ‘Toyota Production Systems’ to various manufacturing processes at the Toyota plant in Bidadi. 

Since its inception 12 years ago, the institute has trained over 573 students who have been inducted at Toyota Kirloskar Motor and other Toyota Group companies.

Helping narrow the skill gap in India
Congratulating the students, Takayuki Kitagawa, Consul General of Japan, Bangalore, said: “I am very much pleased to be a part of the 10th convocation ceremony of Toyota Technical Training Institute, which is helping shape a brighter future for talented youth from economically disadvantaged backgrounds in Karnataka. We encourage more OEMs to follow this example so that they provide standard employable skills for more Indian youth. This would also definitely narrow the skill gap existing in the country and contribute to equalising the skills required in the dynamic and ever-evolving auto industry. This kind of initiatives will be facilitated by the collaboration in the area of skill development and technical exchanges among factories concerned.”

Lauding Toyota’s vision in making the industry tomorrow-ready, chief guest Ajay Kumar said, “India is a young country and we have some extraordinarily talented youngsters who must be nurtured and provided with the best possible training and opportunities to excel in the competitive society. We need more corporates like Toyota Kirloskar Motor to support government’s Skill India initiative to create better opportunities, and platforms for the development of their talents. I would also like to congratulate the faculty and staff at Toyota Technical Training Institute for their efforts towards enhancing the skill set and employability of the rural youth and applaud all the outgoing students a bright future and a successful career.”

Congratulating the students,  Atsunori Komeie, senior vice-president, said, “Toyota strongly believes that we have greater role in India than just manufacturing and selling the safest and environment-friendly cars.  It goes beyond the core of our business to build a talent pool that can create a sustainable business environment. In-line with our commitment to the industry, Toyota Technical Training Institute has been a significant arm of Toyota for more than a decade. Our aim here is to create and nurture a best-in-class pool of talent through a curriculum, which not only develops talent but also benefits the entire industrial ecosystem with a workforce that imparts soft skills, ethics and principle. Therefore, it is indeed a proud moment for all of us when TTTI graduates excel in their career and leave a lasting impression on international platforms like World Skill competition.

“We, as a corporate, will continue our commitment towards achieving the common goal of Skill India mission. TTTI is a great reflection of this belief, and illustrates Toyota’s dedication to fully supporting India on its way to self-sufficiency in the auto industry. Through our robust skill development curriculum, we will not only aim at adding value to every employee’s skill set, but also build a strong work force for the industry as a whole” he added.

TTTI students participate in national and world skill competitions
Set up in 2007 as a part of Toyota’s social initiatives, TTTI is a fully residential school. Its aim is to develop good corporate citizens equipped with Toyota-specific methodologies and create learning opportunities for deserving individuals. This year, TTTI has expanded intake capacity from 64 to 120 students including 5 girls.

During the course, TTTI students also got an opportunity to participate in the National Skill Competition and World Skill Competition (Skill Olympics) in three categories – Mechatronics, Car Painting, Prototype Modelling. In 2017, at the 44th World Skills Competition held at Abu Dhabi, Kiran, a Toyota Kirloskar Motor staffer won the bronze medal in the Prototype Modelling Skill, while H Varun and T A Anand Kumar, who are also alumni of TTTI and employees of TKM, ranked sixth in the Mechatronics Skill category.

TTTI has been selected as one of the training institutes, under Japan India Manufacturing [JIM] skill transfer promotion program. Under this, Toyota Kirloskar Motor will be one of the Indo-Japanese companies that will help enhance the manufacturing base of India and contribute to Make-In-India and Skill India, through training 30,000 persons over the next 10 years with Japanese-style manufacturing skills and practices.