ANAND Group and DY Patil International University sign MoU for 'Earn-While-Learn' B.Tech program

ANAND Group, a leading manufacturer of auto components and systems, has signed an MoU with DY Patil International University (DYPIU), Pune, to enable its Operating Engineers (OEs) to pursue further technical education while working.

This follows an MoU with SVSU University in Haryana last month as a part of a path-breaking industry-academia-government pilot programme, spearheaded by ANAND, to skil its working OEs to meet the fast-evolving needs of a booming auto sector. Between the two auto hubs of NCR and Pune, nearly 100 OEs will be further educated in the ‘Earn-While-Learn’ B.Tech course.

ANAND is planning to expand the rollout of the Higher Education for Operating Engineers (H.O.P.E) program to other automotive hubs across the country.

At the Pune launch of the H.O.P.E, Rahul Ranjan Mahiwal, IAS, Commissioner, Pune Metropolitan Region Development Authority, said “H.O.P.E is an innovative industry-academia-government partnership that will foster a symbiotic bond between best-in-class technical knowledge and its applications in the real world.”

The H.O.P.E collaboration in the Pune region will allow OEs in ANAND Group companies—Gabriel India Ltd., Dana Anand India, MAHLE ANAND Thermal Systems, and MAHLE ANAND Filter Systems—to pursue a B.Tech course in Mechanical and Smart Manufacturing that has been co-created in partnership with DYPIU.

Speaking on the occasion, Mahendra Goyal, Group President and Co-Chief Operating Officer, ANAND, stated: “Employees across companies and sectors look forward to further build their skill sets, which can help them advance their careers with enhanced opportunities and a better life. At ANAND, we make it easier for our employees to achieve their career targets without taking a break from employment—and, at the same time—plug skill gaps in the sector.”

The B.Tech course has been designed looking at current employment and the fast-changing technological climate and exposes employees to newer areas of expertise. The course is recognised by the All-India Council for Technical Education (AICTE), and employees who have completed two years working with ANAND Group can apply.

Manoj Kolhatkar, MD Gabriel India, and Co-Chief Operating Officer, ANAND, speaking at the sprawling Gabriel plant in Chakan, said: "As the auto sector undergoes transformative shifts via new technologies, increasing customer expectations, and clean mobility, the workforce must be continuously skilled to meet the new challenges and opportunities.

“The H.O.P.E program is a step in this direction but more needs to happen across the sector via collaboration with academia. This will help build a solid foundation for Make in India," he added.

Speaking about H.O.P.E, Professor Prabhat Ranjan, Vice Chancellor, DY Patil International University, added, “Technology is changing faster than we expect and its diffusion is also very fast. In this context, skilling and upskilling of the industrial workforce will be key to make India the manufacturing hub of the world. No one entity can do it alone, so targeted efforts such as this industry-academia-government programme are key."