Port Blair, February 11: Toyota Kirloskar Motor [TKM] has announced the launch of the 65th Toyota Technical Education Program (T-TEP) at Dr B. R. Ambedkar Institute of Technology, Pahargaon, Port Blair, Andaman & Nicobar Islands. The primary objective of this initiative is to enhance the skill set of students, thereby enhancing their employability through the company’s unique training initiative namely Toyota Technical Education Program (T-TEP) and Scholarship program for Technical Education and Recognition [STAR] under T-TEP.
The event was graced by Mr Utpal Sharma, Principal, Dr B. R. Ambedkar Institute of Technology, Port Blair in the presence of Mr Masakazu Yoshimura, MD and CEO, Toyota Kirloskar Motor and Regional CEO, India, Middle East, East Asia and Oceania Region, Toyota Motor Corporation, Mr Vikram Gulati, Country Head and Executive Vice President, Corporate Affairs & Governance, Mr Arun G Nair, Project Vice President, SBU East, TKM, and Mr Sagar Khurana, Dealer Principal, Prince Toyota, Port Blair, Andaman.
To support the local manufacturing ecosystem of the country through skilling and developing the communities, TKM’s flagship programs like Toyota Technical Training Institute and Toyota Technical Education Program, have for over a decade spearheaded the skilling efforts for students from economically challenged backgrounds, towards creation of world class skilled technicians, thus making a difference to the surrounding communities, and contributing to ‘Skill India’ mission. The company’s efforts were acknowledged, when one of its skill champions from TTTI, Mr. Akhilesh Narasimhamurthy, a Mechatronics Bronze Medal Winner at the World Skill Contest 2022, had the opportunity to interact with the Hon’ble Prime Minister of India, Shri. Narendra Modi ji.
T-TEP is a year-long program inclusive of On-the-Job Training (OJT), designed specifically for final-year ITI/Diploma students as a part of their curriculum. Key features of this program include specialized training for T-TEP's lead trainers of the Institute by Toyota, On-the-Job training (OJT) at Toyota dealership for practical skills towards better employability, and a curriculum designed to enhance knowledge of advanced technology to meet the Indian Auto industry requirements. Additionally, last year the company had introduced the STAR scholarship program for economically challenged students to purse their technical studies. With today’s TTEP inauguration, TKM now stands associated with 59 ITI/Diploma institutes across 26 states and 4 union territories. So far over 12,000 students have been trained and more than 70% of the students are working in various automobile companies and their respective dealerships across the country.
Present at the launch, Mr. Masakazu Yoshimura, MD and CEO, Toyota Kirloskar Motor and Regional CEO, India, Middle East, East Asia and Oceania Region, Toyota Motor Corporation said, “We stand at a pivotal moment where industry, academia, and government converge to shape the future of India. This initiative serves as a shining example of collaboration, empowerment, and the immense potential of our youth to shape the progress of the country. As India gains prominence on the global stage, we believe in contributing to nation building by strengthening the local manufacturing eco-system and continuously promoting skill development while upskilling on new age technologies. Since the inception of T-TEP in 2006, over 12,000 students have been trained. Its grassroots-level approach is instrumental in building talent pool which is the basis for establishing strong business foundation and growth. Furthermore, we had introduced the STAR Scholarship program last year for deserving students to pursue their technical education dreams, thereby contributing to community development, thus producing ‘Mass Happiness for All’ and ‘Leaving No One Behind.’
Speaking on the occasion, Dr. Utpal Sharma, Principal, Dr B. R. Ambedkar Institute of Technology, Port Blair, Andaman & Nicobar Islands said, with growing technology advancements in the auto industry and unprecedented growth in motorization, and customers expectation for best-in-class services, there is a need for highly skilled technicians, making it important for students at technical training centres to have access to advanced technologies and gain hands-on experience. With this collaboration, students at Dr B. R. Ambedkar Institute of Technology, Pahargaon, Port Blair, Andaman and Nicobar Islands will get an opportunity to understand Toyota’s values, best practices, and advance technologies, thereby benefitting the students, and contributing to Skill India Mission.”
Talking about the partnership, Mr. Sagar Khurana, Dealer Principal, Prince Toyota said, “Amidst rapid technological strides in the automotive industry, surge in motorization, and heightened customer expectations, there's a critical demand for highly skilled technicians. To ensure skill and knowledge enhancement, students under the T-TEP will be exposed to the latest curriculum covering automobile fundamentals, advanced technologies, Toyota’s values, and basic soft skills. Prince Toyota is committed to support the students of this program by providing them on-job training and facilitating their skill development. The adoption of T-TEP syllabus by Dr B. R. Ambedkar Institute of Technology, Pahargaon, Port Blair, Andaman and Nicobar Islands will enable the students to further enhance their skills and make them employable in the Auto industry."
TKM along with its dealer partner have invested over Rs 1.5 million in infrastructure, e-learning contents, engines, transmissions, practice kits and trained the institute’s faculty through its unique Train-The-Trainer approach. In addition, the company had announced the Scholarship program for Technical Education and Recognition [STAR] under T-TEP. The main aim of the STAR program is to empower and provide opportunities to deserving students from challenging economic backgrounds to pursue their higher studies in technical institutes (ITIs/Polytechnics). Under STAR program, *scholarships up to Rs 51,000 per year will be offered to eligible students covering hostel fees, educational expenses, and family support. This unique pilot program will benefit students, across 11 states, such as Madhya Pradesh, Uttar Pradesh, Jharkhand, Bihar, Nagaland, Assam, Manipur, Tripura, Mizoram, Meghalaya, Arunachal Pradesh and one Union Territory of Andaman and Nicobar Islands. With this, TKM remains committed to enhancing and expanding T-TEP initiative to rural areas and meet the requirements of the automotive industry, promoting skill development, and providing opportunities for talented students, to excel in the automotive sector.