Bits&bytes
Diploma courses on the anvil to cater to industry

Ashok Leyland, the flagship company of the Hinduja group, and Coimbatore-based PSG College of Technology have joined hands to offer career-oriented postgraduate diploma courses.

This is the first time such courses are being designed to provide a platform to students to be on a par with engineering students, J.N. Amrolia, executive director, Ashok Leyland, said in Coimbatore recently, after signing the MOU with the college.

Initially, the one-and-half-year courses offered were PG Diploma in Manufacturing Technology and PG Diploma in Automobile Sales and Service.

The first year is structured on the trimester system which would be theory-based, while the next six months would consist of intense internship at various plants and service centres of Ashok Leyland, after which successful students would be absorbed into the company, Amrolia said.

Saying that the course content has been developed by PSG College in consultation with the company, keeping in mind with the needs of the industry, C.R. Swaminathan, chief executive, PSG Institutions, said it would be closely monitored by a special committee consisting of executives of both the groups.

The eligibility criteria is science graduates (BSc Physics and BSc Applied Sciences) with a consistent academic performance of at least 60 per cent and below the age of 22.

The course would be fullly residential at PSG Tech and is being sponsored by Ashok Leyland. It was being promoted through PSG Tec website and open to students all over India, he said. PTI

Toyota sets up institute for manufacturing sector

Toyota recenty announced setting up of Toyota Technical Training Institute (TTTI) near Bangalore for training students in manufacturing sector.

The purpose of this institute is to offer an opportunity to acquire special skills of ‘Monozukuri’ (skilled manufacturing), for those students who have the talent but cannot go for higher education due to economic reasons, a company statement said recently.

Atsushi Toyoshima, Managing Director, Toyota Kirloskar Motors, said: "This institute will not only provide a high standard of education and training in automotive technology, but also provide students employment opportunities".

The TTTI will receive its first batch of students in August. About 60 students from Karnataka will be selected for the three-year residential course. The eligible candidates should have passed 10th standard.

The TTTI will offer students four courses in automobile assembly, automobile paint, automobile weld and mechatronics (a combination of mechanical and industrial electronics).

The three-year course will involve practical 
training at the TKM plant, during which students will be exposed to the application of Toyota Production System.

The institute will be a fully residential school, concentrating on the theoretical, practical and physical training as part of the course. TTTI will provide education free of cost to the students. Fellowships will be provided to deserving students to promote excellence.

TKM will encourage potential graduates of TTTI to join the company as team members. PTI