Maruti Suzuki expands its skill development initiative, partners with Delhi Skill & Entrepreneurship University to train youth in automobile retail
Expanding the Company’s skill development initiatives, Maruti Suzuki India Limited announced its partnership with Delhi Skill & Entrepreneurship University (DSEU). Aligned to Government of India’s Skill India Mission, the initiative will train youth in automobile retail, making them employable.
As part of the partnership, Maruti Suzuki and DSEU will offer a BBA (Automotive Retail Management) course spanning over a 3-year period. The industry integrated program is a blend of academic learning and skill development where students will acquire theoretical knowledge through classroom learning in the first year followed by two years of on-the-job training at Maruti Suzuki dealerships in Delhi NCR. During the on-the-job training, students will receive a stipend and an incentive basis their performance as per dealership policy.
In addition to the practical learning, the course entails enhanced focus on work ethics, soft skills, Indian and Japanese work culture etc. Bridging the industry-academia gap, industry experts will also impart sessions on the automobile industry and its best practices.
The curriculum is designed and developed jointly by Maruti Suzuki and DSEU as per the guidelines of University Grants Commission (UGC).
Offering 100% placement support, the students on successful completion of course, and based on their performance during on-the-job training, will stand a chance to get placement at Maruti Suzuki dealerships.
The first batch of the programme will be initiated this month.
Announcing this initiative, Mr. Rajesh Uppal, Member Executive Board (HR, IT, Safety, DE) & CIO, Maruti Suzuki India Limited, said, “Our collaboration with DSEU will help students aspiring for career options in the automobile retail sector. Skill gaps and non-availability of trained workforce is a challenge for the industry. Real-time on-the-job training will help bridge the skill gap. Professional structured skill training will go a long way to strengthen their career in automobile retail Industry.”
Elaborating on the tie-up, Dr. Amita Dev, Vice Chancellor, DSEU, appreciated Maruti Suzuki for the initiative and said, “We are delighted to partner with India’s leading passenger vehicle manufacturer to launch the well-equipped BBA (Automotive Retail Management) programme. Through the initiative, we endeavor to train students in skills relevant for the industry and contribute to bridging the skill gap. Offering a holistic platform for theoretical as well as practical learning, the course will surely help to boost their employability, knowledge, and intellectual skills.”
In FY 2020-21, Maruti Suzuki had collaborated with Shri Vishwakarma Skill University in Haryana for an industry integrated bachelor’s programme to equip youth with automotive retail skills required at dealerships and create a pool of skilled and professional Dealer Sales Executives (DSEs). Later, the initiative was further expanded to other parts of the country. At present, Maruti Suzuki has similar tie ups with Savitribai Phule Pune University in Pune, GLS University in Ahmedabad and Tata Institute of Social Sciences – School of Vocation Education (TISS-SVE) in Mumbai and B.K. Birla College (Autonomous) in Kalyan. A total of 340 students are being trained as a part of these partnerships.