Hyundai technical training goes national

For the past five years Hyundai South Africa has run a technical training academy for high school pupils in the Gauteng area.

The aim of this academy is to support technical schools and colleges to maintain the highest levels of technical education for the motoring sector, as well as to help to stimulate market entrants' interest in participating in this industry, with its much-needed skills competencies.

"The Hyundai Training Academy has received a strong response from the market. Of the school-leavers who have been through our training programme, Hyundai South Africa has offered full-time employment to 25 pupils as apprentice technicians at Hyundai dealers around Johannesburg," says Michael Rohde, after-sales and service director at Hyundai South Africa.

"Now, based on the success of this model, and what we have learned from it, we are launching this programme nationally, through our network of about 85 dealers around the country.

"In doing so, Hyundai South Africa has embarked on the 'Adopt a School' principle, where we will require a Hyundai dealer to interact with a technical school or college in its immediate area to roll out the Hyundai Academy training programme.

"We envision about 60 active programmes nationally, which also includes independent Hyundai dealers who have shown an interest in this programme," Rohde says.

The programme will be fully supported by Hyundai's head office, whereby all training materials and required automotive parts - like engines, transmissions and components - will be provided at no cost to each school which forms part of this academy.

Each dealer will be proactively monitored to ensure that the highest levels of information and support are given to pupils at each school.

"This programme allows Hyundai SA to deliver strong technical training for relevant schools nationally to ensure we become a more active force in the motoring sector by offering true skills development and upliftment," Rohde says.

Training is offered to each school as part of the normal daily class schedule.

However, more complex motor issues are discussed and pupils are exposed to real-time aspects of the motoring sector - like technological advances in components and diagnostics - to ensure that broader exposure is given to the school's curriculum.

"Our aim through the schools programme is to offer the top five pupils of respective schools the opportunity to join Hyundai SA full-time, as an apprentice technician.

"However, top-performing students can also be accommodated in non-technical positions, like service advisors or administration.

"Certainly, we are incredibly proud of this initiative and being able to actively contribute to the employment of market entrants locally.

"As one of the only motoring companies that undertakes this type of active tertiary educational support in South Africa, our vision is to be able to support the motoring industry as a whole, by bringing the most up-to-date technical skills to market entrants, to the benefit of manufacturers and consumers alike," concludes Rohde.