Tata Motors’ Initiative Trains 4000 Students Each Year in Advanced Automotive Skills

Tata Motors has partnered with Navodaya Vidyalaya Samiti (NVS) to establish Automotive Skill Labs at various Jawahar Navodaya Vidyalayas (JNVs). This initiative empowers youth from marginalized communities for a brighter automotive future. Thirty percent of the enrollment is girls, highlighting a gender-inclusive approach.

Showing its dedication to developing talent and creating a skilled workforce for the automotive industry, Tata Motors, along with NVS, has set up dedicated ‘Automotive Skill Labs’ at JNVs. So far, 25 labs, fully equipped with necessary tools, have been established in JNVs across Maharashtra, Karnataka, Gujarat, Jharkhand, West Bengal, Uttar Pradesh, and Uttarakhand. This unique industry-academic collaboration trains about 4000 students annually in practical automotive skills, with 30% of students being girls.

Role of Tata Motors Automotive Skill Labs at JNVs

Aligned with the vocational courses outlined in the ‘National Education Policy 2020’, Tata Motors’ ‘Automotive Skill Labs’ aim to give secondary and senior secondary students (from 9th to 12th grade) essential subject knowledge, practical skills, and industry exposure, all within their school. Students also get the chance to visit Tata Motors’ plants, interact with service and dealership professionals, and attend lectures by industry experts for real-world experience. Additionally, instructors at these labs receive training at Tata Motors’ plants. An example of this hands-on learning is the E-Rickshaw built by students at the Skill Lab in Pune.

After completing the program, students receive certificates from Tata Motors and NVS. Post-school, students can choose to pursue a Diploma in Manufacturing Technology, with a full stipend and on-the-job training at Tata Motors’ manufacturing facilities. Alternatively, those wanting to continue with Tata Motors can enroll in a 3.5-year BTech program in engineering in collaboration with select institutes, leading to permanent employment after five years.

Official Statement by Tata Motors

Highlighting the company's commitment to empowering youth and closing the skills gap in the automotive industry, Vinod Kulkarni, CSR Head, Tata Motors, said, “Our Automotive Skill Labs empowers youngsters from underserved communities with employable skills relevant for the evolving automotive sector in India. It creates pathways for students in grades 9th – 12th to pursue higher education and secure employment opportunities. Contributing to the ‘Skill India Mission’, this programme instills innovative thinking, entrepreneurial spirit, analytical mindset and critical communication skills amongst the students. The response from girl students has strengthened our commitment to empower future leaders who will contribute to India’s prominence on the global stage as envisioned by Viksit Bharat @2047.”

In 2023, over 1,600 students from this program participated in the National Automobile Olympiad. This event was organized by the Automotive Skill Development Council (ASDC). Out of these participants, 17 students advanced to the second stage of the competition.