Pune: In a first-of-its-kind initiative, the Maharshi Karve Stree Shikshan Sanstha (MKSSS) has signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with Mercedes-Benz for conducting all-women Advanced Diploma in Automotive Mechatronics (ADAM) programme.

Designed by the Mercedes-Benz Global Training Centre, the one-year ADAM course focuses on self-learning methodology and helps candidates upskill themselves with the latest technological advancements in the world of automobiles.

Mercedes-Benz has earlier conducted such programmes along with government and private institutions and now for the first time is conducting the course with an all-women’s college.

Dr PV Shastry, Secretary, Maharshi Karve Stree Shikshan Sanstha said that empowerment through education has been the objective of the society and so courses like this hold a huge importance. “Classroom learning has its own boundaries and in the course, the girls will be working as much on the field as they will learn theoretically. Mercedes-Benz will give them a chance to practically work with the vehicles,” he added.

The course, that will comprise only 20 students to start with, which could later be extended to 40, is a post-graduate advanced diploma. Graduates in mechanical, electronic, automotive, instrumentation engineering will be eligible for the course, for which they will have to answer an entrance examination. 

With 70 per cent emphasis on the practical knowledge, the one-year course will give real-time exposure to the students, with hands-on work in the workshops. The course will train the students as ‘Certified Maintenance Technicians’ as well as ‘Senior Advisors’.

Santosh Iyer, Vice President, Customer Service and Corporate Affairs, Mercedes-Benz said, “India is a growing country so many automobile companies are coming here and jobs are increasing so all the youngsters require is adequate skills. As the Indian education system is not sufficient, in our course, we let the students play with the car and learn through experience, which will make them employable.”

He added, “We ensure a 100 per cent placement through the course. Also, guarantee that the participants will be absorbed by Mercedes dealers across the country and even abroad. They will also get opportunities outside Mercedes with the course certificate.”

This year’s course is expected to start by early October, and the schedule for the entrance examination will soon be released.