Toyota Korea announced on the 19th that it has signed MOUs for an industry-academic cooperation education program, T-TEP (Toyota Technical Experience Program), with 13 universities and high schools nationwide to foster talent development in the automotive sector and donated 17 vehicles for educational purposes.
T-TEP is part of Toyota Korea’s social contribution activities aimed at developing talents in the automotive industry and has been in partnership since 2020. The T-TEP program includes training on Toyota and Lexus electrification-related technologies, introduction to brand philosophy and customer satisfaction services, opportunities for outstanding students to intern at Toyota Japan, and the provision of teaching materials to participating schools. It also offers internship opportunities at local dealerships and career counseling in collaboration with those dealers.
The signing ceremony for this T-TEP partnership was held at the Toyota Training Academy located in Beojeong-dong, Giheung-gu, Yongin, attended by Toshiyuki Nakahara, Vice President of Toyota Korea, and representatives from the 13 universities and high schools. The institutions involved are Daelim University, Dong-Eui University of Science, Busan University of Science and Technology, Seoyoung University (Paju Campus and Gwangju Campus), Seojeong University, Ajou Motor College, Yeongnam University of Science and Technology, Korea Polytechnic University (Nam Daegu Campus and Busan Campus), Gyeonggi Automotive Science High School, Dongil Technical High School, Busan Automotive High School, Songshan High School, and Yeosu Technical High School, marking a collaboration with a total of 8 universities and 5 high schools nationwide.
Additionally, Toyota Korea held a donation ceremony to deliver training vehicles along with the T-TEP agreement. During this ceremony, a total of 17 vehicles were donated to the participating T-TEP universities and high schools, including Lexus’s best-selling model, the ES 300h, the all-electric UX 300e, the plug-in hybrid RAV4 PHEV, and Toyota’s quintessential hybrid model, the Prius.
Moreover, after the signing ceremony, attendees were given a tour of the Toyota Training Academy, which recently relocated from Seongdong-gu, Seoul, to Beojeong-dong, Giheung-gu. The Toyota Training Academy serves as a training center for Toyota and Lexus dealers and employees, offering various training programs and practical education specialized in services and sales across different divisions.
Toshiyuki Nakahara, Vice President of Toyota Korea, stated, “We hope that this MOU and vehicle donation will help T-TEP students grow into excellent talents in the automotive industry,” adding, “Toyota Korea will continue its efforts to ensure the ongoing success of programs such as brand education and electrification technology training.”
Meanwhile, besides T-TEP, which nurtures talent in the automotive field, Toyota Korea is actively involved in various social contribution activities aimed at talent development. This includes the ‘Sejong Dream Tree Orchestra,’ which supports cultural education for low-income children and youth in collaboration with the Sejong Center for the Performing Arts, and the ‘Lexus Creative Masters’ program, which discovers emerging craft artisans in Korea, showcasing the company’s commitment to being a beloved corporate citizen.
By Lee Sang-jin daedusj@autodiary.kr