Toyota Korea announced on the 20th that it presented an 80 million won scholarship to Ajou University on March 19 to nurture motorsport talent that will lead the future of the automotive industry.
The scholarship presentation was part of Toyota Korea’s social contribution initiative, the ‘T-TEP (TOYOTA Technical Experience Program)’, and took place at Ajou University in Boryeong, Chungcheongnam-do with approximately 60 attendees, including Manabu Konyama, President of Toyota Korea, and Su-hoon Lee, President of Ajou University.
Since signing the T-TEP MoU with Ajou University, the first university in Korea to establish a motorsport major, in 2020, Toyota Korea has continuously collaborated to cultivate automotive specialists, including the establishment of an Electrification Training Academy and donating practical vehicles and parts.
The scholarship presented this time will be used not only for awarding scholarships to outstanding students but also for a study program in Japan to visit the ‘Super Taikyu Series’, Japan’s premier endurance race, scheduled for May, enhancing understanding of motorsport.
On the same day, the ‘Toyota-Lexus Experience Day’ was held alongside the scholarship presentation. The Toyota-Lexus Experience Day was a special branding experience program prepared for Ajou University’s students in the Toyota Electrification Department, featuring ▲ education on Toyota and Lexus electrification technologies ▲ test drives of electrified vehicles and circuit programs ▲ and a career briefing session. Notably, Lexus official dealer employees participated in the career briefing to discuss the 2024 recruitment plans, vision, working conditions, and held job counseling sessions.
Manabu Konyama, President of Toyota Korea, stated, “Toyota is striving for carbon neutrality through various electrified models and aims to create ‘better cars’ through motorsport. We will continue to support the students of Ajou University, who are filled with dreams and passion for automobiles, to grow into outstanding talents contributing to the future of motorsport development.”
Meanwhile, Toyota Korea is carrying out diverse social contribution activities to nurture young talents who will lead the future of Korea. This includes the T-TEP industry-academia cooperation education program for cultivating automotive talent, ‘Sejong Dream Orchestra’ which sponsors arts education for marginalized children and youth in collaboration with the Sejong Center, and ‘Lexus Creative Masters’ to discover and support emerging artisans in Korea, aiming to become a caring corporate citizen loved by every customer.
Lee Sang-jin daedusj@autodiary.kr