Indian Institute of Technology, Guwahati, the Association for Overseas Technical Cooperation and Sustainable Partnerships, Japan, Suzuki Motor Corporation, Japan and Maruti Suzuki India Ltd announced a collaboration for promotion of technical education and training.

This first-of-its-kind institutional collaboration facilitates promotion of education and training covering engineering course and internship programmes in both India and Japan. It will also promote research for next-generation technologies for benefit of both countries, said a statement issued by Maruti Suzuki India Ltd on Wednesday.

According to the initiatives authorised by the ministry of economy, trade and industry, government of Japan, an engineering course, primarily related to automobiles, will be conducted by Suzuki Motor Corporation, Japan (SMC) and Maruti Suzuki India Ltd (MSIL) by providing training to students through lectures, the statement said.

As part of the curriculum, Japanese language courses will be conducted by the Association for Overseas Technical Cooperation and Sustainable Partnerships, Japan.

“This course will be provided to students of IIT Guwahati. The three organisations of Japan will arrange for faculty to conduct these at the institute. Eligible students will be provided an opportunity of being placed for an internship at SMC’s facility in Japan as well as at MSIL in India. This programme will help students gain both local and global exposure,' it said.

Satoshi Suzuki, the ambassador extraordinary and plenipotentiary of Japan to India, said, “I am delighted to see the setting up of a new JEC here in IIT Guwahati, in collaboration with three Japanese partners, Maruti Suzuki, Suzuki Motor Corporation and AOTS. I believe these three are the best partners the Japanese side can offer. I hope the synergy among these partners will help create future engineers to lead India’s manufacturing sector and to build new bridges of friendship between India and Japan.”

Kenichi Ayukawa, the managing director and chief executive officer, Maruti Suzuki India Ltd, said, “This institutional collaboration will help us prepare students wider technical roles. Internship exposures at global and local levels will make students ready for global and local roles. It is a fine example of academia, industry and students coming together to create benchmarks in technical education. I see this collaboration taking technical education to the next level.”

The MoU was inked in the presence of Satoshi Suzuki. The ceremony was also graced by Ashok Kumar Chawla, adviser, Japan, ministry of external affairs.