KUALA LUMPUR: BMW Group Malaysia has partnered up with TOC Automotive College to bring about the BMW Technical Trainee Programme (BTTP), a course collaboration to develop specialised technicians with the latest knowledge and expertise for the Malaysian automotive industry.
Exclusive only to TOC, the programme limited to only 25 students per year is designed to ensure the learning knowledge of its students fulfil the standards of the German Chamber of Commerce and the BMW Group.
"At the BMW Group, we recognise the importance of having the right skill sets and qualification to deliver the premium ownership experience. For us, investing in future talent is as important as introducing the newest technologies of the future, which is why we are pleased to partner with TOC with the BTTP," said BMW Group Malaysia managing director Harald Hoelzl.
The extensive 3.5-year programme, a longer duration than other automotive diplomas, combines dedicated classroom learning and BMW-specific training to the latest technical knowledge and unique diagnostic skills with equipment designed for the world-class brand.
Adhering to the high standards of industrial attachment, students of this programme will have set minimum wages during their first term of Supervised Industrial Training (SIT).
The BTTP not only provides a 12-month apprenticeship training with a hands-on learning approach, but also connects automotive graduates to a wide network of BMW authorised dealerships for career opportunities.
Upon graduating, the BTTP graduates from TOC will receive a Diploma in Automotive Technology certification – a completion certificate by TOC Automotive College, recognised by Ministry of Higher Education (MOHE) and fully accredited by the Malaysian Qualifications Agency (MQA) as well as a Certificate from BMW Group Malaysia.
"This initiative is a step-up for TOC to offer a more rewarding career path to automotive technicians here in Malaysia for the future," said TOC Automotive College chairman Wan Kamarul Zaman during the introduction of the new course.
"Meeting the growing demand for Technical and Vocational Education and Training (TVET) in the automotive industry and working with one of the world's leading premium car companies can help expand the competency needs of our students to that of an international level, thus making our young automotive professionals not only more desirable to potential employers but also raising the knowledge and know-how in the automotive industry here."
TOC is one of the five learning institutions in Malaysia to receive engines from BMW Group Malaysia for research and development previously, for the purpose of enhancing local automotive technical and engineering expertise.
Other joint projects between BMW Group Malaysia and TOC include accepting alumni students as interns and apprentice technicians at BMW Group Malaysia's network of dealerships.
The first intake for the BTTP began in Aug last year and was said to have received favourable responses among the students and their families.