Mercedes-Benz Malaysia Commercial Vehicles (MBM CV) recently signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with Tekat Automotive College to strengthen the skills of Malaysian youths in the automotive industry, commercial vehicle sector.
Mercedes-Benz Malaysia Commercial Vehicles Collaborates with Tekat Automotive College
Under the MoU, the Mercedes-Benz Commercial Vehicles Apprenticeship Programme would serve as a pilot platform that allows MBM CV to collaborate with Tekat Automotive College in providing technical knowledge for Mercedes-Benz and Fuso vehicles to Tekat post-graduate students. This includes a job placement at MBM CV dealer network nationwide.
Tan Kien Kee, Senior Manager, After Sales CV, Mercedes-Benz Malaysia, said: “As the automotive industry grows, there is a need for skilled manpower and it is very important now to keep up with the times regarding automotive technology today. We see this partnership with Tekat Automotive College as the start of a strong foundation for future teamwork in other areas and more importantly, leaving a great impact on Malaysian youths and the automotive industry, commercial sector.”
To enrol in the Mercedes-Benz Commercial Vehicle Apprenticeship Programme, potential students from Tekat Automotive would undergo a Pre-enrolment Assessment that consists of a theory test and an interview. Among the key criteria are the successful completion of SKM level 3, which serves as a prerequisite for entry, age between 18 and 24 years, being equipped with basic automotive knowledge and more importantly, logical and problem solving thinking.
The eight-month programme would begin in November this year with its first batch, followed by a 2nd batch in 2018, with each consisting of 15 students from Tekat Automotive College who have passed the Pre-enrolment Assessment.
Student would gain knowledge in preventive maintenance, repair on difficult aggregate for various systems and functions on drivetrain, chassis and electric system for Mercedes-Benz Commercial Vehicles, including Fuso vehicles. With a monthly allowance of RM1,200, students would also undergo on-the-job training to give them hands-on experience.
“When our graduates finish their course, they will be certified as MBCV Qualified Maintenance Technician and Qualified Fuso Maintenance Technician with a guaranteed job placement for 2 years within the Mercedes-Benz dealer network,” Tan said.
The Mercedes-Benz Commercial Vehicle Apprenticeship Programme, he explained, was designed to push students further in their thinking skills and encourage them to be pro-active in their learning. In addition, the company has included service and parts marketing and warranty training to ensure that the students are well prepared with the latest warranty guidelines and its processes before entering working life.
Tekat is an approved Automotive Skills Training Centre that is today also known as Tekat Automotive College. The centre is recognised and certified by the Ministry of Human Resource under the Department of Skills Development and the focus is on skills training for the automotive field at certificate and diploma levels. The student’s training is aimed at hands-on skills that cover theory and practical.
Having been in the market for more than 15 years, Tekat has turned out more than 27,000 graduates who are successfully employed in the automotive field.
