Saab Starts Educational Initiative DEEP
Saab India has initiated a skills training program designed to enhance employability of College Engineers at Institutes hosting DEEP in Gudivada and Kakinada in Andhra Pradesh.
The Saab Diploma Employment Enhancement Program (DEEP), an employability enhancement and skill development program for Indian College Engineering students is designed to bridge the gap between industry’s requirements and the Indian technical education system. The first pilot classes in collaboration with Indian Technical Institutes will start in December 2012.
The six-month Saab DEEP program is designed to help engineering students learn and hone the right mix of technical and soft skills while they are still in college. Students of different branches of the Diploma will follow different, specifically designed tracks. The programs will have an initial focus on mechanical engineering. Subsequently, the programs will focus on aviation engineering and automotive engineering.
The curriculum involves classroom training and a two-month on- the-job training and internship. The program will involve 100% placements for students in partnering Indian companies and Swedish companies in India.
Saab has shortlisted institutions for collaboration for the program in Gudivada and Kakinada in Andhra Pradesh. Both places were short listed due to the number of Polytechnic / Diploma and Engineering Courses available and taking into account the number of students graduating every year in these two regions.
Saab is already active in Andhra Pradesh with on-going cooperation with Mahindra Satyam and establishment of the Saab India Technology Centre in Hyderabad.
According to Head of Saab India, Lars-Olof Lindgren, “Saab has worked with communities in a number of countries in the field of education. Saab India’s DEEP initiative intends to fill an important gap that will result in a stronger, more technically proficient workforce. Our partnership with the educational institutes is an important step towards our goal of creating a chain of technology skills that span from institutes in Sweden to students in India.”
According to VP for Strategic Relations India, Ulf Rudebark, “The Saab DEEP Course will act as a bridge between industry’s expectations of job skills that students need to possess and the technical academic education system. The program is designed to help engineering students learn and hone the right mix of technical and soft skills before getting an employment in order to reduce their start-up period as an employee. Saab aims to provide a long lasting and self-sustaining program as a measure of its contribution to Indian education, industry and society at large. The model for DEEP will be fully generic and can therefore be spread to any suitable college across India. The model can also be adapted case by case in order to fit participating industries needs and requirements.”
The initial training of teachers will take place in Sweden. The class will be imparted in a 3-month theory and 3-month practical module, the training will involve a mix of instructor-led training, workshops, hands-on practice in the labs, assignments and mini-projects and assessments. The Saab DEEP program will create industry relevant competencies like ability to apply knowledge; design skills; problem solving skills; technical competence; ability to work in multidisciplinary teams; communication skills; sensitivity towards global, societal and environmental issues; sensitivity towards ethical and professional issues and readiness for lifelong learning. During the course it will also be interaction between both teachers and students in India and relevant counterparts in Sweden.