Capital goods company CNH Industrial launched the new TechPro2 2017 programme in Ennerdale, Johannesburg, last month.

TechPro2 is a technical training programme for young people, with the aim of preparing highly qualified personnel to be placed in the automotive industry.

The joint initiative is promoted by CNH Industrial and sister automotive company Fiat Chrysler Automobiles, in collaboration with the National Centre for Salesian Works.

The centre aims to provide young people from more than 50 countries, including Argentina, Brazil, Ethiopia, India, Italy and Poland, with the knowledge and commercial skills required to prepare them for future employment in the automotive and industrial machinery sectors.

This chapter of the programme is specifically dedicated to engines, with instruction provided in classrooms and technical workshops.

CNH Industrial’s powertrain brand, FPT Industrial, will provide training materials and engines for power generation and on-road applications, as well as machinery for practical learning. FPT Industrial has also developed educational Web-based training to develop basic knowledge of the engines.

CNH Industrial’s local technical department will be responsible for the technical portion of the training.

A local teacher will lead the one-year course and students, on successfully completing the course, will receive a special diploma recognised by the South African government.

Further, at the end of the course, internship placements at local FPT Industrial dealerships will be arranged to provide students with the opportunity to gain on-the-job experience, which will assist them in preparing for the labour market.

FPT Industrial is also actively involved in instructing new trainers in South Africa through digital courses, which will have a specific section dedicated to the TechPro2 programme. These digital exercises are available to trainers through a Web platform provided by FPT Industrial.