V.U. Partners With Toyota

PRINCETON, IND. (WTHI) -      Indiana's first college signs a first of its kind agreement with a major corporation to recruit, teach and train students for technical jobs.

     Vincennes University and Toyota Motor Corporation of Indiana have signed an agreement that officials are predicting will become a national model for education and job training.

     The partnership is expected to help students, the company and the college.

     Vincennes University offers classes and degrees in robotics and advanced manufacturing.

     Those programs fill the need for skilled technical workers.

     The kind of skilled workers who keep places like the Toyota plant in Princeton and its 4,000 employees being productive.

     Now V.U. and Toyota have signed a deal for a first of kind job training, education partnership that will help produce more of those needed technical workers.

     "Toyota is very visionary," said Vincennes University Dean of Technology Art Haase.  "They are going to step up.  They're going to recruit a class of 20.  They are going to continue to do this.  This is a huge investment by Toyota Corporation."

     There are a lot of unique things about the program.

  One of them is that Toyota is going to help do the recruiting at Indiana High Schools.

  In addition the students will be spend 2 days a week working at the plant and 3 days on campus taking classes.

     "It has to be a mutual kind of thing," said T.M.M.I. President Norm Bafunno.  "Everybody is getting a chance to learn what our industry is all about.  What our educational process is all about, but for those successful students we are looking for them to be long term Toyota employees."

     "We believe this just enhances our role in this state by being associated with one of the leading manufacturers in the state of Indiana," added V.U. President Dr. Richard Helton.  "This is a win-win."

     A program officials are so convinced will be a winner that they are predicting many other companies around the state will get on board and copy it in the near future.

     The first class will begin next fall.

     To find out more and how to apply you can go to www.vinu.edu/Toyota