Sri Lankans receive German standard automobile mechatronics training

The German Chamber of Commerce has stepped in to offer the “German Dual Vocational Education Qualification” for youths who are undergoing training in “Automobile Mechatronics” at the DIMO Academy for Technical Skills (DATS).

This academy has been accredited to offer this qualification by the German Chamber of Commerce recently, DIMO Chairman Ranjith Pandithage revealed.

This certification allows DATS to offer a three year diploma in automobile mechatronics equivalent to what is of f e red in Germany, he added.

An extensive approval and evaluation process including curriculum development, staff training and development of training facilities were required in order to obtain certification.

DATS is the first and only institute in Sri Lanka to of f er a German Vocational Qualification as equivalent to the German government standard.

Holders of this qualification will have ample opportunities for employment in Germany as well as worldwide, Mr. Pandithage said.

DATS also implements the Graduate Guidance Program (GGP), a new initiative in collaboration with the human resource department of DIMO.

The GGP strives to groom DATS students for future positions within DIMO, well in advance of their graduation.

The outcome being that they will be productive from day one on the job, eliminating long periods of training and adjustment once graduated. DIMO divisions are allowed to choose those suitable for their vacancies in advance, further streamlining manpower planning, he said.

The GGP also strives to increase the retention rate of DATS graduates whom the company has invested..

In 1990, The DIMO Automobile Training School ( DATS) was established at Jethawana road, Colombo 14 in collaboration with Daimler AG, Germany to develop a course of international standards in” Automobile Mechatronics” .

The school became the first and largest one of its kind in the private sector to offer an automotive technological education as a social service to Sri Lanka.

DATS was later shifted to Siyambalape in 1997. More than 500 students have graduated from this school with exceptional skills to utilise in the growing global automotive industry.

In 2010, in celebration of our 20th anniversary, DATS introduced its courses in Jaffna in the new branch established in the liberated war torn area. Later DATS- Jaffna established in Ariyalai with enhanced training facilities.

DATS at Siyambalape was moved to present location in Weliweriya in 2016 further developing the training facility into a new dimension.