Toyota Kirloskar Motor's Toyota Technical Training Institute (TTTI) has graduated 358 students from its 17th batch, including 64 students from the Regular TTTI programme and 294 under the Toyota Kaushalya programme from rural Karnataka.

The students completed TTTI's learning framework built around four pillars — Knowledge, Skill, Body and Attitude. Academic honours were presented by Dr K. P. Gopalkrishna, Distinguished Educationist and Chairman of the TISB, NAFL, GMC & NPS Group of Institutions, who attended as Chief Guest, along with Satish Suryawanshi, In-charge Director, Directorate of Vocational Education and Training (DVET), Government of Maharashtra, and Yoshihiro Tohyama, Principal of Toyota Technical Skills Academy, Japan.

The convocation was attended by representatives from the Automotive Skills Development Council (ASDC), National Skill Development Corporation (NSDC), Electronics Sector Skills Council of India (ESSCI), Toyota Technical Skill Academy – Japan, Toyota Kirloskar Motor, Toyota Group companies and supplier partners. Officials from Industrial Training Institute (ITI), Directorate of General Training (DGT), National Skill Training Institute (NSTI) and Karnataka Skill Development Corporation (KSDC) also participated.

During the ceremony, Toyota Kirloskar Motor announced the extension of five Memorandums of Understanding with Sir Dharmasthala Manjunatheswara Industrial Training Institute, Sir Jagadguru Gangadhara Moorusavirmath Industrial Training Institute, Deshpande Private Industrial Training Institute, Sir Dharmasthala Manjunatheswara Industrial Training Institute, and S. V. Patil Memorial Private Industrial Training Institute.

Graduating students received nationally and industry-recognised certifications, including the National Apprenticeship Certificate (NAC), ASDC Certificate, Japan India Institute for Manufacturing (JIM) Certificate and Toyota Certificate of Completion. Since inception, 2,133 students have graduated from TTTI, of whom 531 have joined Toyota Kirloskar Motor, while others have secured opportunities with group companies, supplier organisations and international employers.

Speaking at the event, Dr K P Gopalkrishna said the future of education would be measured by the quality of professionals being prepared for an increasingly dynamic world. He said institutions such as TTTI demonstrate how technical education can extend beyond classrooms by developing discipline, character, problem-solving abilities and continuous learning.

Satish Suryawanshi said India's ambition to become a global manufacturing powerhouse would depend on the strength of its skilled workforce and sustained collaboration between government, industry and academic institutions. He highlighted industry-led skilling as an important route to improving employability and the quality of vocational education.

TTTI students have also represented India at international skill competitions. Their achievements include one Medallion at the WorldSkills Competition in Brazil in 2015, one Bronze medal and one Medallion in Abu Dhabi in 2017, one Medallion in Russia in 2019, two Bronze medals in Germany in 2022 and two Medallions in France in 2024.

A TTTI trainee also secured the Gold Medal at the Australia Global Skills Challenge 2026, held from June 23 to 29 in Wollongong, Australia. The competition, organised to simulate the WorldSkills Competition, featured participants from 16 countries, including India, Australia, Japan and the USA.

TTTI students will next represent India at the WorldSkills Competition 2026 in Shanghai, China, competing in Mechatronics, Robotics, Additive Manufacturing, Welding and Autobody Repair.

G Shankara, Chief Strategy Officer, Toyota Kirloskar Motor, said TTTI remained focused on industry-relevant skill development. He said the organisation has supported more than 105 Government ITIs in Karnataka and skilled over 1,85,000 individuals through partnerships with bodies including ASDC, ESSCI and JIM. Around seven members from TKM are expected to represent India at WorldSkills Shanghai on September 22, 2026, across five skill categories. He also highlighted initiatives such as Auto IT skill training and efforts to promote greater gender diversity in technical education.

Established in 2007, TTTI provides advanced technical education and holistic development to rural youth. The institute offers free, fully residential education to economically underprivileged students and has a 100 per cent placement record. It has graduated 2,133 students and currently trains more than 1,407 students at its Bidadi campus.

Through programmes including Toyota Kaushalya, the Japan-India Institute for Manufacturing and international skill training in Japan, TTTI continues to focus on industry-relevant learning and support the Skill India Mission.