LEXINGTON, Ky. (October 20, 2003) -- Toyota Motor Manufacturing, Kentucky, and Toyota Motor Manufacturing, North America are donating $250,000 each to the Kentucky Community and Technical College System (KCTCS) to fund the KCTCS Center of Excellence in Automotive Manufacturing over five years.



Central Kentucky Technical College in Lexington and Gateway Community and Technical College in Northern Kentucky will begin implementation of the concept. All colleges in KCTCS will be eligible to provide services to partners at all campus locations as part of the KCTCS Center. The KCTCS Center will benefit all of Kentucky and other strong automotive manufacturing states such as Michigan, Ohio, Missouri, Illinois and Tennessee.

The Center will:

Help automotive manufacturers retain or replace retiring employees and shorten the training gap between new hires and production capabilities through a broad network of aligned curriculum and training strategies

Expand cooperative education experiences for KCTCS students in skill trades and related occupations

"Front-load" curriculum development emphasizing new technologies as they are introduced to industry through expanded partnerships with business/industry and manufacturers

Provide related services to automotive manufacturing employees such as soft skill development tools, safety training, or English as a Second Language

Approximately 5.7 percent of Kentucky's workforce is employed (directly or indirectly) in an automotive-related industry. Kentucky's auto industry generates $5.5 billion in wages and benefits, including spin-off employment. Kentucky is the 4th largest producer of cars and the 3rd largest producer of trucks in the United States. Today's businesses and industries are faced with serious challenges in remaining competitive and profitable. Rapid technological advances, a growing number of older and more diverse workers, constantly changing workplace standards and safety issues, and the globalization of markets make it increasingly difficult for industries to succeed in the new economy of the 21st Century. For Kentucky industries, the challenge is even tougher due to the historically low levels of educational attainment and technological sophistication of our citizens who comprise our current and future workforce. Kentucky is uniquely positioned to become the nation's No. 1 state in automotive production and related industries, but to do so will require a highly educated and trained workforce capable of meeting industry demands in a globally competitive marketplace.

To ensure Kentucky's workforce meets these demands, KCTCS will:

Align existing KCTCS courses and programs with specific training needs of the automotive sector in manufacturing

Support curriculum development that promotes technological education

Integrate cutting-edge instructional technology into innovative distance learning applications and traditional instruction

Serve as a state-of-the-art teaching and learning center for skilled trades and related faculty

Develop innovative assessment and testing services to enhance employability and career advancement

Enhance co-op and internship opportunities between KCTCS institutions and automotive-related employers

Operate as a research and development center for new instructional practices and applications of technology for improved instructional delivery

Disseminate exemplary materials and teaching strategies to other educational institutions

Promote articulation and collaboration among secondary schools, KCTCS, and four-year universities to prepare students for careers in the automotive industry at all levels