Maruti, Siemens, L&T to help set up CoEs in Gujarat

Govt signs MoU for 5 centres of excellence in engineering

Gujarat government on Wednesday signed memorandums of understanding (MoUs) with companies like Maruti Suzuki India, Hero Moto Corp, Siemens Software Company, Larsen & Toubro and Tata Group for setting up of five centre of excellence (CoE) in engineering.  

These CoEs will be set up in five engineering colleges in the state. The MoUs were signed today during a seminar on qualitative improvements in higher education at the Mahatma Mandir in Gandhinagar in presence of Gujarat chief minister Narendra Modi.

The MOUs were signed between Pandit Deendayal Petroleum University, Gandhinagar and Maruti Suzuki and Hero Moto-Corp; L D Engineering College, Ahmedabad and Larsen & Toubro and Tata group for the aerospace and defense centre of excellence; Industrial Training Institute (ITI) Kubernagar and Siemens and L&T for CoE in industrial machinery; and Maharaja Sayajirao University, Vadodara and Siemens for industrial automation. These CoEs will be set up on public-private partnership at the cost of Rs 500 crore. These centres are expected to benefit over 50,000 engineering students.

Giving details of the M0Us industries minister Saurabh Patel said setting up these CoEs will be useful in catering to the demand of skilled-man force in rapidly growing industries sector in Gujarat.

He said that out of the investment made for setting up of these five centres, state government will provide Rs 85 crore. The companies will manage the centres for two years and then hand it over to the state government.

Under aegis of CoCs, engineering students will be provided software training and will be trained for using latest equipment. The concerned industries partners and Siemens will give certificate to students after completion of the training, which will increase their employment opportunities even outside of Gujarat, Patel explained.