Getting the right talent on board is the biggest challenge companies such as General Motors, Siemens and others face today. In a bid to tackle this head on General Motors, Autodesk, Hewlett-Packard, Oracle and Siemens PLM Software came up with an innovative idea, an alliance so to speak -- along with 18 other software and hardware contributors -- to foster automotive industry talent.

They formed a PACE (Partners for the Advancement of Collaborative Engineering Education) alliance, which has since inception in 1999 provided in-kind contributions of over $11 billion in design, engineering, manufacturing and collaboration software, hardware, equipment and training to 65 institutions across the globe.

PSG College of Technology in Coimbatore is the latest addition to this list.

It is the fifth institution in India to become part of the PACE programmes joining PES University, Bengaluru, Sri Jayachamarajendra College of Engineering, Mysuru, National Institute of Design, Ahmedabad and M S Ramaiah University of Applied Sciences, Bengaluru.

PSGCT received in-kind contributions worth over $254 million from PACE companies towards establishment of a PACE centre.

These centres, according to Vass Theodoracatos, Manager, PACE Global Partnership, would provide a platform for students to collaborate and enhance their skills to work in a global environment by providing hands-on training in latest technologies.

Theodoracatos was in the city to formally announce the establishment of PACE centre at PSGCT.

He said General Motors has in the last 12 years hired 4,500 freshers globally from institutions with PACE centres.

The in-take of such candidates has steadily increased to 45 – 50 per cent of the total, he said, adding “our target is to touch the 80 per cent mark in 3 – 5 years. The automobile major foresees huge hiring potential from India and China.

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