T’puram: The Sree Chitra Thirunal College of Engineering (SCTCE), Pappanamcode, and KSRTC have signed a memorandum of understanding (MoU) to strengthen employee training and skill development and expand academic-industry collaboration.The five-year agreement envisages cooperation in employee training, skill development, knowledge sharing, applied research, student internships, pilot studies and technical consultancy.Under the MoU, SCTCE will organise training programmes to improve the technical knowledge and operational capabilities of KSRTC employees. Areas covered will include lean maintenance practices, workshop productivity, technologies to increase tyre life, electric mobility, battery systems, inventory and warehouse management, and data analytics.Training will be conducted not only in classrooms but also at KSRTC’s central works, regional workshops, depots and staff training college. Train-the-trainer programmes will also be organised to enhance the capabilities of instructors at the KSRTC staff training college. SCTCE will provide technical support in preparing training content, study materials, practical sessions and competency-based assessment methods.The institutions will identify key areas of KSRTC operations for implementing pilot projects based on lean transformation. Existing work processes will be assessed to identify time and resource wastage and operational bottlenecks, followed by recommendations to address them. Reports will also be prepared on improving operational efficiency and productivity based on the pilot projects.The MoU will provide SCTCE students with opportunities for industrial visits, internships, industrial training, academic projects, and research at various KSRTC facilities. It will also facilitate knowledge and technical exchanges between faculty members and industry experts.Potential areas of collaboration include fleet management, workshop and engine technology, electric mobility, green energy, rubber and tyre technology, data analytics and digital transformation. Joint studies and technical initiatives will be explored in vehicle maintenance, tyre wear, electric buses and charging systems, energy management and route optimisation.SCTCE and KSRTC will also jointly explore the possibility of establishing a centre at KSRTC’s central works for heavy vehicle testing, diagnostics, refurbishment and research. SCTCE principal Shaiji S said such a centre could expand opportunities for collaboration in technology, vehicle maintenance and research in the public transport sector. The MoU will remain valid for five years.
