The 28th graduation ceremony of the DIMO Academy for Technical Skills (DATS) was held recently at the company’s state of the art Mercedes-Benz centre, DIMO 800.
31 graduates from both Colombo and Jaffna Academies graduated at the event. The two year course in Automobile Mechatronics is the first of its kind in Sri Lanka and is offered completely free of charge. DATS graduates are highly regarded in the Automobile Industry both locally and internationally.
In his address, Ranjith Pandithage, Chairman & Managing Director – DIMO, citing the example of Germany, stressed the importance of vocational training and industry-driven vocational education for the development of a nation and the need to inculcate a sense of national pride among youth.
Dilrukshi Kurukulasuriya, Chief Human Resource Officer – DIMO, spoke on the importance of setting career goals as young professionals from an early age.
The occasion was graced by the DIMO Management, Josef Tschöp (Head of Vocational Training – German Chamber of Commerce in Sri Lanka) along with parents and DATS staff.
Established in 1990, DATS in cooperation with Daimler AG has provided high quality vocational training to the nation’s youth. Since its inception, DATS has provided training free of charge for over 500 students, an unprecedented investment by a private enterprise in Sri Lanka.
In 2010, DATS opened its branch in Jaffna, offering the region’s youth exposure to the latest developments in Automobile Technology.
Both institutions (DATS Colombo and Jaffna) are certified by the Tertiary and Vocational Education Commission (TVEC) and follow an up-to-date student centered self-learning concept introduced by Daimler AG.
DATS is also accredited by the German Chamber of commerce to offer a three year Diploma in Automobile Mechatronics, opening career opportunities for graduates worldwide.