Maxion Wheels partners to bring scholarship programme to India

Maxion Wheels, a global leader in wheel manufacturing for various automotive sectors, has announced an initiative in collaboration with the Brazil-based Iochpe Foundation and India’s Savitribai Phule Pune University. The partners are introducing the foundation’s Formare academic scholarship programme, well-established in Brazil and Mexico, into India.

A new two-year programme will select 30 students who are part of India’s Economic Weaker Section (EWS) – those with an annual family income of less than Rs 800,000 (£7,666) – for a two-year Manufacturing Technology academic diploma programme. The student application and selection process, which includes the goal of at least 50 per cent female participation, will take place in selected villages in India’s Pune and Khed regions.

A brighter future for all

“At Maxion Wheels, we embrace our responsibility as a corporate citizen, we champion education, healthcare, and other initiatives in the communities where we operate,” says Pieter Klinkers, chief executive officer of Maxion Wheels. “Together, we create opportunities to shape a brighter future for all. Supporting the establishment of the Formare program in India is a new milestone for us at Maxion Wheels.”

Suhas Majrekar, managing director of Kalyani Maxion Wheels’ light and commercial vehicle steel wheels plants in Pune, comments: “We are very proud to bring the highly successful Formare programme from Brazil and Mexico to EWS students in our Ganeshkend, Kurali and Nimagon communities.”

“The programme aims to enhance the employability of underprivileged Indian youth in the region by connecting classroom learning with real-world workplace experiences,” adds Rahul Vaidya, managing director of Maxion Wheels’ light vehicle aluminium wheels plant in Khed City, Pune. “This will be achieved by incorporating university curriculum education at Savitribai Phule Pune University while simultaneously providing targeted professional and social skills training at Maxion Wheels’ facilities in the Pune area.”

Equipping for job market excellence

Unlike traditional scholarship programmes, Formare focuses not only on developing employees for partnering companies but also on equipping participants with the skills needed to excel in the job market overall. Prof. Dr Radhakrishna Pandit, director of Savitribai Phule Pune University’s Skill Development Centre, praised the programme’s emphasis on job readiness and industry relevance, aligning with the National Education Policy (NEP) of the Government of India.

India is the first country outside of the Americas to host the Formare programme. Maxion Wheels comments that the Formare programme has “impacted the lives of thousands of young Brazilians and Mexicans over the last 35 years.”

Savitribai Phule Pune University is managing applications for the programme, with a rigorous selection process including an exam, counselling session, and home visit by representatives of Maxion Wheels. The admission process and program will commence with the 2024 academic year.