Latest news with #ASDC
Hindustan Times
3 days ago
- Automotive
- Hindustan Times
Kia joins hands with ASDC to develop talent pool for auto industry
Kia India has joined hands with the Automotive Skill Development Council (ASDC) to develop a talent pool for the Indian auto industry. The South Korean auto giant from the Hyundai Group has said that under this partnership, the company aims to promote collaborations between the auto industry and academia and develop a talent pool for the sector. Kia India and ASDC have signed a memorandum of understanding (MoU), which also entails building a sustainable skilling ecosystem and enhanced placement support for the Indian auto industry. The automaker also stated that with electric vehicle adoption and customer experience playing a crucial role in India's mobility transformation, this joint effort from Kia and ASDC is expected to significantly boost workforce readiness in these critical areas. Also check these Cars Find more Cars Kia EV9 99.8 kWh 99.8 kWh 561 km 561 km ₹ 1.30 Cr Compare View Offers UPCOMING Kia EV5 ₹ 30 - 45 Lakhs Alert Me When Launched Kia Seltos 1497 cc 1497 cc Multiple Multiple ₹ 11.19 Lakhs Compare View Offers Kia EV6 84 kWh 84 kWh 663 km 663 km ₹ 65.97 Lakhs Compare View Offers Kia Carens 1497 cc 1497 cc Petrol Petrol ₹ 11.41 Lakhs Compare View Offers UPCOMING Kia Sportage 1999 cc 1999 cc Diesel Diesel ₹ 25 Lakhs Alert Me When Launched "This collaboration with ASDC represents a pivotal step in Kia India's commitment to shaping a future-ready ecosystem, one that is anchored in skilled human capital and elevated customer experience," Kia India's Chief Sales Officer, Joonsu Cho, said. He also added that by creating a robust talent pool through structured training and certification, the company is not only empowering India's youth with meaningful employment but also reinforcing the dealer network. Kia's partnership with ASDC comes at a time when the Indian auto industry has been going through a major transitional phase. The conventional fossil fuel vehicles have been witnessing several challenges, while the new propulsion technologies like EVs and CNG are finding an increasing footprint. Digitalisation of the cockpit in modern cars has seen an increasing growth pace. Keeping pace with these changes, consumer expectations and experiences too are also changing. These are propelling the demand for skilled professionals in the after-sales service segment, which caters to the consumer experience for every automobile brand. Kia India and ASDC, through their partnership, expects to boost the skills of the workforce in this space. Get insights into Upcoming Cars In India, Electric Vehicles, Upcoming Bikes in India and cutting-edge technology transforming the automotive landscape. First Published Date:
Fashion Value Chain
26-06-2025
- Automotive
- Fashion Value Chain
PLI, EVs & Skills Drive India's Auto Growth: ASDC Forum
The Automotive Skills Development Council (ASDC) hosted its Annual Partners Forum 2025 under the theme 'Stronger Together, Transform Tomorrow', convening over 250 stakeholders from government, academia, and industry to chart a collaborative path for India's auto sector. Dr. Hanif Qureshi, Additional Secretary, Ministry of Heavy Industries, underscored the sector's $240 billion economic contribution and emphasized the government's focus on net-zero goals by 2070, bolstered by the ₹26,000 crore PLI scheme for electric and hydrogen mobility. Noting progress with over 12 companies surpassing 50% localization, Dr. Qureshi stressed the urgent need for workforce upskilling in next-gen technologies to increase India's share in the global $700 billion auto components market. Prof. T.G. Sitharam, Chairman, AICTE, referred to the current era as India's 'Amrit Kaal', encouraging deeper participation in robotics and tech-led skilling. He lauded ASDC's contributions to making India a global automotive leader. Dr. Suhas Deshmukh from NCVET highlighted the NEP 2020's role in integrating skilling with education, aiming to make students job-ready and future-proof through hands-on and interdisciplinary learning. F. R. Singhvi, President of ASDC, emphasized aligning technical skills with human values and soft skills to build globally competitive professionals. Dr. Rodney Riviere, GIZ India, echoed this synergy, stating that AI would augment—not replace—human workers, making training and services smarter and more personalized. Key moments included: Recognition of CSR partners Project Saksham's convocation for female candidates Signing of MoUs with HCL Foundation, Hero MotoCorp, Lucas Indian Services Ltd, and Victora Foundation Two panels: 'Classroom to Career' and 'Sustainable Skilling via CSR' With support from sponsors including George Telegraph, ISIE India, and Ascensive Educare, the event concluded with a strong consensus on shaping India into a global hub for skilled automotive talent, driven by sustainability, innovation, and collaboration.
India Today
13-06-2025
- Automotive
- India Today
CBSE launches National Automobile Olympiad 2025 for Classes 6-12, how to apply
The National Automobile Olympiad (NAO) 2025 has been launched to help school students connect their education with real-world skills. It is being organised by the Central Board of Secondary Education (CBSE) in partnership with the Automotive Skills Development Council (ASDC).The Olympiad is a countrywide programme aimed at developing automotive skills amongst students from Classes 6 to 12 in CBSE-affiliated India becoming the world's 4th largest automobile market and the sector contributing nearly 7.5% to the country's GDP, there is a growing need for skilled professionals in this field. NAO 2025 hopes to raise awareness, improve skills, and guide students toward careers in the automotive 2025: FOCUS ON SAFETY, SUSTAINBILITY, SMART MOBILITYSpeaking on the initiative, FR Singhvi, President, ASDC, highlighted the broader vision behind the Olympiad. "This year's theme -- The Three New S's: Safety, Sustainability, and Smart Mobility, reflects the evolving priorities of the automotive sector. Participants will delve into emerging domains like mechatronics, robotics, artificial intelligence, data analytics, and sustainable mobility," he Gulati, Vice President of ASDC, shared important details about the accessibility and format of the National Automobile Olympiad (NAO) 2025."The Olympiad is open to all students from Classes 6 to 12 and is designed to be inclusive and accessible, with participation available in both English and Hindi." he explained that the competition will follow a three-tier model. Group 1 includes students from Classes VI to VIII, Group 2 covers Classes IX and X, and Group 3 consists of students from Classes XI and regional rounds are planned to take place between October and November, with the national finals scheduled for includes theoretical assessments, practical demonstrations, and problem-solving tasks aligned with real-world automotive link to apply for studentsDirect link to apply for schoolsNAO 2025: REGISTRATION DETAILSRegistration for the National Automobile Olympiad 2025 is free for both schools and students. It is available in English and Hindi to ensure wider accessibility. Interested participants must complete their registration by the deadline of July 31, is India's first sector skill council dedicated to the automotive industry, supported by SIAM, ACMA, FADA, and key government is a national education board under the Ministry of Education, focusing on skill-based and holistic learning across Reel
Yahoo
05-06-2025
- Business
- Yahoo
State Democrats set up digital ad business with an influential private company. Now a key Dem official is becoming its CEO.
A top Democratic organization strongly encouraged state campaigns to do much of their digital ad-buying business with a company that one of its members is set to soon join as CEO — a development that has puzzled and concerned some party insiders. At a meeting in Little Rock, Arkansas last week, the Association of State Democratic Committees — an umbrella group for state parties — voted to recommend state races use one liberal firm, TargetSmart, for a major portion of digital ad buys, which could be worth millions. TargetSmart announced on May 7 that Liz Walters, outgoing chair of the Ohio Democratic Party, is taking over as CEO this summer. Walters, who made her departure public in a post on X, said she would leave the state party role by June 30. And until the week before the group's meeting, she was part of the ASDC's leadership team as treasurer. Walters recused herself from the TargetSmart vote. But she has reportedly praised the use of TargetSmart repeatedly in recent years, went to the meeting where the resolution passed, and continues to sit on a key board of state party leaders tied to the deal. Word of the deal spread through Democratic circles this week, leaving some in the party worried about the possibility of a conflict of interest — or the perception of one — at a time when Democrats are already struggling mightily. Others are concerned that using a sole media-buying platform for many digital ads will stifle innovation and raise costs for campaigns. 'I just don't understand this at all. It's the ultimate solution in search of a problem,' said Rob Flaherty, the former deputy campaign manager for Kamala Harris' 2024 presidential campaign. 'No one who works directly in this space is asking for this, nor should we want it. Even the stated rationale makes no sense: This is a space where competition leads to better pricing. A strategic monopoly doesn't serve us.' A Democratic campaign veteran who, like others in this story was granted anonymity to speak freely, said the deal is 'a conflict of interest you could see from space.' A Democratic state party chair said 'the perception sucks, the perception is terrible.' Walters responded in a statement that the decision to leave the Ohio Democratic Party, 'an organization I love,' was 'a hard one.' She added that 'in the interest of transparency, as soon as I decided to join TargetSmart, we made the news public and I recused myself from all matters involving the company.' Axios first wrote about the existence of a deal between the ASDC and TargetSmart, but concerns about a conflict of interest have not been reported before. ASDC president Jane Kleeb said in an interview that it was her suggestion, not Walters', to give TargetSmart the special status. Kleeb defended the decision as a way for state parties to save money and solve other problems, such as navigating a bewildering web of new digital firms. She said that Walters has praised TargetSmart internally over the years but added that 'lots of us' have also spoken highly of the company since they've worked closely with them. 'There is no conflict of interest. We have been talking about this for years,' she said. 'I knew that the vendors would have their guns and knives out for me because they will perceive it as taking business away from them. But it doesn't.' She added, 'I am trying to innovate and create reliable streams of revenue' for state parties and 'with this system, there will be a 5 percent return to state parties, which is a really wonderful thing.' Other Democrats in favor of the resolution said that the setup would also help ensure the digital safety of voter files. A second Democratic state party chair granted anonymity to speak candidly about the deal said that Walters praised TargetSmart at multiple ASDC meetings in recent months, including in Little Rock last week. 'Every single meeting she would talk about the benefit of the tool and why it's really important, and anytime people would raise questions, basically, she was answering them as CEO of TargetSmart, but that wasn't the role she was in,' said the person, who was in the meetings. 'It's an unfortunate way to enter into a relationship, because I think it could be a good tool, but now it's clouded,' the person added. TargetSmart has worked with the Democratic state parties for years to house their voter files, a precious resource used by campaigns. The ASDC said that it asked TargetSmart to develop its digital ad-buying tool in 2023, and that later it was rolled out to some trial participants, including in Ohio. State parties generate revenue when their voter file is bought and sold, as well as when their voter file data is used on TargetSmart's ad-buying platform. The ASDC's nonbinding resolution states that members are encouraged to either 'institute a requirement' for voter file users to utilize TargetSmart for digital ad-buying or 'strongly encourage' users to 'explore utilizing' the platform. A TargetSmart spokesperson said the buying platform is more cost efficient, reliable and enables transparency in ad placements. And TargetSmart senior adviser Tom Bonier said in a statement that 'we're proud to have the opportunity to continue to serve state parties as they provide this cutting-edge resource to their members.' He didn't respond to a question about when TargetSmart began discussions with Walters about the job. A person close to Walters said that she 'resigned as treasurer well before the meeting, recused herself from the process entirely and it passed unanimously.' But that has done little to tamp down criticism of Walters among some Democrats. 'Even being there is a way to exert influence, especially when it was already announced that she was going to TargetSmart,' said the Democratic campaign veteran. Walters submitted her resignation as treasurer of the ASDC on May 20, the person close to her said. The ASDC passed the resolution unanimously on May 29. Walters is also on the board of a linked 'co-op' made up of state party officials that manages its voter file data. She is expected to leave that entity and as head of the Ohio Democratic Party next week.
Politico
05-06-2025
- Business
- Politico
State Democrats set up digital ad business with an influential private company. Now a key Dem official is becoming its CEO.
A top Democratic organization strongly encouraged state campaigns to do much of their digital ad-buying business with a company that one of its members is set to soon join as CEO — a development that has puzzled and concerned some party insiders. At a meeting in Little Rock, Arkansas last week, the Association of State Democratic Committees — an umbrella group for state parties — voted to recommend state races use one liberal firm, TargetSmart, for a major portion of digital ad buys, which could be worth millions. TargetSmart announced on May 7 that Liz Walters, outgoing chair of the Ohio Democratic Party, is taking over as CEO this summer. Walters, who made her departure public in a post on X, said she would leave the state party role by June 30. And until the week before the group's meeting, she was part of the ASDC's leadership team as treasurer. Walters recused herself from the TargetSmart vote. But she has reportedly praised the use of TargetSmart repeatedly in recent years, went to the meeting where the resolution passed, and continues to sit on a key board of state party leaders tied to the deal. Word of the deal spread through Democratic circles this week, leaving some in the party worried about the possibility of a conflict of interest — or the perception of one — at a time when Democrats are already struggling mightily. Others are concerned that using a sole media-buying platform for many digital ads will stifle innovation and raise costs for campaigns. 'I just don't understand this at all. It's the ultimate solution in search of a problem,' said Rob Flaherty, the former deputy campaign manager for Kamala Harris' 2024 presidential campaign. 'No one who works directly in this space is asking for this, nor should we want it. Even the stated rationale makes no sense: This is a space where competition leads to better pricing. A strategic monopoly doesn't serve us.' A Democratic campaign veteran who, like others in this story was granted anonymity to speak freely, said the deal is 'a conflict of interest you could see from space.' A Democratic state party chair said 'the perception sucks, the perception is terrible.' Walters responded in a statement that the decision to leave the Ohio Democratic Party, 'an organization I love,' was 'a hard one.' She added that 'in the interest of transparency, as soon as I decided to join TargetSmart, we made the news public and I recused myself from all matters involving the company.' Axios first wrote about the existence of a deal between the ASDC and TargetSmart, but concerns about a conflict of interest have not been reported before. ASDC president Jane Kleeb said in an interview that it was her suggestion, not Walters', to give TargetSmart the special status. Kleeb defended the decision as a way for state parties to save money and solve other problems, such as navigating a bewildering web of new digital firms. She said that Walters has praised TargetSmart internally over the years but added that 'lots of us' have also spoken highly of the company since they've worked closely with them. 'There is no conflict of interest. We have been talking about this for years,' she said. 'I knew that the vendors would have their guns and knives out for me because they will perceive it as taking business away from them. But it doesn't.' She added, 'I am trying to innovate and create reliable streams of revenue' for state parties and 'with this system, there will be a 5 percent return to state parties, which is a really wonderful thing.' Other Democrats in favor of the resolution said that the setup would also help ensure the digital safety of voter files. A second Democratic state party chair granted anonymity to speak candidly about the deal said that Walters praised TargetSmart at multiple ASDC meetings in recent months, including in Little Rock last week. 'Every single meeting she would talk about the benefit of the tool and why it's really important, and anytime people would raise questions, basically, she was answering them as CEO of TargetSmart, but that wasn't the role she was in,' said the person, who was in the meetings. 'It's an unfortunate way to enter into a relationship, because I think it could be a good tool, but now it's clouded,' the person added. TargetSmart has worked with the Democratic state parties for years to house their voter files, a precious resource used by campaigns. The ASDC said that it asked TargetSmart to develop its digital ad-buying tool in 2023, and that later it was rolled out to some trial participants, including in Ohio. State parties generate revenue when their voter file is bought and sold, as well as when their voter file data is used on TargetSmart's ad-buying platform. The ASDC's nonbinding resolution states that members are encouraged to either 'institute a requirement' for voter file users to utilize TargetSmart for digital ad-buying or 'strongly encourage' users to 'explore utilizing' the platform. A TargetSmart spokesperson said the buying platform is more cost efficient, reliable and enables transparency in ad placements. And TargetSmart senior adviser Tom Bonier said in a statement that 'we're proud to have the opportunity to continue to serve state parties as they provide this cutting-edge resource to their members.' He didn't respond to a question about when TargetSmart began discussions with Walters about the job. A person close to Walters said that she 'resigned as treasurer well before the meeting, recused herself from the process entirely and it passed unanimously.' But that has done little to tamp down criticism of Walters among some Democrats. 'Even being there is a way to exert influence, especially when it was already announced that she was going to TargetSmart,' said the Democratic campaign veteran. Walters submitted her resignation as treasurer of the ASDC on May 20, the person close to her said. The ASDC passed the resolution unanimously on May 29. Walters is also on the board of a linked 'co-op' made up of state party officials that manages its voter file data. She is expected to leave that entity and as head of the Ohio Democratic Party next week.
