Joint 5 billion won investment through 2030
Two auto repair training centers to open in 2027
Hybrid and EV skills added to combustion-engine curriculum
Scholarships, internships and job fairs linked to training
405 youth and teachers to receive direct support
Hyundai Motor has teamed up with the Korea International Cooperation Agency to train automotive technicians in Ghana, West Africa. The initiative goes beyond basic skills instruction, linking the construction of repair training centers and curriculum reform with internships and employment and entrepreneurship support.
Hyundai Motor announced Friday that it held the launch ceremony for the Hyundai-KOICA NextGen automotive technician training program Thursday (local time) at Alisa Hotel in Accra, the Ghanaian capital.
Hyundai Motor and KOICA will jointly invest a total of 5 billion won ($3.68 million) in the project over five years through 2030, with each party contributing 2.5 billion won. Plan International Korea and Plan International Ghana, international humanitarian and development NGOs, will handle on-the-ground operations.
The first priority is building two automotive repair training centers in Ghana. Construction is set to begin in the second half of this year, with completion targeted for 2027. An operational framework will also be established to allow the centers to sustain training independently after they open.
The curriculum will also be updated. Hybrid and electric vehicle repair skills will be added to Ghana's existing technical and vocational education and training courses, which currently focus on internal combustion engine vehicles. As the automotive market shifts toward electrification, technicians increasingly need expertise in high-voltage batteries and electric drivetrains.
The new curriculum will be applied in classrooms after receiving official accreditation from Ghana's Technical and Vocational Education and Training Authority. The aim is to upgrade existing repair workers into specialists capable of servicing next-generation vehicles.
The program does not stop at technical instruction. Trainees will receive scholarships and internship opportunities, and an annual job fair will be held. Young people looking to open their own repair shops will also receive entrepreneurship training and consulting.
Hyundai Motor and KOICA plan to directly support 405 local youth and teachers through the project. Trained teachers will in turn instruct local students, with the goal of expanding the program's reach over the long term.
The initiative comes as Hyundai Motor has been deepening its focus on Ghana and the broader African market. Hyundai Motor Group Executive Chair Euisun Chung visited Ghana in July to inspect the local sales network and meet with the king of the Ashanti Kingdom. The Ghanaian government has also been actively courting Hyundai Motor as a potential West African production base, raising the question of whether local manufacturing and workforce development will expand in tandem.
Ghana is also accelerating the development of its automotive industry. Starting in October, the country will require imported and locally assembled vehicles to comply with national safety and quality standards, and in November it plans to hold its first international auto show as part of an ambition to become a hub for West Africa's automotive sector.
Hyundai Motor plans to expand the Hyundai NextGen program to other countries, starting with Ghana. The company intends to pursue automotive skills training and workforce development tailored to the conditions and educational environments of each region.
"We hope this Hyundai-KOICA NextGen project will open up greater opportunities for employment and self-reliance among Ghana's youth," a Hyundai Motor official said. "Hyundai Motor will continue to pursue programs that develop skilled talent and strengthen the competitiveness of the automotive industry."
kwater@heraldcorp.com
