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Canadian Automotive Institute
Today?s vehicle manufacturers continue to achieve a new level of sophistication to meet the ongoing demands of consumers. The management and staff at new car dealerships are no exception. Higher education improves professional standards throughout the industry, which is absolutely essential for dealership success.
There are over 330 new car dealerships in the GTA employing approximately 20,000 people. If you include staff in body repair shops, auto manufacturing plants, parts suppliers and related industries, an amazing statistic emerges ? one in seven Ontario residents is (directly or indirectly) involved with the automotive industry.
A new car dealership can be one of the most diverse, interesting, rewarding and exciting places to work. Proper education and training in the automotive industry can open that ?showroom door?.
Across Ontario, the bar is continually being raised in educational standards for potential professionals in our industry. Today?s employee must be skilled in such things as product presentation, model selection, performance statistics, pricing, after-sales service, warranties, insurance, used cars, financing and advertising.
In Ontario we are fortunate to have many outstanding educational and training institutions specializing in our industry. The internationally recognized Canadian Automotive Institute (CAI) at Georgian College in Barrie, is now offering its first-ever Bachelor of Applied Business Degree in Automotive Management. A real milestone for the college and the automotive industry. This new four-year applied degree program offers 40 courses over eight academic semesters, as well as three co-op work terms. It consists of 80% professional courses and 20% liberal arts. Current first year admission totalled 60 students. Enrolment is expected to reach 375 students by 2006.
This new program is in addition to the college?s successful three-year Business Administration/Automotive Marketing Diploma Program, established in 1985. This diploma is well respected throughout the industry, this is proven by CAI?s student graduate placement rate of over 90%.
According to college officials, the degree-granting program was both necessary and timely. While the diploma program was fulfilling a very important need throughout our industry, between 40-50% of the graduates from this program wanted to acquire a degree in this field of study but, were forced to attend a university outside of Canada in order to obtain it.
To give you an idea of the comprehensiveness of the program, just glance through the variety of the topics covered: Microeconomics, Marketing, Automotive Technology, Dealership Management Systems, Accounting, Managing E-Business, Automotive Sales Concepts, Parts and Service Management, Business Law for the Auto Industry, Applied Ethics, Environmental Studies, Entrepreneurship, Advertising and so on. There are also opportunities for scholarships, and corporate training.
The co-op education program at CAI provides unique opportunities for its students. All students must complete three co-op work terms (for which they are paid) in the automotive industry. This provides them with the equivalent of one full year of work experience before graduation. Graduates of the CAI program can choose employment with Dealers, Manufacturers, Financial Institutions or Automotive Suppliers.
The CAI plays a key role in our industry for another very important reason. Completing the CAI program as well as the Ontario Motor Vehicle Industry Council (OMVIC) Certification Course is mandatory for any person wanting to become a vehicle salesperson or dealer in Ontario. This particular course covers ethics, buyer?s rights, salesperson?s responsibilities and the laws surrounding automotive sales as well as the day-to-day operations affecting a dealership. Graduates of this course are able to use a special designation ? ?Certified in Automotive Law and Ethics?. This designation is signified with a lapel pin that may be worn by all certified dealership personnel. Indeed, the educational bar is continually being raised throughout the automotive industry ? and this is ultimately good news for consumers.
Don?t miss the Georgian College Auto Show next weekend! This annual show, the largest outdoor auto show in North America is being held September 20th ? 21st at the College?s Barrie Campus. The students, in conjunction with the vehicle manufacturers, organize this event; arrange for the press and public to attend, staff the displays and represent the industry in a professional manner. The event is considered an auto show lab at it?s finest!
For more information on CAI, please visit:
www.thecai.on.ca or call 705-728-1968 ext.1234
Until next week, remember ? YOU are in the driver?s seat.
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