CALGARY, Alta. – Kenworth Truck Company, and its Calgary dealership – GreatWest Kenworth Ltd., have partnered with the Southern Alberta Institute of Technology (SAIT) to better train students.

The partnership will bring added technical and equipment resources to Canada’s longest running motor mechanics program. Brian Moukperian, dean of SAIT’s Transportation Department, says the support is highly appreciated.

Moukperian says his goal has been to make a good thing even better. “That’s why we’re so excited about our partnership with Kenworth and their dealership here in Calgary,” he says.

“This is priceless to our students. What we have now is a true partnership between industry and the classroom. We’re indebted to Kenworth and GreatWest Kenworth for their support.”

Carl Garrod, Kenworth’s service training manager says the truck OEM has provided a dash assembly for electrical mockups, diagnostic tools for ABS systems, and plans to provide an HVAC system in the near future.

“We’re also working closely with the Institute on technical training and have hosted several SAIT instructors at our regional training sessions,” Garrod says. “We’re very happy to be providing equipment and our expertise to further help their students.”

“SAIT is nationally known, but we felt if the mechanics could train on today’s vehicles and components and have access to OEM training material, they’d be better prepared for the real world,” says Paul Storwick, dealer principal of GreatWest Kenworth. Moukperian says the number one customer is the employer. “After all, they’re the one hiring our students. Therefore we need to listen to their needs and allow them to give us strategic direction. As a result, this better prepares our students for immediate employment.”