By Mr Amarr Prabhu for BISMumbai

Don Bosco Industrial Training Institute, Kurla, touched another milestone when it augmented its training capacity by inaugurating its training van equipped with virtual reality to teach Anti-Lock Braking Systems (ABS). The inauguration took place at the hands of Fr Savio Silveria, Provincial of the Province of Bombay, and the main sponsor of this Project, Mr Martyn Perkins, Executive Director of Knorr-Bremse Global Care Asia Pacific Limited on 14 October 2022.

The ceremonial cutting of the ribbon by representatives of DBITI and Knorr Bremse marked the availability of training to not only the 300 youngsters of the Technical Institute but many more beyond this campus. Fr Silveira raised a prayer of thanksgiving and blessed the vehicle. Mr Ajinkya Bangar, a Deputy Manager of Knorr-Bremse Systems, explained how the van has been designed and equipped. Oculus Rift, a Virtual Reality headset designed to connect to a high-powered PC to enable advanced computations and graphics rendering, was then unpacked and a demonstration of the equipment was given.

The program continued in the Santino Mondini Hall where the Knorr-Bremse officials and Fr Silveira were welcomed by Fr Anthony Pinto, the Rector, and thanked for bringing this project to DBITI Kurla. Mr Bangar then gave a short presentation of the company profile, the training centre, products and factory of Knorr-Bremse. He said that virtual reality would be a new way of learning for the trainees.

Mr Martyn Perkins then addressed the gathering stating that he was happy to see the facilities at DBITI, Kurla, and also said that the trainees looked to be eager to learn about the ABS system. Fr Silveria remarked that this venture is one step forward towards scaling up this trade and expressed his gratitude towards Knorr-Bremse for partnering with Don Bosco through the Virtual Reality technical training. His message to the trainees who had eager expressions on their faces, was that in life and career one needed to update oneself as they had to be unique to get employment in the competition of life.

Mr Amarr Prabhu, Principal of DBITI, in his vote of thanks said that the Virtual Reality training van for ABS was the first of its kind among all the technical institutes, wherein the trainees could get hands-on training on the latest system. Since the ABS is housed in a mobile van trainees of the Automobile trade belonging to Don Bosco-Kurla, Don Bosco-Borivali, Don Bosco-Pinguli, Don Bosco-Chinchwad, Don Bosco-Chakan as well as trainees from Government & other ITIs all over Maharashtra would also benefit from the ABS system.

The programme came to a close with the dignitaries of Knorr-Bremse being gifted souvenirs prepared by ITI trainees.