Purpose
This two-day course provides an introduction and “how to” tips regarding the Automotive Youth Educational System (AYES) summer internship experience. The program is designed to introduce student interns and auto dealership mentors to AYES and prepare them for successful internship experiences. A mentor is an experienced journeyman service technician employed by the automotive dealership. “Train the Trainer (T3)” instruction takes place each year to train instructors, dealers, manufacturers and other key automotive personnel to administer Mentor/Intern training.
Program/Services
All AYES students are assigned a dealership mentor and both the mentor and the student intern are required to attend this training session. The course contains lecture and video learning activities that include group discussions and structured exercises, which require trained facilitators to lead the group through the selected exercises and activities. ROCP Unit staff assists the schools in providing this training as needed. Interns and mentors are trained individually at first and then are brought together to work together as they will in the shop. The training discusses the psychological as well as mechanical aspects of mentoring and the mentor/intern relationship.
During the internship program, students receive a toolbox and tools valued at over $2,000 and have the opportunity to “earn while they learn”. Many of these students are hired by their sponsoring dealership to continue working in their field of study.
Students participate in job shadowing, skill competitions, community service, leadership activities and work to become part of a world-class workforce.
Outcomes
Mentors and interns are trained to work together and develop a plan for meeting the AYES curriculum criteria in completing work journals and assigned tasks. Through AYES, qualified high school juniors who are interested in becoming automotive technicians are matched up with experienced dealership service technicians (“mentors”) for guided, real world, on-the-job training.
Funding
Student interns are paid during their internship by the sponsoring dealership.
Students Served
The number of students served varies based on the participation of the schools, dealerships and potential interns. Each year, approximately 120 students participate in the AYES summer intern program.
Results
Students have the opportunity to “learn while they earn” in a real world setting. Some students also continue on in specific manufacturer automotive training programs such as Ford ASSET, General Motors ASEP, Toyota T-TEN, DaimlerChrysler CAP and Honda PACT. Many student interns are hired by their sponsoring dealership to continue working as an apprentice automotive technician. Interns get to take pride in sharing their experiences and expertise with their intern and dealerships are “growing their own” employees that come to work after the internship ready to work and with the knowledge, skill and abilities needed to become an apprentice technician.
Contact Information
The Automotive Youth Educational Systems Mentor/Intern Training Program is administered by:
California Department of Education
Secondary, Postsecondary, and Adult Leadership Division
Regional Occupational Centers and Programs and Workforce Development Unit
1430 N Street, Suite 4503
Sacramento, CA 95814
Dara Dubois
Education Programs Consultant
916-445-7754
ddubois@cde.ca.gov
