University of Kentucky, Toyota recognize 30-year-long partnership

The University of Kentucky and auto manufacturer Toyota recognized a 30-year partnership during a Tuesday ceremony.

The partnership helped link UK’s Pigman College of Engineering with Toyota’s nearby Georgetown plant. It influenced curriculum for school programs, including manufacturing technology and computer engineering.

Rudy Buchheit is the dean of the engineering college. He says the partnership has created a workforce pipeline for the nearby plant in Georgetown.

“Kentucky is a manufacturing state, and so part of our responsibility as the land grant institution of Kentucky is to prepare people to drive the workforce,” Buchheit said.

Toyota engineer Trever White says the ceremony is meant to honor former Toyota Kentucky President Fujio Cho, who helped organize the partnership. UK’s Department of Engineering Technology will be renamed in his honor.

“He had a vision originally because of the close proximity between University of Kentucky and the Toyota plant to bridge the curriculum development for students to learn the Toyota production system,” White said.

University officials like President Eli Capilouto were in attendance alongside politicians like U.S. Representative Andy Barr, Transportation Cabinet Secretary Jim Gray and Lexington Mayor Linda Gorton.

Gorton proclaimed Tuesday as University of Kentucky-Toyota Collaboration Day during the event.

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