Automotive students gain hands-on experience thanks to ADP Dealer Services Inc. donation

Dec. 5, 2013

Georgian College automotive students will gain hands-on experience in dealership management, thanks to a strategic partnership signed between Georgian College and ADP Dealer Services, Inc. (“ADP”), a subsidiary of Automatic Data Processing, Inc. on Thursday, Nov. 28.

Georgian College has selected ADP’s dealership management systems software to support courses taught to students in the Automotive Business and Bachelor of Business – Automotive Management programs. The five-year agreement includes computer equipment and software installation in the newly renamed ADP Lab at the Barrie Campus.

Signing the agreement were Dean Anton, Vice President and General Manager of ADP Canada Co., Dealer Services and Georgian College President and CEO MaryLynn West-Moynes.

Rob Scott, a student in the Bachelor of Business – Automotive Management degree program, said learning on systems such as ADP’s gives him and his classmates an advantage in the workplace.

“Learning dealer management software in the classroom allows students to become significantly more employable in this increasingly digital industry. I was able to use the software first-hand in the dealership on one of my co-op work terms,” Scott said.

ADP’s Dean Anton sees great value in making this donation to the college.

“ADP is very pleased to provide Georgian College’s Automotive Business School of Canada with the latest in automotive retail management systems for the use of students and faculty. The responsibility to give back to the future employees and employers of the automotive industry is something ADP sees as very important,” said Anton. “ADP has long been the leader in technology that drives automotive retail purchasing, and now students of the automotive diploma and degree programs at Georgian College will benefit from that expertise..”

Monique Vaillancourt, Associate Dean of the Automotive Business School of Canada and the School of Business, said the donation is much appreciated by students and faculty.

“We are pleased to build on our relationship with an industry leader like ADP. We are grateful for this generous donation and we strongly value ADP’s confidence in our academic programs and our students,” she said.

The Barrie Campus of Georgian College is home to the Automotive Business School of Canada. Programs include a one-of-a-kind Bachelor of Business (Automotive Management) four-year degree and Automotive Business (Co-op), a two-year diploma.