First Group of Mazda Partnership Students Graduates
Last spring, Mazda began a partnership with Cypress College to create a new career track for Automotive Technology students. Those participants in the first group to complete all courses in Mazda Automotive Student Training, or MAST, were honored in a graduation celebration in late May.
Out of the 10 graduates, five currently work at Mazda dealerships and one at Mazda Corporate headquarters in Irvine. Mazda gives graduating students incentives such as bonuses, car purchase and lease discounts, tuition reimbursements, and tool discounts.
“The graduates come out of the program as Mazda Senior Certified Technicians ready to tackle customer and warranty work, including recalls and service campaigns,” MAST lead faculty Enrique Aispuro said. “They continue their training with Mazda to become Specialists and Master Technicians down the road. We expect to grow the cohort numbers next semester by eight to 10 students, a number based on our past semesters.”
MAST is an open-entry open-exit series of courses, and students can take these top-coded classes any time during their academic career. The typical graduation timeframe for new incoming students would be 2 to 2 and a half years after meeting the prerequisites, however, students already enrolled in auto tech can use credit for prior coursework.
Graduates can go on to become Mazda Senior Certified Technicians. Through this relationship between dealers and MAST schools, dealers have a dedicated hiring resource and schools have supportive graduate placement opportunities.