Hyundai Motor Co. said Tuesday it will build a vocational school to train mechanics in Ghana, widening its corporate social responsibility program in underdeveloped countries.

Named Hyundai-KOICA Dream Center, the school will be the first of a number of learning centers the company plans to build in African countries, Southeast Asia and developing nations in other regions. The school, to open this September, will adopt a three-year curriculum for some 300 students.

“Hyundai workers from all over the African region will be pulled over at the school to be the teachers. The curriculum is aimed at passing on the know-how of car engineering,” a Hyundai Motor official said after the ground breaking ceremony earlier in the day.

“The Hyundai-KOICA Dream Center will become Africa’s best auto engineering school.”

Graduates of the program will be guided to auto service centers. The school will also provide mentoring programs for those wanting to open their own shop. Graduates with outstanding results will be eligible to apply to Hyundai service centers. The construction, taking place in the city of Koforidua, will also be funded by charity organizations such as Plan Korea and the state-run Korea International Cooperation Agency.

“Hyundai will continue to expand its CRS programs in the region. We’re making the best use of our expertise in the auto industry in doing so,” another Hyundai official said.

The company last year donated two mobile health clinic vans to Ghana’s Ministry of Health through its local distributor Hyundai Auto Plaza. It donated 150 Hyundai-branded soccer balls to students of the Flagstaff House School, the New Town Experimental Basic School and the La Bawaleshie Primary School in the capital city of Accra.

By Cynthia J. Kim (cynthiak@heraldcorp.com)