Automotive Partnerships Continue to Uphold Universal Technical Institute as the Industry's Choice for Technician Education and Training

SCOTTSDALE, Ariz., Dec. 22, 2011 /PRNewswire/ -- In the competitive landscape of post-secondary automotive technology education, Universal Technical Institute (UTI) continued to expand its offerings to both students and automotive partners in 2011. With the attainment of several partnerships this year, UTI is proud to be recognized as the industry's choice for automotive, diesel, motorcycle and marine technician education and training.

UTI is the primary, and often sole provider of manufacturer based training programs, and maintains relationships with more than 20 OEMs. These industry relationships and employers benefit from a steady flow of well-trained entry-level technicians, while UTI students benefit from specialized education while improving their opportunities for employment.

The following are UTI partnerships solidified in 2011:

• American Honda Motor Co., Inc. – At the start of 2011 UTI announced a partnership with American Honda to offer Honda's Professional Automotive Career Training (P.A.C.T.) program at a UTI campus, a first for any technical school. UTI holds a long-standing history of training programs with American Honda and has offered Honda training for more than 24 years at UTI's Motorcycle Mechanics Institute and for 14 years at UTI's Marine Mechanics Institute.
• Nissan | Infiniti – The Nissan Automotive Technology Training (NATT) was launched at UTI's Norwood, Mass. campus in February 2011, making it the fifth UTI campus to offer the program. The only program of its kind in the Northeast, NATT will help to meet the demand for highly-trained Nissan and Infiniti technicians in the Boston and surrounding areas.
• Fisker Automotive – In spring 2011 UTI provided technical training to Fisker dealership personnel at the UTI campus in Rancho Cucamonga, Calif. to support the much anticipated release of Fisker's Karma model. UTI trained approximately 100 technicians from Fisker's U.S. Dealers.
• Desert Fleet-Serv - Technical training was provided in 2011 and continues for Desert Fleet-Serv technicians with an emphasis on the efficiency of its existing work force and preparing its technicians for new business opportunities. Desert Fleet-Serv is a Phoenix-based company specializing in providing mobile fleet maintenance services.

"Our industry partnerships expand the learning opportunities of our students, and differentiate UTI in the marketplace," says Greg Dickson, vice president for customer solutions, UTI. "They also assist us in being the leading source of technical education for careers in the transportation industry."

In January 2012, UTI will launch American Honda's Professional Automotive Career Training (P.A.C.T.) at the UTI campus in Glendale Heights, Ill.  UTI will be the only school to offer P.A.C.T. in the Metropolitan Chicago-area and will provide Honda and Acura dealers in the area with highly-sought after trained technicians.

About Universal Technical Institute, Inc.:
Headquartered in Phoenix, Arizona, Universal Technical Institute, Inc. (NYSE: UTI) is the leading provider of post-secondary education for students seeking careers as professional automotive, diesel, collision repair, motorcycle and marine technicians. With more than 150,000 graduates in its 46-year history, UTI offers undergraduate degree, diploma and certificate programs at 11 campuses across the United States, as well as manufacturer-specific training programs at dedicated training centers. Through its campus-based school system, UTI provides specialized post-secondary education programs under the banner of several well-known brands, including Universal Technical Institute (UTI), Motorcycle Mechanics Institute and Marine Mechanics Institute (MMI) and NASCAR Technical Institute (NTI).  For more information, visit www.uti.edu.

For more information, please contact:
Media Contact:
Chantell Nighswonger
Allison & Partners
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480-776-6413

SOURCE Universal Technical Institute, Inc.