 | |
| Vice Chancellor of the University of Dar es Salaam, Professor Rwekaza
Mukandala, (2nd-L), and Deo Mwanyika, (2nd-R) , who is Acacia Vice President (Corporate
Affairs), display documents after they had signed at the University’s Mlimani
campus in Dar es Salaam late on Tuesday. The
University of Dar es Salaam (UDSM) has signed a renewed Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with Acacia
Mining that would support 52 students and staff in various areas hence to improve quality of engineering sector. Right is Acacia's Chief Advisor, Learning and Training, Jannet Reuben Lekashingo, and UDSM's Acting Secretary to Council and Corporate Counsel
who is also, the Intellectual Property
Manager,
Dr. Saudin Mwakaje. |
THE University of Dar es Salaam (UDSM) has signed a renewed
Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with Acacia Mining that would support 52
students and staff in various
areas hence improve quality of engineering sector .
Speaking shortly before signing of the MoU on Tuesday in
Dar es Salaam , Deo Mwanyika , who is Acacia Vice President (Corporate Affairs)
, said there are a number of aspects that the company and University
are partnering.
He mentioned some of aspects as a two year practical work
experience for 2nd and 3rd year students,
funding for university laboratory equipment, sponsorship of postgraduate mining/mineral
process engineering students and bursary for six students.
He said the two year practical work experience for the mentioned
students in the chemical and Mining engineering
department in various fields of significance to Tanzania’s
development agenda in relation to the mining sector.
Mwanyika congratulated the first 52 students who will
be part of the program and asked them to apply the knowledge and
experience gained from practical training for the development of Tanzania.
Further more, he said Acacia is committing more than 22m/-
finances for purchase of laboratory equipment, student site
visit and practical experience at its mine sites and
helps supervise final year students on their project works.
“This support , exposure and experience are critical to
our students the future professional workforce of our country Acacia
creates that solid foundation one needs for their career ahead”, he
said.
Under the two year signed Mou, he said the company has for the
new study year allocated 6 scholarship for students at CoET.
Mwanyika noted that education is an important factor for
economic development , but most students are not in a position to
pay for their tertiary education due to lack of funds.
“As Tanzania’s leader in the mining sector , the firm is
committed to further increase its investment in higher education ,”
he assured.
He urged students at UDSM and other institutions of
higher learning in Tanzania to realize that they are honored
a lot , having access to education that is distant dream to many others in the
country.
“Whoever will be beneficiary of the next two years Acacia
internship and scholarship programs you have a responsibility to
give back to our community and county imparting the knowledge you
have gained,” he said.
The firm has run the scholarship program with UDSM
since 2009 , which supported top undergraduate
students and offered scholarships to academic staffs to
pursue postgraduate studies
Speaking earlier , the Principal of College of Engineering and
Technology (CoET) Prof Ignas Rubaratuka, said the support from
Acacia has focused in practical training, industrial oriented students
projects and provision of engineering and design and modeling
software.
He said the University through the CoET has always been seeking
to forge productive and constructive partnership with the industry for the
mutual benefits of all
He said the collaboration between UDSM and Acacia Mining has
been an exemplary partnership that they are proud of and need to be
consolidated in order to continue training mining engineers.
“This is huge obligation that if left alone, without support of
the industry like Acacia, we can hardly make meaningful contribution
as it is understood all over the world that training of engineers is an
expensive though necessary undertaking”, he said.
He added that, there fore most of time , universities are
obliged to seek partnerships with industry and tend to orient their
training to solve problems of the industry so as to attract the industry to
fund their activities which eventually benefit the industry.
Explaining further he said some of the graduates from mining
programs have secured employment in various countries namely
Australia, South Sudan, Mali, Ghana, South America and South Africa.
He noted that one of the objectives of the MoU that has not been
fully realized to the satisfaction of both sides is the component of staff
training.
Like any other organization, the University is constantly striving
to train younger staff as part of its succession plan.
“You will agree with me that the quality of the graduates will
depend partly on the quality of instructors that the University
engages, we are committed to this and any funds set aside for training will be
used only for this purpose,” he concluded.
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