Madang Technical College signs MOU with Ramu NiCo

A Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) was inked this week in Madang between Madang Technical College and the Chinese developer of the country's only nickel and cobalt project, Ramu NiCo Management Limited.

The MOU paves the way for a working collaboration between the college and the company, especially in the area of specialist training for the students.

The document, described as significant by the college principal, Marcus Weimeia, marks a milestone achievement for the college.

It was signed by the Deputy Secretary of the Department of Higher Education, Research, Science and Technology, Charles Mabia, Vice President of Ramu NiCo, Meng Deyong, who signed on behalf of the Company President, Wang Zhou, and Board Chairman of the College, Norman Gulo.

Mabia signed as a witness of the partnership between Ramu NiCo and Madang Technical College.

According to the company's Human Resource Manager, Jeffers Heptol Teargun, who introduced the purpose of the MOU, the document is a first- of- its- kind that Ramu NiCo has entered into with a learning institution in the country.

The MOU is two-fold. It is a collaboration between the company and the college to introduce new courses, designed mainly for the mining industry, and to provide industrial training for students who graduate from the college.

The new courses will include nickel and cobalt processing technology, a course that is not offered at the college and in the country.

"Under the MOU, the company will bring in instructors from China to teach these courses. We will have Chinese trainers to come and inspect, and also develop some courses. For existing courses that the college is already running, we will put more innovation into them

"For students who perform well and impress us during their industrial attachment, the company will give them permanent jobs.

"A partnership will also be established for the company to sponsor some of the students to do short courses and industrial training in China. Even teachers can go for teachers' exchange programs in China," he said.

Teargun stressed that the MOU will require efforts from all parties concerned, including the national government, provincial government, and LLGs, in terms of collaboration and cooperation.

He further stated that through the project's MOA that is under review with the landowners, a proposal is in place for the establishment of a technical vocational training (TVET) centre at Kurumbukari and one in Basamuk.

These centres will allow the local youth population to get national certificates trainings, levels 1 and 2, as well as help boost the technical human resources in the province and country.

DHERST Deputy Secretary, Mr. Mabia, said the department is already working with the industries to write up training packages that are already through the system.

He added, "DHERST is very keen to see the industry work with colleges to help train our young workforce for the future."

Vice-president Meng, in his remarks, gave a brief background of the company's operations in Madang.

He said that as the company prepares to go into phase 2 of the project, it needs more employees.

"We need more technical employees, so we want to provide Chinese technical training and provide facilities to Madang Technical College. We want to help develop some courses that can help give job opportunities to locals," he said.

Meng also revealed that the company currently employs 1, 300 PNG nationals.

This is not including the contractors.

Meanwhile, Board Chairman, Gulo said that the signing of the MOU was more than a formal agreement.

He said, "It is a partnership built on shared vision, mutual respect and a commitment to the future of Madang and Papua New Guinea.

"The MOU represents an opportunity to bridge education and the industries."