KRAATZ ENGINEERING AND UNAM FORGE STRATEGIC ALLIANCE TO BRIDGE SKILLS GAP – Blockchain Information Website

WALVIS BAY, NAMIBIA, 02 MAY 2024 – Kraatz Engineering, a subsidiary of the Ohlthaver & Record (O&L) Group, is thrilled to announce the signing of a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) that’s main the way in which in a brand new enterprise with the College of Namibia (UNAM) and the Welding Affiliation of Namibia. This strategic alliance is about to revolutionize the engineering sector by enhancing the expertise pipeline by way of a synergistic strategy that integrates hands-on coaching inside academia, aligns instructional curricula with business necessities, and propels innovation by way of collaborative analysis endeavours.

The joint initiative is aimed toward narrowing the talents hole prevalent within the Namibian engineering business. By leveraging the strengths of every companion, the MoU will create a seamless pathway from schooling to employment, guaranteeing graduates will not be solely job-ready but in addition outfitted to contribute to the development of native business by way of innovation and finest practices.

“Kraatz and O&L’s commitment to nurturing local talent will see students gaining invaluable, on-the-job experience through structured internships and job attachments. UNAM’s rich academic environment will be enriched by real-world industry insights, enhancing their reputation as a cradle of future industry leaders, while the broader engineering sector will benefit from a workforce that is educated, innovative, and aligned with the needs of industry.”, states Cameron Kali, Expertise Acquisition Specialist at O&L.

Prof. Kenneth Matengu vice chancellor of UNAM and Frank Kernstock (MD) of Kraatz Engineering on the signing of the MOU in Walvisbay.

The MoU outlines particular packages that embody:

Job shadowing and internships for hands-on expertise.
Utilization of state-of-the-art services {and professional} tools.
Joint analysis tasks aimed toward business innovation.
Tutorial and business data trade boards.

These packages are designed to bridge theoretical data with sensible abilities, offering a holistic instructional expertise for college students.

The anticipated outcomes of this collaboration are multifaceted:

A big discount within the abilities hole throughout the Namibian engineering business.
A rise in job creation, notably for the youth.
The institution of Namibia as a hub of business innovation and progress.

College students and lecturers keen to participate on this trailblazing initiative are inspired to achieve out to their respective institutional representatives for standards and software processes.

This partnership embodies the long-term imaginative and prescient of making a sustainable and self- enough native business that’s aggressive on a worldwide scale. It aligns with nationwide objectives for schooling and business improvement and guarantees to catalyse the financial and social upliftment of the Namibian society. Prof. Kenneth Matengu, UNAM’s Vice-chancellor, has endorsed this partnership, recognizing it as a pivotal step in the direction of an inter-connected and progressive future for Namibia. “This MoU creates opportunities to collaborate in overall education of our engineering students but more specifically in student placement, in research and in R&D support. This framework advances the mutual interests of the parties especially in the development of welding engineering education in Namibia, which UNAM will begin offering soon. UNAM is extremely pleased to partner with KRAATZ of the O&L group and looks forward to working with O&L in expanding industry activities and supporting emerging businesses in the future.”, acknowledged Prof. Kenneth Matengu, Vice Chancellor of the College of Namibia.

Frank Kernstock, MD of Kraatz Engineering, provides, “Internship and attachment programs are critical in crafting a robust talent pipeline. At O&L and Kraatz, we envision a sustainable future where Namibians are at the forefront of industry innovation and therefore, we are committed to this journey, alongside UNAM and the Welding Association, in creating and enhancing life locally. This partnership is more than a MoU; it is a promise to the future generations of Namibia, ensuring they have the tools, skills, and opportunities to build a brighter, more innovative future for all. This is authentically who we are, what we care about and for the future we are passionate about.”