BRITISH American Tobacco and UNZA sign MOU to provide work experience to students

BRITISH American Tobacco (BAT), University of Zambia (UNZA) and the Zambia Chamber of Commerce and Industry (ZACCI) have signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) to provide work opportunities for students at UNZA.

The work experience opportunities for students at UNZA would help prepare them for the labour market and facilitate their contribution to the economy.

BAT managing director Godfrey Machanzi said the partnership would prepare the students for working life and professional experience.

Mr Machanzi said during the MoU signing ceremony on Thursday that BAT Zambia believed that final-year students and recent graduates would benefit from the opportunity to engage in practical work environments that would help integrate them into the labour market.

“It is against this background that the partnership between BAT, ZACCI and UNZA will establish the conditions for providing internship for final-year students and recent graduates, both for undergraduate and post-graduate students registered at UNZA,” he said.

He added that the trainee programme was an ideal way in which BAT Zambia could assist graduating and post-graduate students to actively identify employment opportunities.

Mr Machanzi said the MoU would respond to some of the challenges being faced by graduates in pursuit of training, successful employment and a secure future.

Acting UNZA vice-chancellor, Enala Tembo said the learning institution was ready to provide BAT Zambia with the best students in line with the MoU.

Professor Tembo said under the MoU, UNZA would, upon BAT’s request, send a list of final-year students observing the compatibility of the course curriculum with the necessary requirements for inclusion of the internship.