Konkola Copper Mines plc (KCM) has signed Memoranda of Understanding (MOU) with top Indian universities, opening the way for some of Zambia’s future engineers, metallurgists and medical doctors to train in that country.
The memoranda were signed last week during a visit to India by two KCM officials; Ernest Makasa, the Principal of the KCM Trusts Schools and Gowri Shenbagaraman, the company’s facilitator for learning and development.
The universities are Manipal University in Manipal, PSG College of Technology in Coimbatore and VIT University in Vellore.
The first beneficiaries of the arrangement will be the 18 students who were recently awarded scholarships by KCM to take up courses in engineering, medicine and commerce.
They are scheduled to take up their places at the respective universities in the next two months.
“KCM has identified top universities in India for the sponsored children based on certain criteria that included the institution’s years of existence, reputation, rating, and existing relationship with Vedanta (KCM’s parent company), courses on offer, pedigree of handling international students and infrastructure,” said Mr Makasa.
PSG College of Technology is a 60-year-old institute with a student population of 7 000 and a 750-strong faculty. It offers Engineering degrees in 14 disciplines and ranks among the top 10 Engineering colleges in India.
VIT University has a student population of 15 000 and is one of India’s fastest growing universities with many internationally accredited programmes on offer. The university has one of the best infrastructure facilities and around 800 foreign students on campus.
It offers undergraduate and post-graduate programmes. KCM-sponsored students admitted to the university will study Engineering in Mechanical, Electrical, Instrumentation and Metallurgy.
Manipal University is regarded as the pioneer in private medical education in India and its medical College in Manipal is now into its sixth decade. Located on the beautiful western coast, Manipal is India’s largest international university tow.
It offers educational, research and training programmes at undergraduate and post graduate levels in disciplines such as medicine, pharmacy, dentistry, nursing, life science regenerated medicine, arts and humanities.
The university has 16 000 students from 52 countries and is ranked seventh in India. About 3 000 practising doctors in the US and a quarter of those in Malaysia are alumni of Manipal. Three of the KCM-sponsored students will begin their five-year course at Manipal’s Manipal- Melaka Medical College. They will spend the second half of their training in Melaka, Malaysia.
Mr Makasa and Mr Shenbagaraman interacted with senior officials at the visited universities and also stayed on-campus to have a feel of the facilities.
KCM recently awarded 18 pupils from its Trust schools scholarships to undertake degree courses in India as part of its long-term strategy to develop the manpower the country needs to secure the future of the copper mining industry. Twelve of the pupils are girls.
A few months ago, KCM introduced the scholastic excellence awards programme that awards scholarships to the highest scoring grade eight and 10 pupils from the government schools in the district where the company has its operations.
The awards include cash support to the families of the winning pupils Twenty-four pupils have been awarded under the scheme.
Rahul Kharkar
Head – Corporate Affairs & Company Spokesperson
Just another way of externalizing profits. If the students were sponsored to study say at UNZA or CBU, the money would remain and be spent in Zambia, hence adding to the development of Zambia. That’s what happens in other countries. They keep the money within their countries.
But then again, this says a lot about the quality of education offered at places like UNZA and CBU.
Good luck to you kids, and enjoy your stay in India.
This is ok. It gives those blessed pupils an opportunity outside and also leaves space at Unza for other students.
Should also consider sponsorships at UNZA, if they are not already doing it. ZCCM sponsored students at Unza in addition to those in Universities abroad.
I pray for those children.
I hope they will not be forced to worship the Sun and other idols.
This will be the greatest test of their faith.
I still hold 20th centuary perceptions of India. I wonder if he ever stop to think about the view Indian or indeed the rest of the world has of Zambia. In most cases people do not know of Zambia or they cannot distinguish it from the stereotypical corrupt, disease infested African country in the media. So do not be quick to diss India and the opportunity these students shall have. This is a good thing even f the funds do not stay in Zambia. The fund were going to leave anyway. Zambia need much more education. Good job KCM!
But why an Indian spokesman? Dont we have enough Zambian trained people? Where is Zambia Institute of Marketing?
This is a good thing. The standards in India’s premier universities are much higher than what is obtaining at the UNZA and CBU of today. It is nice to see that the mines have gone back to offering scholarships. Good old ZCCM used to do it too.
#3 India has a secular government. Their constitution is not contaminated with religion as is the case here. Why do you have to be so negative? Keep your negativity to yourself!!:-?
Sorry Maria. Our politicians have contaminated my mind !
Wishing the children a good stay in India !
Who would want to have an Indian qualification anyway. These monkeys are externalising funds and just looking for any opportunity of doing so. There’s nothing positive about this, expect stealing our money.
just let them go and train, we shall see later what comes of it, it could turn out any way.
congrats dad!!!!!
I am happy for the kids gng out of zambia to study, besides them coming back with doctrates they will have also learnt to be responsible citizens,,