Engineering students at the College of Engineering, Design, Art and Technology (CEDAT) benefited from a career guidance and mentorship session co-organized by the college and Tembo Steel (U) Ltd, during which an offer of ten Internship placement opportunities was announced.
The session held on 10thMay 2023 in the CEDAT Conference hall was a follow up of a visit by mechanical Engineering students to the Tembo Steel (U) ltd plant at Lugazi
Mr. Sanjay Awasthi, the Chairman Tembo Steels (U) Ltd in the company of Mr. Manish Kalla, the company’s General Manager engaged the students in a discourse aimed at generating their interest in the steel industry.
I would like to encourage you to work hard in class and further your education but also use the opportunities we offer to have practical skills, said the General Manager of the Company.
He said career planning helps oneidentify one’s strengths and growth areas. Learning about your strengths can be a great help in choosing which career options are most suitable for you. When career planning, you’re looking at which skills you can flex and which areas there may be more learning to do.
He said Tembo steel (U) ltd started their production in the year 2000 in a small way and urged the students to have a positive stance towards life irrespective of the circumstances.
‘You may meet various challenges in life but that should not stop you from aiming high.We are open and available for whoever is determined to gain skills and add efforts to the development of this country and the region, said Awasthi.
He said the steel they produce was 100% made in Uganda with the raw material, iron ore extracted from the ground and converted into iron and steel.He told the students that all these processes had opportunists for skills development, technology and employment.
Tembo Steels, he noted is the most diversified and integrated steel plant in Africa with the largest product portfolio through integrated route covering all four verticals of steel, and that their company continuously strives to foster and develop talents across the country. He said the management recognizes the importance of training and giving opportunities to students, which is a noble contribution to the country.
Dr. Peter Olupot, Lecturer Mechanical Engineering extended the colleges appreciation for the opportunity rendered by the company, that not only included a tour of the plant but also a career advice session with a bigger number of students at the college.He also appreciated the offerof internship placements for the students willing to take them on.
Prof. Kirabira, the Head Department of Mechanical Engineering applauded Tembo Steel (U) ltd for taking keen interest in training students which was very relevant to theirlearning at all levels in areas like mechanics of materials, properties of materials, control systems and instrumentation as well as production engineering.
He informed the team that there were other opportunities beneficial to the two parties citing the example of research on steel that the college has undertaken, in addition to energy efficiency and related subjects.
He called for further support from government and the private sector in the area of infrastructure for better training and research. ‘We need equipment where students can be able to access demonstrations, scientific research and related infrastructure for training lecturers, better lecture rooms, labs and internet among others’, said Kirabira.
He informed the visiting team that the college was open in regard to partnering with Industry‘Wecan’t work alone as a university because our products have to work in the industry. As an engineering school, industry is our close partner,’ he emphasized.
The Dean, School of Engineering, Assoc. Prof. Dorothy Okello who was represented by Dr. Abubaker Matovu Waswa Head, Electrical Engineering Department said it was a rare opportunity for an employer to come all the way looking for prospective employees like Tembo Steels Ltd did and urged the students to get interested. He said although interests vary amongst students, it was important that at undergraduate level, they got open to which ever opportunities came their way.
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