600 students benefit from MTC internship programme
MTC, OPM donate N$2m
Nationally, 48 000 students are in dire need of internships to graduate, Ekandjo said.
A total of 600 students have so far benefitted from MTC's national internship programme.
The telecommunications giant has now called on other corporates to pledge their support towards the programme, which started in 2019 with a N$7 million budget and aims to assist between 160 and 1 600 students annually.
Should all considered corporates sign on the dotted line, the initiative is set to raise a whopping N$14.4 million per year, with each company urged to pledge N$200 000.
MTC's chief human capital officer Tim Ekandjo yesterday said the company is now ready to upscale the project to become a national vehicle for internships.
"MTC and the Office of the Prime Minister will collectively contribute N$2 million per annum. So, we are looking for other corporates out there to come on board with a contribution of at least N$200 000," he said.
Ekandjo added that nationally, 48 000 students are in dire need of internships to graduate.
"While this reality can be viewed as a checklist for benefitting graduates, internships in general also answer
to hostile requirements from the industry that only opens doors to graduates who have a shoestring of experience.”
Bigger impact
MTC managing director Licky Erastus highlighted that although the programme takes stock of its achievements, smart partnerships will have an even bigger impact.
"We are now at a point where we want to carve out a future for the programme to see how it can be integrated into the national education goals and structure. Frankly speaking, we have, per annum, more students who need internships, but unfortunately, the programme can only take 160 per year. A number that we consider very little if we are to make a significant impact.
“We are, therefore, urging and calling on more corporates to come on board so that together, as good corporate citizens, we can make a positive difference in this regard."
The telecommunications giant has now called on other corporates to pledge their support towards the programme, which started in 2019 with a N$7 million budget and aims to assist between 160 and 1 600 students annually.
Should all considered corporates sign on the dotted line, the initiative is set to raise a whopping N$14.4 million per year, with each company urged to pledge N$200 000.
MTC's chief human capital officer Tim Ekandjo yesterday said the company is now ready to upscale the project to become a national vehicle for internships.
"MTC and the Office of the Prime Minister will collectively contribute N$2 million per annum. So, we are looking for other corporates out there to come on board with a contribution of at least N$200 000," he said.
Ekandjo added that nationally, 48 000 students are in dire need of internships to graduate.
"While this reality can be viewed as a checklist for benefitting graduates, internships in general also answer
to hostile requirements from the industry that only opens doors to graduates who have a shoestring of experience.”
Bigger impact
MTC managing director Licky Erastus highlighted that although the programme takes stock of its achievements, smart partnerships will have an even bigger impact.
"We are now at a point where we want to carve out a future for the programme to see how it can be integrated into the national education goals and structure. Frankly speaking, we have, per annum, more students who need internships, but unfortunately, the programme can only take 160 per year. A number that we consider very little if we are to make a significant impact.
“We are, therefore, urging and calling on more corporates to come on board so that together, as good corporate citizens, we can make a positive difference in this regard."
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