UDSM graduates shine in a multinational internship programme
By Jackson Isdory, CMU
In demonstration of its commitment to producing excellent graduates with international standards, the University of Dar es Salaam alumni namely Prisca Leonard Kasiaka and Salome Staford Mwakilima have recorded exceptional performance in the recently completed internship programme at the East African Crude Oil Pipeline (EACOP).
Ms. Sonia Juma, the Training Coordinator for the EACOP Project, commended UDSM's important role in recommending exceptional students for their training initiatives and highlighted the success stories of the two UDSM graduates who participated in the programme.
“We are truly grateful for the opportunity to collaborate with UDSM in fostering the next generation of excellent engineers in Tanzania. The skills and knowledge attained by these students will certainly contribute to the improvement of their respective fields and the nation at large”, said Ms. Juma.
As part of this programme, Prisca Leonard Kasiaka completed her internship undertaking with Avanti Energy Services Limited in China while Salome Staford Mwakilima, was currently undergoing a training programme with Sulzer Pumps in South Africa.
“The East African Crude Oil Pipeline (EACOP) Project is a noteworthy cross-country pipeline for transporting heavy and waxy crude oil from Uganda to Tanzania. As part of its engagement with the community, EACOP together with sub-contracting companies, offers platforms for collaboration with educational institutions including UDSM through internship programmes which expose Tanzanian graduates to hands-on practical experience across various fields accomplishment”, said Ms. Juma.
UDSM eagerness to expand academia-industry collaboration
Pleased with this achievement, UDSM Vice Chancellor, Prof. William A. L. Anangisye, affirmed UDSM’s eagerness to expand academia-industry collaboration beyond internships. He outlined plans for postgraduate scholarship programmes, staff capacity building, provision of laboratory equipment, and curriculum review.
“I believe that the programme’s success lies in its ability to provide graduates with international exposure, adding their academic training and preparing them for the global workforce arena. Its achievement also underscores the importance of vigorous connections between the academic and industrial scopes, in line with UDSM Vision 2061 and related mission”, said Prof. Anangisye.
He emphasised that feedback from firms hosting UDSM students was critical in reflecting on the effectiveness of its programmes in alignment with the market demands while promoting collaborative initiatives that bridge the gap between academia and industry.
A defining factor in students’ practical development
Dr. Joseph Kihedu, a Senior Lecturer in Mechanical Engineering at UDSM, expressed his satisfaction with the graduates’ outstanding performance in the EACOP internship programme and commended them for the work well done. “EACOP's internship programme is a defining factor in our students’ practical development, significantly enhances not only their personal growth, but also the nation’s development”.
He noted that four UDSM graduates were selected for the internship, including Salome Staford Mwakilima (BSc. Industrial Engineering), Prisca Leonard Kasiaka (BSc. Petroleum Engineering), Mary August Minja (BSc. Agricultural Engineering), and Magdalena August Minja (BSc. Agricultural Engineering), whose performance was so far commendable.
Dr. Kihedu underscored that EACOP was set to deepen its partnership by offering postgraduate scholarships and staff training opportunities in various disciplines related to the project, including oil and gas technology, structural engineering, production engineering, power electronics and electrical drives, chemical and process engineering, and petroleum engineering.