Safaricom Limited, has today signed a memorandum of understanding with Moi University to support and train competent electrical and telecommunication engineers. Bob Collymore, the CEO of Safaricom Limited said such relationships are mutual and aimed at preparing students with technical skills ready for the job market.

For six years, Safaricom has been sending their telecommunication experts to Moi University to train students and staff members. They have come up with an award to recognize the best telecommunication engineer every year from Moi University.

Moi University telecommunication engineering curriculum is determined by various stakeholders in the country such as Safaricom Limited. Experts within the industry have lauded this relationship citing it as the beginning of a healthy industry-academia partnership.

Prof Richard Mibey, who signed on behalf of Moi University, thanked Safaricom for its support, especially in the development of a curriculum for the Bachelor of Telecommunication Engineering course at Moi University. The first beneficiaries of the course graduated last year.

The partnership with Safaricom, he added, was an excellent example of how the corporate sector can enrich and contribute positively to human resource training and development in the country.

Under the MoU, Safaricom provides industrial attachment to 6 undergraduates taking the Bachelor of Telecommunications Engineering course at the university every year; sponsors curriculum reviews; rewards the best telecoms engineering student each year; donates equipment to the university on a regular basis e.g. computers and sponsors and participates in several activities at the college including the Engineering Students Expo, Career Days and teledcommunications workshops and conferences.

Among past successes of the MoU are the donation of a microwave radio link equipment worth $30,000 (about Sh2.5 million) to Moi University for teaching and research purposes. Safaricom has also donated 20 used computers to the university’s computer laboratory. The winner of the Safaricom Best Telecoms Student Award 2011, Kennedy Winga, is already a Safaricom employee.

As the local telecoms industry grows and demand for specialized skills increases, such partnerships will be a key ingredient in producing a cadre of qualified workers. Local universities, which provide about 5,000 ICT graduates annually, face a lot of challenges in putting together the  infrastructure needed to achieve this.