Our country has a rich abundance of talented young people and empowering them to fulfill their potential is vital to the success of our business, the oil and gas industry and the long-term future of South Africa. We manage a comprehensive student and learner development programme designed to equip the next generation of PetroSA employees with the expertise and experience to excel personally and professionally. Closely aligned with our commitment to the principles of Broad-Based Black Economic Empowerment (BBBEE), this programme also complements our employee development initiatives. It covers the following areas:
PetroSA’s bursary programme for 2011-12 includes 65 full-time students. Our bursaries provide students with the opportunity to obtain an undergraduate qualification, with supervised practical learning in the workplace along with the opportunity to gain first-hand experience in their field of study.
Once they graduate, we offer our bursary students two-year fixed-term contracts in various PetroSA divisions. Essentially, our Graduate in Training scheme acts as a bridge between academia and the working world, giving youngsters the chance to gain invaluable experience in their chosen field with formal courses and mentor support. After two years, graduates are appointed to permanent positions in PetroSA provided there is a suitable position available. Graduates who do not secure a permanent position with us are highly sought after by other employers.
To provide our permanent employees the opportunity to further their qualification via distance learning, we offer financial study assistance.
At the PetroSA Centre of Excellence (COE) in Mossel Bay, we offer learnerships at Level 3 and 4 primarily to unemployed learners from the greater Mossel Bay area. The skills they develop at the centre cover Chemical Electrician, Instrumentation Mechanic (NQF4), Fitter, Welder, Rigger and Boilermaker learnerships for the chemical industry. All learnerships are CHIET- accredited.
We are actively involved in fostering effective partnerships to address the critical skills confronting our business and our sector. For example, we have recently entered an agreement with the Nelson Mandela Metropolitan University (NMMU) to fund study bursaries for the newly developed Diploma in Chemical Technology, set to launch in 2013. This qualification was developed through a partnership between PetroSA, NMMU and KBC International. Development started after feasibility studies to develop the crude oil refinery at Coega in the Eastern Cape under Project Mthombo highlighted a critical shortage of skilled chemical process technicians and engineers. We have also entered a partnership with the Cape Peninsula University of Technology (CPUT) Disability Unit to offer financial support to students with various disabilities. Our aim is to enable these students to complete their studies and have the opportunity to join PetroSA on graduation.
Our student and learner programme is designed to reinforce national efforts to address the challenges associated with inadequate skills and preparing young graduates to enter the labour market for the first time. The programme supports the objectives set out in the National Skills Development Strategy (NSDS3), which was launched in April 2011. This strategy aims to improve productivity, competitiveness and job creation in South Africa.