Korean Institute of Maritime and Fisheries Technology (KIMFT) has signed an agreement with Pioneer International University (PIU) to train over 400,000 Kenyan students in maritime courses.
KIMFT which is owned by the South Korean government, will partner with PIU to train youthful Kenyans and help them to join the Korean market of seamen.
Further, KIMFT president Prof Park Jinsoo who led a team of stakeholders on a visit of PIU on Monday September 24, said the partnership will help create employment opportunities for many Kenyans.
“We have an opportunity to work together, and this is just the initial stages of the partnership as we make steps towards understanding each other before dealing with the corporate issues,” he said.
Additionally, Prof Jinsoo revealed that the South Korea needs qualified workers adding that the partnership will train Kenyans and help them get jobs in the Korean maritime and shipping industry.
Moreover, he said the Korean Maritime industry has many opportunities and needs qualified workers to occupy the vacancies.
“We have many opportunities but few workers and this is one of the reasons why we are partnering with PIU for training people who would wish to work with us,” said Jinsoo.
Pioneer University Chancellor & VC
PIU Vice Chancellor (VC) Gideon Maina said he met with officials from Korean Ship Owners (KSO) last month (August) when he visited South Korea for a benchmarking on blue economy.
Furthermore, he said KSO chairperson assured him that the association will be recruiting trained Kenyans for the next five years.
For this reason, PIU has been offering a short Standards of Training, Certification and Watch-keeping course required for individuals seeking employment on a yacht or ship.
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The VC said the course is approved by the International Maritime Organization and lasts about seven days.
Further, he revealed that PIU graduates around 10 students per week for the course.
“In my visit to South Korea, I found people earning over Sh100,000 in low cadre jobs such as security guards in the maritime sector. Those in more specialized positions earn so much more,”
As such, the university is now planning to roll out a Bachelor of Science in Maritime Engineering and Bachelor of Science in Maritime Transport next year.
The university’s chancellor Peter Munga urged Kenyans to grab the opportunity, learn and get the jobs.
Also, he said the partnership will transform the institution and the country.
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About KIMFT
The Korea Maritime Institute is a government-funded research institute established under the auspices of the Prime Minister’s Office to contribute to the formulation of national policies in maritime and fisheries affairs to boost the national economy.
It was established in 1984 to investigate and research the full range of problems related to the marine and fisheries sector, including the oceans, marine products, ocean shipping & maritime affairs and port logistics.
Further, KIMFT aims to conduct innovative and preemptive research to overcome challenges in the maritime and fisheries sector.
Its goal is to join the ranks of world’s Top 5 Research Institutions by 2025.
