CAMOSUN IS WORKING WITH ARUSHA TECHNICAL

Camosun is working with Arusha Technical
College, the premier technical school in Tanzania,
Africa to develop a gas transmission technician
diploma program to meet the pipefitting needs of
industry.
The final result will be a program adapted from
British Columbia’s trades foundation and
apprenticeship system, aligned with the local
technical education system in Tanzania. The three
year Diploma will eventually be delivered by
Arusha Technical College, with first enrollment
expected in the fall of 2017. Camosun is currently
training trainers from Arusha Technical College
and supporting the design of their new
curriculum. The program is part of Improving
Skills Training for Employment Program (ISTEP),
a three-year partnership funded by Global Affairs
Canada through Colleges and Institutes Canada.
In Tanzania, there has been a huge change in the
population, with youth under 35 making up the
largest demographic, as well as an increase of
women entering the workforce. This change in
demographics requires hands-on training that will
help to fulfill the needs of the burgeoning oil and
gas sector. Camosun is in a unique position to
help provide the expertise and training required.
The instructors from Tanzania understand the
importance their education has for their country.
“The training we have from Camosun means we
can produce competent and professional
personnel for industry,” says Baraka Kichonge, one
of the trainees from Arusha Technical College.

From left to right: Baraka Kichonge, John Gordon,
Nicholaus Mhusa, and Rashidi MKacha.

John Gordon, Chair of Camosun’s Plumbing and
Pipe Trades and technical lead for the project, is
working with three mechanical engineers from
Tanzania for three weeks at Camosun’s
Interurban campus in Victoria. The men will return
in January 2017 to complete another three weeks
of training before starting their own diploma
program in Tanzania with the curriculum that they
have designed collectively with Camosun in
September 2017.
For John it’s been an unbelievable experience.
“They are demanding a lot and it’s been
challenging to understand their context,” says
Gordon. “But it’s a good working relationship;
they’re great guys to work with. We understand
each other’s points of view and we have great
conversations. They’re definitely here to learn.”
The trainees have nothing but praise for their time
at Camosun. “The learning environment is very
good, as are the facilities, “says Nicholaus
Mhusa, another Arusha Technical College
instructor, undergoing training here at Camosun.
“We can do things physically here that are not
very common in our college where we are limited
from practical things due to financial problems
because we can’t afford the appropriate tools.
Here you can do all these things.”
Reflecting on their time at Camosun, the team is
returning to Tanzania with many happy
memories.“For me, working with the best and
learning from the best is what I enjoyed the
most,” says Kichonge.