At a time when the job market increasingly demands work experience that many young graduates lack, the Gold Fields Graduate Trainee Programme has emerged as a vital bridge between academia and industry, equipping young professionals with practical skills for Ghana’s mining sector.
This year, 90 trainees successfully graduated from the programme, bringing the total number of beneficiaries since its inception to 261. Of this number, 77 percent are gainfully employed, while 17 members of the current cohort have already secured jobs.
Speaking at a graduation dinner for the trainees, Senior Vice President and Managing Director of Gold Fields Ghana, Elliot Twum, said the skills and competencies acquired by trainees empower them to make meaningful contributions to both the mining industry and national development.
“The Graduate Trainee Programme has become a cornerstone of Gold Fields’ skills development strategy, targeting tertiary graduates from our host communities. The two-year structured programme provides immersive, on-the-job training across key functions such as mining engineering; mechanical, electrical and civil engineering; safety; environmental management and stewardship; metallurgy; geology; geomatics; finance and accounting; human resources; and community relations.
Through an investment of approximately 4.8 million dollars in skills development initiatives, the Foundation continues to demonstrate its commitment to people, communities and creating enduring value beyond mining. Our goal is to institutionalise the Graduate Trainee Programme to further enhance sustainable skills development in our host communities.”
Similarly, Community Affairs Manager of Gold Fields Ghana, Robert Siaw, highlighted the programme’s impact in reducing graduate unemployment and enhancing the employability of young job seekers.
“A significant portion of our investment goes into building human capital. Through training schemes, bursaries and scholarships, we are helping young people to achieve their potential and pursue their goals.
The Graduate Trainee Programme was introduced to address the challenge of limited work experience among university graduates. Since its introduction in 2018, it has provided structured, two-year on-the-job training for graduates from communities hosting Gold Fields’ operations in Ghana.
The programme equips participants with relevant technical, professional and workplace skills, enhancing their employability and preparedness for the job market.”
The Graduate Trainee Programme is a two-year structured initiative designed to build technical, professional and leadership capacity among young graduates. At the ceremony, all participants received certificates, while outstanding trainees were rewarded with laptops and smart televisions in recognition of their excellence.
Source: Starrfm.com.gh
