A total of ten students from two major universities in the country have been given the opportunity to do some hands on work as part of their practical with one of the country’s major mining projects. These ten high-performance students from the Papua New Guinea (PNG) University of Technology (UOT) in Lae and the University of Papua New Guinea (UPNG) in Port Moresby, were given this opportunity of a lifetime after they were selected to be involved in an immersive 11-week industrial training program with Ok Tedi Mining Limited (OTML) in the Western province. The trainees, seven from PNG UOT and three from UPNG, are all third-year undergraduates under OTML's Undergraduate Students Scholarship (USS) program. The trainees are embedded in various departments aligned with their academic disciplines, ensuring a hands-on experience gained to complement their classroom-based learning. These departments include Processing Mechanical Maintenance, Engineering and Roads, Power Services, Process Technical Services, Mine Production, Environment and Geology, and Exploration. Manager Training and Development, Mr. Ian Strachan, said this was a unique opportunity for these students to bridge the gap between theory and practice. “We aim to provide them with an environment where they can apply their knowledge in real-world scenarios, setting the stage for a successful career," he said. General Manager People and Culture, Mr. Mark Stone, congratulated the trainees on being selected for the scholarship program and encouraged them to seize every moment of the experience. "This is more than a training program; it's a chance for you to apply what you have learnt at university in the day-to-day operations of the industry, learn on-the-job from the best and forge connections that will support your future career," he remarked. Whilst the industrial training ends in January 2024, trainees who achieve a GPA of 3.5 or above in their final academic year may have the opportunity to join the Graduate Development Scheme (GDS) program, another stepping stone towards realising a career within the company.