MIC Institute of Technology chairman David Lee said introduction of a welding caravan is part of the agency's strategy to make skills training more accessibleA 25-seater bus has been converted for that purpose. It is equipped it with eight welding simulators which will be used introduce prospective trainees with no immediate access to any of MIC's 18 centres to its welding programme.The caravan will be used to encourage enrollment in the MIC's Welding Academy which is to be established this year.
Speaking at the launch of the caravan at the MIC's Macoya headquarters, Lee said: "By launching this welding caravan today, it is evident that the MIC Institute of Technology is ready to lead the country and by extension the Caribbean into the exciting future of welding. We are proud to take on the job of changing the unrefined and plebeian mind set and perception of this age-old profession to greater sophisticated heights.
"Welding will soon be attracting a lot of intelligent people, because we are helping to spread the word that there is money to be made, but best of all, this industry also offers career paths."
Lee added: "Based on this electrifying future of welding, the establishment of a Welding Academy was always an idea of this institution. Research has shown that over the last few decades, the natural gas and construction industry has changed with an increased need for steel welding whether it's on or offshore. The Welding Caravan will therefore serve as a real life model to stimulate, educate and motivate interested persons to register with the institute and matriculate into the Welding Academy, which will be coming on stream in the next few months, as well."
Construction of the welding caravan will allow cutting edge technology to be taken remote areas of T&T. Lee since August 2012, MIC trainees have been benefiting from access to cutting edge technology with the introduction of VRTEX 360 machines purchased from Lincoln Electric, leading welding experts.He said the objective is to give students a virtual experience, as the system used sensors which duplicate the look and feel of welding.
"This advanced training tool has already been implemented in a number of institutions worldwide including the Lincoln Weld School of Cleveland, Ohio; Arkansas State University, the United States Army in Fort Lee Virginia and by the American Welding Society (AWS), which happens to be the certifying body for a number of courses offered at MIC."The welding caravan, which we are proudly launching here today, will allow interested persons a hands-on approach to welding in a fun, exciting and engaging manner," said Lee.
He added: "In 2012, the Society granted the MIC Institute of Technology authorisation to conduct AWS certification examinations outside of the USA, in accordance with the relevant quality control standards for its certification programmes.
"We are also the only institute in the Caribbean region authorised to award certification through the AWS as an accredited test facility. So for the past three years, we have been promoting AWS certification programmes and generating candidates for the test and fulfilling further obligation such as promotional, educational and examination responsibilities."