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EMPNG Batch 9 Graduation 30th August 2024
KPA 9th Graduation Ceremony
On Friday the 30th August 17 EMPNG trainees who had completed their one-year full time course at Kumul Petroleum Academy graduated in a ceremony held at KPA with their assured City and Guilds certificate in their studied discipline. Eleven (11) operators received their certificate in plant process operation and six (6) with a certificate in Instrument Maintenance technician. Out of the 17 trainees there were 4 females.
There were key speeches from Guest Speaker – Mr. Breton Macdonald (EMPNG Upstream Asset Manager), Keynote Speaker – Mr. Sikke (KPA COO), trainees and the centre manager. Guest included family and friends of the graduates, EMPNG personnel and the staff at KPA with entertainment – music and dance from a local cultural group.
This batch of EMPNG sponsored trainees are the 9th batch from the company. City and Guilds are a United Kingdom awarding body and are a global leader in skills development. The course involved basic understanding of the Oil and Gas Industry, safety training, underpinning knowledge in their destined discipline, practical work and on the job training and coaching in the well-equipped workshops and the 4-million-dollar safe live process plant in Idubada Port Moresby.
Since its inception in 2016 186 trainees have passed through and graduated at KPA from the likes of EMPNG, SANTOS and KPHL.
We look forward now to receiving the 10th Batch of EMPNG sponsored trainees in the coming weeks.
KPA Thanks DHERST
Department of Higher Education Research Science and Technology
Kumul Petroleum Academy is pleased to announce that it is now recognized under the Department of Higher Education Research Science and Technology (DHERST) as one of the nation’s higher training institutions in Papua New Guinea. It reflects that KPA is recognized as the lead in delivering training for the Oil and Gas industry. Kumul Petroleum Academy has transferred from the National Training Council (NTC) and is now registered under DHERST as a Private Training Provider which commenced on February 26, 2021.
KPA wish to express our gratitude and thanks to the Acting Secretary for DHERST, Dr. Francis Hualupmomi for recognizing Kumul Petroleum Academy as such.
KUMUL PETROLEUM ACADEMY PRESENTS
KPA 6th Graduation Ceremony
Our 6th Graduation Ceremony for the 24 ExxonMobil PNG sponsored trainees (see pic): 16 Process operators and 8 Instrument Maintenance Technicians. All trainees successfully graduated from our 12 month programs which included several firsts:
- Our own KPA City & Guilds Assured Program.
- Extensive use of E-Lessons, which helped avoid any loss of training time during a 3 week’s Covid shutdown. This has produced some of the best marks ever and greatly increased their computer literacy levels.
- A concentration on the use of the Process Simulator, with both groups working together to carry out instrument maintenance (permits, isolations, job hazard analysis and atmosphere testing) whilst the operations group learnt how to start up, control and shut down the simulator plant (see pic).
Currently the shortlist for the next intake of male and female trainee operators and technicians is being drawn up. This comes out of over 2000 applications from all parts of PNG, this really is the change of a lifetime for the ones who get selected. We expect them to start their programs early September 2022.
Academy boosts Trainee e-learning with issue of laptops
As part of Kumul Petroleum Academy’s aim to improve the learning environment of its Trainees, the Academy has presented 24 laptops to its Batch Six (6) Exxon Mobil sponsored Trainees. Several studies have shown that paperless e-learning methods produce greater success rates at exam time than the traditional paper based methods.
Using these laptops, the Trainees all have on hand an up to date set of notes with pictures, videos and slide shows etc. to support their learning. They are also able to use the Academy Wifi to do research online through the internet and retrieve course materials shared by their instructors. Increased computer literacy is another benefit from this method.
The provision of the laptops also makes distance learning easier when faced with COVID-19 shutdowns. Lessons can be sent to their homes and open book assessments can be conducted online and prepare the trainees for examinations when they return.
This is the trend going forward for KPA Training Department to become paperless.
