Fifty-two university students are working at the three West Indies Alumina Company (Windalco) locations this summer as part of the company’s summer employment programme.

The programme, valued at $3 million, according to the company’s calculations, started on June 1 and will end in August.

The students have been placed at company locations in Ewarton and Old Harbour in St Catherine, and Kirkvine, Manchester. They are under the mentorship of qualified professionals in the fields of chemical, mechanical and electrical engineering, accounts, procurement, information technology, human resources and resource protection.

Glendon Johnson, Human Resources Director at WINDALCO, explained that the summer employment programme is intended to provide the students with practical experience in their field of study.

“WINDALCO views the summer employment programme as an investment in Jamaica. We are providing students with opportunities to not only capitalise on what they learn at university, but we are affording them the experiences that will help to make them employable upon completing their degrees,” he said.

He noted further that the programme is one of many ways in which WINDALCO gives back to its host communities and the wider Jamaica. Another way is through scholarship awards to tertiary students on an annual basis.

Sanjay Spence is one of five recipients of an engineering scholarship from the company, and was fortunate to obtain summer employment there this year. Having just completed a Bachelor’s degree in chemical engineering at the University of Technology (UTech), she says she welcomes the opportunity to build on her theoretical knowledge.

“Since I’ve been here I’ve gained experience using Microsoft Excel to calculate the temperature difference in the heaters in various buildings on the plant. I’m also learning a lot of things I didn’t learn in school,” she told the Jamaica Observer.

Chris Johnson-Smith, who recently completed an Industrial Engineering degree at UTech, has a similar opinion. Working in the Maintenance and Reliability Department, she says she has learned the importance of safety in the work environment and has a better understanding of what was taught at school.

Third-year civil engineering student at the University of the West Indies, Lashania Williams, says the job has given her the opportunity to use what she has learnt about geothermal engineering in school. She is currently reviewing the 30-year plan for the mud stack which stores the waste product of alumina at the plant.

Another participant, Matthew Lee, a second-year mechanical engineering major at UTech, has been placed in the Capital Department. He has described the experience as eye-opening, and one which has helped to clear up a lot of questions he had in theory.

Mark Dixon, who just completed his third year of Mechanical engineering at UTech, is working with the company for the second time. His responsibilities for the summer include overseeing bills of materials and gathering resources for projects, which he says has enhanced his leadership skills and taught him how to deal with various personalities. He believes the experience will help prepare him for the real world.

“I’ve realised nothing teaches you about working in the field as working in the field. That’s the best teacher and it’s way more fun,” he told Career & Education.

The students have all expressed that the work experience will increase their chances of being employed as it is more often than not a criterion for jobs within any organisation in Jamaica.