Mota-Engil SA Malawi and the Malawi Polytechnic have signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) that will see students in the Engineering Department going through internship at the company as well as receiving academic awards.

According to Mota-Engil SA Malawi Managing Director José Dinis, the Internship and Students Annual Awards Programme (ISAAP) of Undergraduate and Graduate in Transport, Structural and Water Civil Engineers, Land and Quantity Surveyors, will help the country have well trained and experienced engineers in the quest for infrastructural development.

"The MOU we will sign will lay a solid foundation for the partnership that will benefit the Malawi Polytechnic, Mota-Engil and most of all, students who are completing their Civil Engineering Courses, some of whom will have the opportunity to work for Mota- Engil.

"Mota- Engil has all the times forged to have a good relationship with the people of Malawi. The company has tirelessly worked and continues to work towards meaningful contribution to the country's development in mining, logistics and shipping," Dinis said.

Apart from Mota-Engil issuing one annual merit based award to third year students in transport, water and structural civil engineering, land and quantity surveying, the Malawi Polytechnic will from 2012/13 academic year identify and allocate 20 graduate and undergraduate students to Mota-Engil SA Malawi branch for internship.

"These will comprise 10 from Civil Engineering Department, five each from Departments of Quantity Surveying and Land Economy and Land and Physical Planning," reads the MOU.

Principal for the Malawi Polytechnic Grant Kululanga applauded Mota-Engil for the agreement saying that it is one important step for national development.

"All the countries that have moved from being underdeveloped have had such partnerships. We would want to see us [The Polytechnic] take a huge part in the development of the country.

"The awards create a spirit of competition among students. If we produce quality students who will work efficiently and effectively, means of production goes up. This is one more reason we want to convey our gratitude to Mota- Engil," Kululanga said.

During the Internship Mota-Engil shall provide the students with accommodation, food and internship allowance.