Volvo to train service technicians in Zambia

Each year, 140 students in Zambia will be trained as industrial mechanics. This project, initiated by the Volvo Group together with several other organisations, aims to increase employment opportunities for the population and to improve the level of education in the country. The project comprises a part of the Group’s sustainability work. 

“There is a substantial need for practical professional skills in Zambia. The training that mechanics and technicians receive today is not in line with industry requirements. Therefore, companies instead bring their workers in from countries such as India and South Africa,” says Julia Jonasson, who coordinates the Group’s professional training programs in developing countries.
In order to counteract this trend and assist in the creation of better educational and training programs, the Volvo Group, together with the Swedish aid organisation Sida and UNIDO, the UN agency for industrial development, is establishing apprenticeships in Zambia for industrial mechanics and future service technicians. Because mining is one of the major industries in Zambia, these training programs are focused primarily on the servicing of lorries and construction equipment.

The training program, which is slated to begin in January of next year, will be located in the city of Ndola at Nortec, the Northern Technical College. In total, 420 students will be educated over a period of 3.5 years, with the goal that 75 percent of these students will obtain work as industrial mechanics or find similar positions upon completion of their studies.

Victor M. Mulenga is the director of the college and he welcomes these training programs.
“This is important for Zambia as there is a need for well-trained technicians for the mining and construction industries. Students will not need to be retrained upon entering the industry and this saves a lot of money for the country. In addition, the training programs will improve the quality of the training we provide and will be a good addition to the courses at our college,” he says.

The Volvo Group will contribute its expertise. Among other things, employees will also function as teachers.

“They will be based at the college and assist with practical training and also support planning and teaching activities, so that these are as relevant and as effective as possible in future,” says Julia Jonasson.

This is one of a number of similar educational projects which the Volvo Group is involved in operating. The goal is to establish apprenticeships in ten African nations.

Morocco is just about to begin a training program and just over two years ago, the first students began training in Ethiopia. Julia Jonasson describes a successful venture in Ethiopia aimed at encouraging more women to apply for the program.

“We had only one female student the first year, but now at the start of the third year, 14 of 32 students are women,” she says and explains how rewarding it is to work on these educational projects.

“There is a very strong progressive spirit and belief in the future in these countries,” she says.

Malin Ripa, Senior Vice President, AB Volvo is responsible for the Volvo Group’s sustainability work. In this work, the Group involves itself with the financial, social and environmental responsibilities of contributing to sustainable development.

“The projects in Africa provide trained mechanics with a chance to find work where unemployment is high and, at the same time, we are contributing to sustainable growth in the countries where the Group operates,” she says.

More information about the training programs in Africa can be found in the sustainability report published on the 25th March by the Volvo Group. These programs are prioritised areas in the Group’s long-term sustainability efforts.

Improved road safety, fewer accidents and decreased carbon emissions are other areas being given priority.

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