In order to promote the development and training of Namibian engineers and technicians, LCE provides in-house training opportunities to students of the Polytechnic of Namibia, who are required to undergo one year of practical training during their studies towards a National Diploma in Civil Engineering. Training is also provided to Namibian bursary holders at South African Universities.
In recent years, four former Polytechnic students, Mr. E. Mbai, Ms. M. Lubasi, Mr. A. de Waal and Mr. D. Kambatuamasa, all from a previously disadvantaged background, have successfully undertaken their compulsory year of practical training at LCE. Ms. M. Lubasi was awarded the prize for being the top civil engineering student in her class in 2002, based on the evaluation of her practical training done at LCE. Mr. A. de Waal went on to be the top civil engineering student in his class in 2003, the year following his practical training with LCE. Mr. A. de Waal was furthermore the overall best engineering diploma student at the Polytechnic of Namibia in 2003.
Having completed his Civil Engineering Diploma at the Polytechnic of Namibia, Mr. de Waal has received a bursary from LCE, which covers his tuition fees, accommodation and travelling expenses in full, to study towards a Bachelor of Engineering Degree at the University of Stellenbosch in South Africa. He successfully completed his third year of study in 2006.
Mr. J. Kafidi has received a bursary from LCE to cover his registration and tuition fees, for study towards a B. Tech (Civil Engineering) at the Polytechnic of Namibia, starting in 2007.
A supplementary bursary was also given to Mr. B. Buys who studied civil engineering at the University of Witwatersrand and who has since obtained his B.Sc (Eng.) degree. This bursary covered the full 4 year study period.
Mr. Muinyangue was given a full bursary, which covered his tuition, travelling and accommodation expenses in full, from LCE, to enable him to study towards a B. Tech in Surveying at the Cape Technikon in Cape Town, South Africa, which he successfully completed in 2003. Mr. Muinyangue has recently been promoted to the position of head of the Survey Division of LCE and is a partner of a separate LCE service company, Topographical Engineering Surveys CC (TES), which offers services such as engineering and topographical surveys, ground profile surveys, detailed contour surveys as well as river cross section surveys independently of LCE.
It is LCE’s policy to give priority to the employment of suitably qualified, previously disadvantaged Namibians. In accordance with this policy, LCE employs fifteen previously disadvantaged persons in the Oshikoto, Ohangwena, Oshana and Omusati Regions of Namibia. These staff members have the responsibility of managing, training and implementing the Government's Community Based Management (CBM) policy on community-driven projects undertaken by LCE in the northern regions of Namibia. All CBM activities in the Tsandi Branch Office are manned and managed exclusively by members of this group. In keeping also with the philosophies of capacity building and continued professional development, these LCE staff members are afforded the opportunity of undergoing a one week training course on an annual basis.
In order to promote gender equality, preference is given to women with the employment of previously disadvantaged Namibians. Currently, four of the thirteen members, or 30%, of the CBM Training Team are women. Furthermore, women are encouraged to apply for managerial positions within the CBM Training Team, and currently hold half of the positions available in the Tsandi Branch Office.
It is widely acknowledged that in Namibia, there is a chronic shortage of capacity in the form of trained and qualified engineers and technicians, and in many cases, also a shortfall in the mentorship of graduate engineers and technicians, particularly those from previously disadvantaged backgrounds. LCE is aware of this, and apart from the promotion of employment opportunities in the field of Community Based Management Training, is therefore committed to creating and promoting opportunities for the training, development, mentorship and professional development of previously disadvantaged Namibians as much needed engineers and technicians. To this end, practical training is provided in a structured mentorship relationship and environment, which is geared towards the training and professional development of young students and graduates. In accordance with this policy, preference is given to individuals from this group who apply for bursaries and to those who apply to undertake the required one year of practical training towards a National Diploma in Civil Engineering from the Polytechnic of Namibia. Upon their employment with LCE , young graduates are required to register with the Engineering Council of Namibia as being “In-Training”, in accordance with their qualifications, where after their mentorship and training are geared towards facilitating their professional registration.
The total number of previously disadvantaged Namibians in LCE's employ currently amounts to twenty one out of a total staff complement of twenty eight.