San Ignacio, Belize (Thursday, August 29, 2024) – In a move to strengthen industry-related academia and foster technical expertise, Fortis Belize and the University of Belize have collaborated to develop a strategic partnership. Officials from both entities gathered on Thursday, August 22, 2024, to sign a memorandum of understanding (MOU) and announce the strategic partnership.
The Fortis Belize Internship Training Program (ITP) is geared toward students aspiring to careers in the scientific and technical fields as well as in engineering. Students enrolled annually will obtain professional experience within five critical business areas: Electrical Instrumentation & Control; Mechanical Maintenance; Civil Engineering & Dam Safety; Health, Safety, & Environment; and IT Operations & Cybersecurity.
Fortis Belize has also developed a Lecturer Engagement Program (LEP) which encourages research, innovation and collaboration on topics of mutual interest as well providing opportunities for educators to gain exposure to real-world scenarios as a means of enhancing classroom learning. Additionally, Fortis Belize will share its solar expertise for the benefit of the University of Belize’s solar park in Belmopan, providing training, technical research and sharing industry best practices for enhancement of the park’s energy output.
University of Belize President Dr. Vincent Palacio said, “This collaboration lines up closely with the University of Belize's strategic mission for Belize, which emphasize National Development through strengthening industry partnerships and enhancing experiential learning opportunities for our students and faculty. I am confident that this partnership will fortify the educational experience of our students and also contribute to the sustainable development of our nation’s energy infrastructure. On behalf of the National University of Belize, I extend thanks to Fortis Belize for their partnership and commitment to education. Together, we will empower the next generation of engineers.”
Fortis Belize President & CEO Kay Menzies expressed her strong support for the initiative, stating, “We are excited to launch the Internship Training Program with our partners at the University of Belize. As Belize’s most reliable independent power producer and the country’s largest producer of clean, renewable energy, our team has great insights to share with educators and the next generation of energy sector professionals. We have a responsibility to invest in and nurture future talent, helping to develop the next generations of local technicians and engineers as well as to share our occupational health and safety knowledge beyond our own team and the contractors we hire. We are deeply committed to these two programs, the ITP and the LEP.”
The signing ceremony was attended by University of Belize President Dr. Vincent Palacio, representatives from Fortis Belize, University of Belize faculty and staff and current engineering students. Discussions after the signing underscored the mutual commitment to advancing education and industry skills. For more information and questions, interested parties can contact Dean Apolonio Aguilar at the University of Belize.
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