STA Training tailors courses, training to need of industry

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Choo (second right) presenting a memento to McWha. — Photo by Roystein Emmor

KUCHING: Sarawak Timber Association (STA) is concerned about not just fostering and upholding the interests and well-being of its members but also promoting upskilling and advancement of knowledge of the industry’s workforce.

Its honorary treasurer Choo Kwong Hui said STA had collaborated with relevant agencies, local and international universities to conduct appropriate courses and training to manage its forest resources, the environment, allied natural resources such as biodiversity and water as well as wildlife and social elements.

“To advance the knowledge of the industry’s workforce, STA, through its subsidiary company STA Training Sdn Bhd, jointly conducts the Postgraduate Diploma in Applied Science with Lincoln University, New Zealand.

“The Postgraduate Diploma in Applied Science is tailored for forestry and other graduates working in the field and logging camps at both supervisory as well as managerial levels.

“It’s specially designed to equip the graduates with up-to-date knowledge which is much needed by the state of Sarawak, contributing to diverse capacity such as public relation in negotiating with entrepreneurs and non-governmental organisations (NGOs), compliance or skill, implementation or procedural, planning, auditing and in research and development (R&D),” he said at the presentation of certificates to graduates during a ceremony held at Wisma STA here yesterday.

Choo said STA Training Sdn Bhd is actively promoting upskilling for the industry’s workforce by conducting training of various skill sets such as Certificate in Tree Felling-Chainsaw (Natural Forests), Certificate in Log Extraction-Tractor (Natural Forests), Certificate in Log Loading-Front End Loader (Natural Forests), Certificate in Clear-fell Site Preparation-Chainsaw (Forest Plantation Establishment) and Certificate in Mechanical Site Preparation-Excavator (Forest Plantation Establishment) in accordance with Section 51(1) of the Forest Ordinance, 2015.

He said the Postgraduate Diploma in Applied Science is a three-year part-time course which commenced in 2006.

“The continuous support given by Lincoln University to STA in jointly conducting the course locally in Kuching has ensured that the required standards are maintained, and subjects taught are significant and conducive.

“Since then, it has been 12 years. Many of the graduates are now our managers in the industry implementing sustainable forest management plans,” he pointed out.

He extended appreciation to local and international experts and specialists who had taught and shared their expertise ranging from forest ecology, environmental impacts, timber certification, sociology and economics to legal frameworks.

Presenting the certificate to graduates was pro-chancellor, immediate past vice-chancellor of Lincoln University, New Zealand Professor James McWha.