Polytechnic College plays a key role in developing local content in the energy sector
Staatsolie and the oil companies have been investing in education in Suriname for several years to strengthen local content. Several other companies have also joined this initiative. Educational institutions will also be present at SEOGS 2026 to provide information on study opportunities, in many cases with a direct connection to employment in the oil and gas sector.
According to Eveline Ramdhan, Manager of Corporate Services at the Polytechnic College (PTC), the educational institution makes a significant contribution to the development of local personnel.
“PTC graduates are everywhere: at SWM, EBS, Staatsolie. PTC graduates work at all major companies. We prepare people for the real world. The great thing is that our students can start working immediately. That connection to practice is there right from the start. It is a pity that some also leave for the Netherlands. But with the oil and gas developments, we hope that some will return.”
TotalEnergies and Petronas, among others, have been partners of PTC for several years. The latter has, for instance, supported the accreditation of the institution’s Mechanical Engineering program. “Companies recognize its importance. If I invest in your institute, I benefit from it myself as well, namely well-trained staff. It is a win-win situation, and that is certainly nice.”
According to Ramdhan, technical education is expensive because students have to perform simulations that require specialized equipment. The investments made by companies are therefore of great value.
“Students need to be able to work with that equipment. We have received a number of devices from these companies. We have an electrical laboratory, a mechanical engineering laboratory, an ICT lab, and two robots. In addition, we also have a knowledge institute where we offer training courses. This allows us to generate income as an institute as well. For example, companies can apply to have their staff trained in AutoCAD. These training courses are provided by us, and participants receive a certificate upon completion. We are primarily practice-oriented.”
PTC is constantly seeking collaborations with companies and organizations to further train staff. We are currently working with a consultant from Australia to soon provide training for people who want to work on drilling platforms. We are becoming certified for this. In addition to university-educated personnel, there is also a great need for practically trained personnel. That demand is high. In fact, we cannot currently meet it. That is why we are also going to introduce an associate degree, so that students can already start working while continuing their studies. This way, they will be ready for the labor market at an earlier stage.