Issue date: 17 January 2024
UPDATE (10 June 2024) The following candidates have been selected:
| Rank | Candidate | Sex | Country | Country Class. |
| First-ranked candidates | ||||
| 1 | Maureen Ngima Mbichi | Female | Kenya | |
| 2 | Taekabu Tebwaraina | Female | Kiribati | LDC/SIDS |
| 3 | Arnold Perkoh | Male | Ghana | |
| 4 | Ng’Iro Joseph Ksang | Male | Kenya | |
| 5 | John T Omondi | Male | Kenya | |
N.B. Selections completed for five of the ten placements. Selections and training for the remaining 5 to be done at a future date.
The Ministry of Earth Sciences (MoES) of the Government of India, in accordance with its contract for the exploration for polymetallic nodules signed with ISA on 25 March 2002, is offering ten (10) theoretical opportunities to candidates from developing States, in the field of deep-sea mineral exploration as part of its 2024 training programme.
OUTLINE
The training will be organized training by the National Institute of Ocean Technology (NIOT), Chennai. NIOT was established to develop reliable indigenous technologies to solve the various engineering problems associated with harvesting of non-living and living resources in the Indian Exclusive Economic Zone (EEZ).
The training will be three-fold, including theoretical learning, laboratory work at research institutes and practical training onboard ships.
The objective of the programme is to build candidates’ capacities and expertise in marine sciences and environment, mining technology and extractive metallurgy, related to polymetallic nodule mining.
DURATION
The training will be in Chennai, India between August and September 2024 for two (2) months.
ELIGIBILITY CRITERIA
To be considered for this programme, candidates must meet the following requirements:
- Education: Applicants must hold a master’s degree in science (marine geology, marine geophysics, or oceanography) OR an under-graduate/graduate degree in engineering (marine, mechanical, ocean engineering, naval architecture, mining, electrical, electronics and instrumentation, controls or metallurgy) OR an equivalent educational qualification in deep-sea research and development.
- Work Experience: At least two (2) years’ work experience in the relevant field
- Language: Sound knowledge of English (spoken and written), attested by a certificate.
- Health: Be in good mental and physical health
- Age: preferably in the range of 30 years old
- Nationality: Applicant must be a national of a developing country that is a Member State of the International Seabed Authority.
- Other: Hold a passport with sufficient validity
FINANCIAL COMMITMENT
MoES (India) will cover all relevant costs for the training, including visa fee, travel (including international economy class round trip tickets), accommodation and medical insurance during the candidates’ stay in India. MoES also commits to paying an allowance to the candidates in Indian currency, during their stay, in accordance with the prevailing regulations.
OTHER REQUIREMENTS
Trainees will be required to sign the ISA Contractors’ Training Programme General Guidance and Code of Conduct for Trainees prior to the start of the training, as well as a confidentiality agreement with MoES (India).
At the end of the training, trainees must submit a report to MoES and ISA outlining the training completed; the benefits of the training opportunity; the knowledge gained; and how the training will advance their career and/or educational pursuits. Additionally, trainees shall submit to ISA a second report, five years after the completion of their training, to enable the assessment of long-term benefits of the training conducted.
Upon successful completion of the programme, trainees will receive a certificate from ISA.
HOW TO APPLY:
All interested applicants are invited to register and submit their applications on the ISA CTP Application Portal, along with their supporting documents, including:
- A coloured passport sized photo
- A copy of their passport biographical page or national identification card.
- Signed nomination form [doc/pdf] by the nominating entity.
- Copy of degree and/or certificate
- Curriculum Vitae (CV) or résumé
- Proof of sufficient knowledge of English.
Applicants must select the following options when applying for this training opportunity on the Application Portal:
Contractor Name: Government of India (MOES, India)/PMN
Year: 2024
Programme Name: Theoretical training only
Application Deadline: 19 April 2024. Late or incomplete applications will not be processed.
One of the Voluntary Commitments registered by ISA at the 2017 UN Ocean Conference (#OceanAction 40768) and reiterated in 2022 was ‘Enhancing the role of Women in Marine Scientific Research through Capacity Building’ – As partner of the Women in Deep-Sea Research project (WIDSR), MOES (India) has pledged to allocate 50% of its training opportunities to qualified women applicants.