Morendat Institute of Oil and Gas National Polytechnic and KUCCPS work together to improve access to specialized courses

The Morendat Institute of Oil and Gas National Polytechnic and KUCCPS work together to improve access to specialized courses.

The Morendat Institute of Oil and Gas National Polytechnic has joined the KUCCPS student placement process in order to make its specialized, industry-oriented oil and gas courses more accessible.

In September 2024, the institution was promoted to a national polytechnic, and this is a result of that.

Five of its programs—the Diploma in Petroleum Management, the Diploma in Welding and Fabrication, the Diploma in Analytical Chemistry, the Diploma in Environmental Science, and the Certificate in Welding and Fabrication—are available for online applications on the Kenya Universities and Colleges Central Placement Service (KUCCPS) student site in advance of the May 2025 intake.

On April 30, 2025, the online application site for the KUCCPS will shut down.

By including the programs on the KUCCPS application platform, the institution has joined the central student placement system, which includes over 200 public TVET schools, 70 universities, and 90 Kenya Medical Training College (KMTC) sites, according to Dr. Agnes Mercy Wahome, the CEO of KUCCPS.

The increasing number of institutions that use the KUCCPS application portal to enroll students, such as TVET schools run by other government ministries outside the Ministry of Education, demonstrates confidence in the KUCCPS procedures’ integrity and effectiveness.

“We get KCSE results directly from KNEC, so anyone applying for a course through KUCCPS cannot fake them,” Dr. Wahome said during a meeting at the KUCCPS offices in Nairobi with Morendat Institute Director, Dr. Nancy Kosgey.

According to Dr. Kosgey, the five Morendat Institute’s programs cover a variety of aspects of the oil and gas sector, ensuring that students are well-equipped to handle industry challenges and are in a good position to support the industry’s sustainable development.

“Morendat provides students with the necessary theoretical and practical, industry-driven skills and knowledge, which is what the fast-paced, global industry demands.”

The institute has established alliances with foreign colleges in order to provide programs that are recognized both domestically and globally. “Currently, we have a specialized course in welding, which is ISO 9606-1 certified, and this meets the international requirement of welding. This is one of the most unique and one-of-a-kind courses in the area, providing prospects for employment at home and abroad. The director stated that the course lasts for three months and provides students a global competitive advantage.

The specialized welding course draws all graduates, including those with a bachelor’s degree, a master’s degree, and even those with a Form Four leaver who are looking to get ready for employment outside the nation, according to Dr. Kosgey.

The institution’s cutting-edge training equipment performs a range of welding procedures that meet international standards, such as Stick Manual Arc Welding, Tungsten Inert Gas, and Metal Inert Gas.

The college maintains a fire and safety training center on its Eldoret campus that provides firefighting training utilizing cutting-edge live fire and rescue training tools, which is unique in the area. With this gear, students may practice fighting various sorts of fires, giving them practical firefighting experience.

The county governments have paid particular attention to the firefighting training program. For example, Uasin Gishu County sponsored young people from 30 county wards who were hired in the fire departments of North Rift counties after they finished their training. “We call on other county governments to also partner with Morendat,” said Dr. Wahome.

Dr. Kosgey said, “We have a laboratory on the Nairobi campus that is equipped with cutting-edge technology equipment for the analysis of petroleum products and training in analytical chemistry.” Our labs are our strong suit. We also carry out environmental testing for soil, wastewater, and water analysis at the laboratory with the approval of the National Environmental Management Authority.

The national polytechnic has also established hospitality courses at its Naivasha site. With a 54-bed capacity conference center, the institution aims to deliver real-world, hands-on industry training that is suited for the sensitive subject. The first class of pupils is expected to enroll in May of 2025.

Applicants for the three-year diploma programs must have at least a C- (minus) average in the Kenya Certificate of Secondary Education (KCSE) exam, while candidates for the two-year certificate courses must have at least a D (plain) average.

The TVET Curriculum Development, Assessment, and Certification Council (TVET CDACC) evaluates and approves the programs to make sure that the training adheres to national educational standards.

Due to their extensive knowledge of pipeline operations and advanced training, the Morendat Institute hires Kenyan Pipeline personnel as instructors. Students gain practical experience through KPC.

In order to lessen the financial burden on parents, the institution permits flexibility in paying the yearly tuition fee of Kshs. 71,700.