OREANDA-NEWS. March 26, 2008. MMC Norilsk Nickel (Norilsk Nickel or the Company) and Helsinki University of Technology (Finland) are jointly implementing the Dual Diploma Program for students of Norilsk Institute of Industry. Upon completion of the program graduates will be awarded Russian and Finnish Bachelor diplomas.

According to Deputy General Director of MMC Norilsk Nickel Olga Golodets, the program was launched in response to international markets globalization, which sets ever higher personnel development standards.

"The Dual Diploma Program is a component of Norilsk Nickel’s cooperation with professional training organizations in the areas where the Company operates. The program is aimed at meeting the Company’s strategic needs for personnel of specific qualifications. The existing experience of cooperation with professionals at the international level will undoubtedly help develop personnel at both Russian and international operations of the Company" - Olga Golodets said.

Any student of Norilsk Institute of Industry is eligible to participate in the program depending on his skills level. It is expected that at least 50 students a year will join the program.

The Dual Diploma Program will be free of charge for students and their parents as it will be financed by MMC Norilsk Nickel.

In accordance with the protocol the parties have singed, by May 2008 they will draw up academic programs for Norilsk students in three disciplines including Mining, Non-Ferrous Metallurgy and Enterprise Management in Mining and Metal Production Industry. In the fall of 2008 Finnish professors will select students for Dual Diploma Program.

After February 2009 students selected for participation in the program will combine their studies at the Russian institute with the courses of Helsinki University of Technology. Program training activities will be conducted by Russian and best European professors both in Norilsk and in Finland. All courses of the program will be taught in English.

"The Company selected the Finnish university as a partner because this country offers some of the best polytechnic schooling. In addition, Finland is a northern country whose people’s lifestyle and mentality are akin to those of our compatriots. Finland is the country where Harjavalta plant owned by the Company is located, which was also a factor in the process of selecting a partner", - says Veniamin Kaganov, Rector of Norilsk Nickel Corporate University.

Norilsk Institute of Industry is the only state school of higher education in the Norilsk Industrial Region (NIR) and its well-educated graduates work for nearly every industrial and research organization in the north of Krasnoyarsk Territory. About one half of young specialists that begin working at Norilsk Nickel operations in the NIR every year are graduates of the Institute.

MMC Norilsk Nickel spends more than 60 million rubles annually for training facilities at schools of specialized higher education, students’ practical training etc. Every year the Company needs to hire about 350 young specialists in 30 professions mostly for mining and metal production operations. Such requirements are projected for a five-year period and updated annually in terms of the number of young specialists to be hired and their professions.