As part of ongoing initiatives supporting Bhutan’s expanding ferro-alloy and metallurgical sector, a delegation from the Carbon Resources Private Limited visited the College of Science and Technology to explore opportunities for academic collaboration, workforce development, and long-term technical engagement aligned with national industrial priorities.
The delegation was welcomed by Dr. Cheki Dorji, President, and Prof. Abhishek Agarwal, Dean, Mechanical Engineering. During the interaction, Prof. Agarwal presented the current capabilities of the Department of Mechanical Engineering, recent laboratory strengthening efforts, and future academic plans aimed at supporting Bhutan’s growing industrial base-particularly in areas related to metallurgical processing, plant engineering support, and industry-ready technical workforce preparation. The discussion also highlighted the department’s readiness to contribute to the proposed Metallurgical Engineering programme, aligned with emerging sector requirements.
Dr. Cheki Dorji emphasized the importance of strengthening partnerships between academia and industry to support Bhutan’s transition toward higher-value industrial activity and sustainable national technical capacity building.
The visiting delegation included Mr. Singye Namgyal Dorji (Director), Mr. Surya Sita Rama Varma Chinthalapati (Vice President – Plant Head), Mr. Baibhav Kumar (HR Manager), Mr. Sonam Wangchuk (General Manager), and Ms. Arpana Pradhan (HR Trainee). During the discussions, Mr. Singye Namgyal Dorji shared perspectives on industry expectations from engineering graduates and highlighted the importance of strengthening industrial readiness among students in view of upcoming ferro-alloy plant developments in Bhutan.
Mr. Surya Sita Rama Varma Chinthalapati provided an overview of ongoing and proposed projects and identified opportunities for collaboration in training, internships, and future employment pathways.
Key areas of discussion included:
- Developing structured pathways for recruiting young engineering talent
- Supporting the proposed Metallurgical Engineering programme in response to sector needs
- Creating opportunities for internships and plant-level technical exposure
- Aligning academic preparation with workforce requirements in Bhutan’s ferro-alloy industry
The delegation also visited laboratory facilities to better understand existing technical infrastructure and identify areas for future alignment with plant-level engineering requirements. Mr. Tenzin, Mr. Damcho Wangchuk, Mr. Singye Wangchuk, Ms. Phurpa, Mr. Karma Dorji, and student representatives were also present during the discussion.
This engagement marks an important step toward strengthening industry–academia collaboration in support of Bhutan’s expanding metallurgical and ferro-alloy sector, contributing to the development of a skilled national workforce aligned with emerging industrial investments.
