FIDIC signs key training agreement with South Korean member association KENCA

FIDIC has signed a memorandum of understanding (MoU) with the Korea Engineering and Consulting Association (KENCA) to enhance cooperation between the two organisations and to create a framework for implementing professional development training courses or relevant events for the common benefit of KENCA and FIDIC.

The three-year agreement will see both organisations collaborating across a number of training and development related areas including working together to jointly design and develop capacity development professional training courses, delivery of customised training programmes by KENCA on emerging technological applications relevant to existing or future certification programmes FIDIC is offering and joint certification by both parties to participants of training courses.

The MoU will also see KENCA acting as host organisation in South Korea for the facilitation of seminars, conference or knowledge transfer activities organised with FIDIC and KENCA and FIDIC may also agree to organise additional activities like free webinars and virtual training courses for their partnership visibility and promotional purposes. KENCA and FIDIC will also look to jointly design and develop new initiatives of short courses and training programmes to address current industry needs.

The MoU signing, by KENCA chairman Hae-Kyoung Lee and FIDIC president Catherine Karakatsanis MESc PEng FCAE ICD.D LL.D D.Eng took place on 14 October 2024 during a visit by a FIDIC delegation to KENCA’s headquarters in Seoul, South Korea, which also included Daduna Kokhreidze, FCIArb , FIDIC general counsel and Michael Broadley , FIDIC Academy general manager. During the meeting with KENCA, a number of strategic issues were discussed including the consulting engineering industry in South Korea and engagement internationally, the use of FIDIC contracts and needs in South Korea and capacity building and educational needs by Korean infrastructure companies via KENCA Academy and the FIDIC Academy.

Commenting on the signing of the MoU, FIDIC president Catherine Karakatsanis said: “I am delighted that FIDIC has signed this agreement with the Korea Engineering and Consulting Association. It’s an example of how FIDIC can collaborate and work well with its global member associations for common benefit and I look forward to both of our organisations benefiting from this collaboration in the months and years to come.”

KENCA chairman Hae-Kyoung Lee said: “FIDIC's extensive expertise, built over 110 years, will be invaluable in advancing the globalisation of our engineering industry. Today's meeting and our agreement to promote FIDIC-certified training marks a meaningful milestone.”