Oil giant BP has said it is supporting a new programme for Aberdeen and Robert Gordon Universities worth around £250,000 in sponsorship over the next three years.
The Energy Partnership collaboration will have a focus on geoscience, petroleum engineering and subsea engineering disciplines to help address some of the North Sea’s identified skills shortages.
The company will fund and support a number of activities, including an undergraduate sponsorship scheme and up to six intern placements per year for students from each university with the oil major.
Also provided will be a range of relevant materials and data, the provision of a guest lecturer from its senior management team to both Aberdeen and RGU and two “Discovery Days” visits per university to BP’s North Sea headquarters and facilities.
A range of other collaborative ventures including the provision of prizes for specific disciplines, student mentoring opportunities and strengthening and improving research and development links will be developed.
The new collaboration, which represents a significant and innovative partnership between the two universities and a major private sector organisation, is in addition to the sponsorships and MSc scholarship which the firm already provides.
BP’s regional president for the North Sea, Trevor Garlick, said, “Both RGU and the University of Aberdeen are a crucial source of graduates and talent for the whole of the oil and gas industry and they play an important role in the society and economy of the north-east of Scotland.
“I am delighted that we have been able to form these mutually beneficial partnerships which will enable BP to showcase the industry and careers available while supporting students through their undergraduate studies.”
Professor Sir Ian Diamond, Principal of the University of Aberdeen said: “BP has been a long-standing friend of the University of Aberdeen, and we have worked together on projects including the British Science Festival and the fantastic work of TechFest in inspiring the next generation through science.
“What may be less visible is the invaluable support BP provides to the next generation of geoscientists and engineers through scholarships, placements and material which makes learning scenarios as realistic as possible.”
Professor Ferdinand Von Prondzynski, Principal of RGU, said: “BP and Robert Gordon University have had a long-standing partnership that has benefited our students, the university and the industry.
“The company’s new initiatives will give significant support to the city and region and help to establish the north-east as a high value innovation and skills centre in the oil and gas industry.”
BP was chosen earlier this year as the “Graduate Employer of Choice” in the Times graduate employer awards.