The Energy Talent Development (ETD) programme sponsored by Scottish Enterprise and driven by ITF, SPE and the Energy Institute is looking for new industrial-related projects for Master’s courses in the current academic year.
However, Energy understands that not enough companies are coming forward to satisfy the requirements of what is now a substantial number of petroleum-engineering students at Scotland’s universities, with a particularly large concentration in Aberdeen.
It doesn’t cost the companies anything more than the effort of engaging, and the corporate benefit could be huge. Moreover, many current North Sea bosses should remember that they were helped on to the offshore career ladder and that they owe it to the next generation to offer a leg-up, too.
Under normal circumstances, Master’s level students sort out dissertation projects for themselves – and often before Christmas.
However, this is the third year on the trot that the Energy Institute has been involved in brokering placements at Aberdeen and The Robert Gordon universities. One reason is the large number of foreign students on the engineering programmes.
But the ETD approach is new and the EI has been joined by the Society of Petroleum Engineers and the North Sea’s Industry Technology Facilitator in a more structured approach.
Any course that is considered relevant to the upstream oil&gas industry is applicable, including mechanical, civil, chemical, process and electrical engineering, physical sciences, project management and key areas such as earth, marine and environmental-based subjects.
There are a number of different types of Master’s and PhD assignments which could be undertaken, including literature reviews; experimental or theoretical study; design and build, and feasibility studies.
Outlining benefits to the business community, Neil Poxon, MD at ITF, said: “A Master’s level project will typically last for 12 weeks, with a dissertation handed in at the end of the activity.
“We hope that, through fostering this alliance between academic institutions and the oil&gas sector, we will be able to sow the seeds that will produce some answers to a variety of ongoing industry technology challenges while also encouraging new talent into our industry.
“The ETD programme gives students the opportunity to work on an area of direct industry relevance while giving the sponsor the opportunity to benefit from the skills of a graduate engineer for around three months.
“There are a number of benefits to this scheme: the personal value, in terms of the experience students can gain from working on real-life industry-led projects, and the access the industry has to a cost-effective resource that allows companies access to a new pool of talent.
“Through the detailed study of a given industry problem, ETD students will have the opportunity to develop investigative and analytical skills while delivering a dissertation based on effective solutions for a current oil&gas industry challenge.”
Denis Pinto, chairman of the Aberdeen, Highlands and Islands branch of the Energy Institute, added: “As well as raising the profile of the oil&gas sector and attracting new talent by establishing a pipeline of entry for new and recent graduates through early engagement with industry partners, this joint scheme will provide participating companies with direct access to a pool of fresh-thinking, innovative potential recruits.”
The deadline for projects is April 30. If you wish to be involved or would like further information on participating in this exciting initiative to bring fresh new talented people into the industry, e-mail Adele L’Etang, ETD programme manager, on a.letang@oil-itf.com; phone 01224 853407, or visit www.oil-itf.com
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