An Aberdeen student has won an inaugural oil industry prize thanks to her academic performance in the first year of a new course at Robert Gordon University (RGU).
Kirsteen Bell, 27, from Old Torry, is part of the first cohort of students to undertake RGU’s MSc Commercial Practice for the Energy Sectors, developed in close collaboration with industry and launched in 2012.
She was awarded the Total E&P UK Prize for the best performing student in stage one of the course.
A group of industry experts from various backgrounds was used to help inform the content of the course, which is designed to help professionals wishing to develop their skills in commercial management with particular focus on oil and gas exploration/production; renewables, plus decommissioning.
Head of contracts expertise at Total E&P UK, Stephen Glover, was heavily involved in this development process and presented Bell with her award.
Glover said that the course endeavours to respond to the current demand in the energy sector for graduates with a strong background in the different aspects of commercial practice.
“It is important that industry and academia work closely in this way so that graduates meet the needs of employers and that courses continue to develop in order to reflect those needs,” he said.
Bell graduated from Edinburgh University in 2008 with an honours degree in law, before spending two years travelling and working around the world, including the New Zealand Government’s transport department and Southwest Jiatong University in Chengdu, China.
Returning to Aberdeen in 2010, she moved into the oil and gas industry and joined EnerMech as a contracts co-ordinator.
Explaining her course choice, Bell said: “I chose to study this course at RGU because I felt like I was in a position of high responsibility at an early stage in my career. I wanted to catch up on all aspects of the commercial sphere of operations and learn the knowledge and skills I need to be successful in my job.
“By attaining this Master’s qualification I hope to have a solid backing to proceed higher up the career ladder.”
Bell added that EnerMech had sponsored her through the degree, giving both time and advice when it was needed.
Course leader Paul Begg said: “Kirsteen’s grades were the highest in the first year of MSc Commercial Practice for the Energy Sectors and she passed with distinction.
“This is an exceptional performance achieved against the background of a very demanding position in the industry. She has invested considerable effort in her studies.”
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