Young Adipec, an annual initiative by the Abu Dhabi International Petroleum Exhibition and Conference (Adipec) aimed at high school students, expects an increase of 26 per cent in participation this year.

The initiative, which aims to cultivate the next generation of home-grown energy professionals, expects 450 pupils to participate from 18 private and public schools across Abu Dhabi.

The increase is being attributed to a recent partnership between the initiative and the Abu Dhabi Education Council (Adec).

The partnership will allow it to raise greater awareness of its work through Adec’s official communication channels, which should lead to higher recruitment and engagement of students, stated a senior official.

Mohammed Salem Al Dhaheri, Adec’s school operations executive director, said: "Encouraging youth to innovate and create is crucial for industry development, which is exactly why this initiative is timely."

"Our aim is to engage students in as many activities as possible that will motivate them to learn and explore, all in favour of preparing a curious, well-read and equipped workforce that will help further fructify the economy," he stated.

Young Adipec is aimed at educating high school students between the ages of 14 and 17 about career opportunities in the energy sector and to encourage them to pursue studies in science and engineering.  

Over 700 students from across the UAE have passed through the programme since its inception in 2013.

Ali Khalifa Al Shamsi, CEO of Al Yasat Petroleum Operations Company and Adipec 2016 chairman, said: “As the global energy mix evolves, so does the skillset required for those who work in the industry. Technology, research, innovation, and application are playing a central role in driving industry progress, and prospective candidates must be equipped with the ability to be agile in such a dynamic business environment in order to succeed."

"With the community’s firm support – that is the support of parents, educators, and employers – we can help inspire our children today to become the energy leaders of tomorrow.”

In the first phase of Young Adipec, students will have an exciting opportunity to get hands-on experience during trips to oil field sites, training centres, innovation centres, as well as workshop and manufacturing facilities belonging to leading oil and gas companies.

These include the Abu Dhabi Company for Onshore Petroleum Operations Ltd., (ADCO), Al Mansoori Specialized Engineering, Al Mazroui Engineering, Borouge, the National Petroleum Construction Company (NPCC), Schlumberger, Takreer, and Weatherford.

The second phase will be an experiential and edutainment component that will enable students to explore different aspects of the industry..

This year's Adipec will take place from November 7 to 10 at the Abu Dhabi National Exhibition Centre (Adnec).-TradeArabia News Service