Nine young Emiratis, who took part in the very first Young ADIPEC Programme of the Abu Dhabi International Petroleum Exhibition and Conference (ADIPEC), will be returning to this year’s event to encourage others to follow in their footsteps as they launch their careers.

The students, who were all part of the first edition of Young ADIPEC in 2013, will attend the 2017 edition as part of a new Young ADIPEC Alumni initiative. They will speak at the Young ADIPEC Forum – a series of TED-style talks designed to engage and inspire young people to pursue energy-related careers – with panellists sharing the experiences that influenced their educational choices, as well as their hopes for the future.

Each of the students credits Young ADIPEC with helping them make a positive choice at a time when they were unsure about which path to take in life.

“In 2013, before participating in the Young ADIPEC programme, I had no idea what engineering was,” said Alreem Alhammadi, who is now a chemical engineering student at the Petroleum Institute. “I never thought I would end up where I am today, so I am truly thankful to this programme. It directed me towards this path which I certainly like and enjoy.”

More than 1,500 school students from across the UAE have passed through the programme since its launch four years ago, and many have chosen a career in the petroleum sector after attending the event. Notably, two-thirds of them are girls, a positive sign for an industry in which women are significantly underrepresented worldwide.

Young ADIPEC features a comprehensive programme of field trips, talks and game-based activities, to help participants discover the range of career paths available to them in the oil and gas industry. Participants are UAE nationals aged 14 to 17, and the programme is built around the concept of ‘edutainment’ and encouraging students to ‘learn by doing’.

Of the nine university students giving ADIPEC Alumni talks, six are studying at the Petroleum Institute in Abu Dhabi, pursuing degrees in geoscience, mechanical, chemical and petroleum engineering. Another is taking mechanical engineering at Khalifa University of Science and Technology. The remaining participants are studying chemical engineering in North America: one in the United States at Northeastern University in Boston, and the other at Canada’s University of Ottawa.

“I was late choosing my degree major when Young ADIPEC 2013 gave me the opportunity to go on a field trip to Schlumberger,” said Saeed Khoury, who is studying chemical engineering at Northeastern University. “I was enlightened about the future requirements in UAE, and the focused vision toward engineering and technologies. The Young ADIPEC Programme directed me to my future career. Now, I am doing my best to learn some skills and gain knowledge which I can use to serve my country.”

Returning for its fifth edition in 2017, Young ADIPEC is built on close collaboration between educators and business leaders. Support from the industry has been critical to its success, with oil and gas companies demonstrating the range of opportunities available to young Emiratis.

“Young ADIPEC is a valuable opportunity for oil and gas firms to engage talented recruits – today,” said Ali Khalifa Al Shamsi, CEO of Al Yasat Petroleum Operations Company and ADIPEC 2017 Chairman.

“Feedback from past participants proves the scheme is an effective motivational tool, with many saying the scheme opened their eyes as to the breadth and diversity of careers within the sector. For firms that recruit recent graduates or offer internships, the programme is very worthwhile.”

International companies taking part in Young ADIPEC include ExxonMobil and Shell; oilfield services companies Schlumberger, Weatherford International, and Ali & Sons Oilfield Supplies and Services; and plastics producer Borouge.

Abu Dhabi-based companies include oil refiners Abu Dhabi Oil Refining Company (Takreer); engineering firm Almansoori; and exploration, development and production specialist Abu Dhabi Company for Onshore Petroleum Operations Ltd., (ADCO). The public sector is also represented by the UAE Ministry of Energy, and Mubadala Petroleum, the exploration and production subsidiary of government-owned global investment firm Mubadala Investment Company.

Young ADIPEC takes place annually under the patronage of His Excellency Sheikh Nahyan Bin Mubarak Al Nahyan, Minister of Culture and Knowledge Development, with support from the Department of Education and Knowledge – previously Abu Dhabi Education Council (ADEC).

Held under the patronage of His Highness Sheikh Khalifa Bin Zayed Al Nahyan, President of the UAE, hosted by the Abu Dhabi National Oil Company (ADNOC), and organised by the Global Energy division of dmg events, ADIPEC is one of the world’s leading oil and gas events, and the largest in Africa and the Middle East.

ADIPEC will be held at Abu Dhabi National Exhibition Centre from 13 to 16 November 2017.