ABB, the leading power and automation technology company, has joined forces with the Swedish Trade Council to offer talented Emirati graduates scholarships to cater to the growing demand for Emirati engineers in the UAE.

As part of the new program, ABB will sponsor every year two promising UAE national students to complete a Masters degree in electrical engineering at the Royal Institute of Technology in Stockholm, one of the largest technical universities in Sweden.

The first batch of students will commence the graduate program in September 2011. The scholarship will cover all expenses including accommodation, transportation, allowances, medical insurance and books. Students will also receive hands-on training at ABB’s facilities in Sweden.

“This scholarship program will give aspiring UAE engineers a unique opportunity to develop their engineering skills and industry knowledge in a completely new environment,” said Jana Vasickova, Human Resources manager for ABB in the UAE.

“In the UAE there is a huge demand for qualified Emirati engineers in all industry sectors and this program will help ensure promising students have the skills and experience needed to succeed in the industry and contribute to the country’s growth in the long run,” he noted.

Vasickova said, “We at ABB take great pride in the growth that we have been experiencing in the Middle East over the years and this scholarship program gives us a platform to give back to the local community.”

'This is the second time that the Swedish Trade Council (STC) is working with ABB on a scholarship program in the Middle East aimed at promoting local engineering talent,' he observed.

“We are delighted to cooperate with ABB as part of their Corporate Social Responsibility program in the region,” said Mats Paulson, head of Swedish Trade Council Middle East.

“We hope that this scholarship program will evolve and spread to key countries in the Middle East as it will help talented young nationals across the region grow into tomorrow’s leaders in engineering,” he added.-TradeArabia News Service