Emirates National Oil Company (Enoc), a leading integrated global oil and gas player, has signed an agreement with Higher Colleges of Technology’s (HCT), the largest higher education institution in the UAE, to train high-school graduates employed by the Enoc Group in a technical work readiness programme for the oil and gas industry.

The deal with HCT's investment, research and training arm CERT is part of the company’s national development programme which is designed to enhance Emiratisation efforts across the group by nurturing young talent to build a skilled and reliable workforce that contributes to the UAE’s economic progress.

Enoc, a wholly-owned entity of the Government of Dubai, said upon successful completion of the programme, students will be certified according to international city and guilds standards and will be equipped with a wide range of skills and knowledge pertaining to the industry, the group’s requirements and the graduates’ role at Enoc.

Selected candidates will be assessed by CERT and the one-year programme will be administered by the centre for courses such as Certificate in Engineering and Diploma in Process Technology, it added.

Saif Humaid Al Falasi, group CEO at Enoc, said: “The development of a knowledge-based economy is a pillar of the UAE Vision 2021 National Agenda and we are building a strong cadre of qualified and well-trained employees who will contribute to achieving this vision.”

“We are committed to raising a generation of talent who are professionally trained to international standards,” he said.

“Our collaboration with CERT to train high-school UAE Nationals in vocational skills for the oil and gas sector is another step in this direction as we invest to meet the need for a strong talent pool that counters the increasing challenges in this new energy era,” he added.

Since its establishment in 1996, CERT has grown to be one of the largest private education providers in the Middle East and has become synonymous with quality in education, training, research, and socio-economic progress.
 
Dr Hassan Al Jifri, the chief executive of CERT, said: “Our collaboration with Enoc is driven by our support to the community and the Emiratization drive.”

“Our centre has successfully delivered training to hundreds of highly qualified UAE nationals in the oil and gas sector across the UAE. The focus of our training is knowledge, awareness and skill levels,” he added. – TradeArabia News Service