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Saudi Aramco unit hosts first graduation ceremony

RIYADH, September 18, 2018

Saudi Aramco, a world leader in integrated energy and chemicals, said one of its units, Saudi Arabian Drilling Academy (Sada) held its first graduation for a cohort of 132 students representing 34 drilling and services companies.

This comes in response to the oil and gas industry’s rising need for thousands of skilled exploration, drilling and workover talent, and in alignment with Saudi Vision 2030 workforce development aims.

Dr Ahmed Al Fahaid, Governor of the Technical and Vocational Training Corporation (TVTC) attended the ceremony along with senior Saudi Aramco officials including President and CEO Amin Nasser, Senior VP for Upstream Mohammed Al Qahtani, Northern Area Oil Operations VP and Chairman of Sada Board Dawood Al Dawood.

Saudi Aramco said the Sada initiative was proposed in 2014 to achieve the dual goal of generating knowledge-economy jobs that meet the oil giant’s needs, and to create a more efficient training model that reduces costs and increases stakeholder competitiveness.

It is estimated that nearly 90,000 Saudis must be trained over the next 20 years to support the industry’s growth plans.

“The concept behind Sada is unprecedented, where companies that operate in a competitive market agree to cooperate in a win-win approach and join forces for the good of the industry. What is happening here is a true sense of responsibility and solidarity among industry players. It is a start, and will inspire others,” remarked Nasser.

"I would like to congratulate the cohort and wish them a successful career, and thank all of the stakeholders who made such collaboration possible," he added.

The Academy’s training programme covers 20 months, beginning with onboarding followed by a 14-week field orientation; a 50-week academic segment covering different levels of English, math and occupational safety and health concepts; drilling and well site operation  fundaments for four weeks; and practical or general and specific  experience for 14 weeks.

Al Qahtani said Saudi Aramco was proud of the fruitful relationship with the TVTC and the successful collaboration of the 34 companies funding the academy.

"The Academy will play a great role in closing the talent gap and equipping Saudi students with the skills and capabilities required by drilling industry, and will complement the efforts to increase the share of local content in the energy-related products and services, as we will spend more than half a trillion Saudi Riyals on drilling activities over the next decade, in compliance with the goals and objectives of the ambitious Saudi Vision 2030," he added.

Lauding all Sada stakeholders for their participation, Al Dawood said: "The Academy presents a unique model where different companies join efforts collectively to create a unified and centralised training and development facility that serves and meets the requirement of the market as a whole."

"Sada fosters Saudization in the drilling industry and will create a localized pool of talents complemented by the creation of new job opportunities for Saudis, as outlined by Saudi Vision 2030. The academy is part of the corporate social responsibility efforts of the drilling companies in Saudi Arabia," he stated.

The Academy is being funded by 34 private drilling companies, withe logistical support provided by Saudi Aramco and the Technical Vocational Training Center in Abqaiq.

Under the current scope of training that began in September 2016, Sada’s comprehensive program ensures the job-readiness of workers ranging from rigman and junior services operator to skilled engineers, riggers and heavy equipment operators.-TradeArabia News Service




Tags: aramco | Saudi Arabian Drilling Academy |

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