The Emirates Nuclear Energy Corporation (Enec) celebrated the graduation of 64 students who have successfully completed specialised courses in nuclear energy from various institutions in the UAE and abroad such as Khalifa University, Abu Dhabi Polytechnic, Pennsylvania State University, Texas A&M University and North Carolina State University.

 

The ceremony was attended by Enec's chief executive officer Mohamed Al Hammadi; Dr Ahmed Al Awar, director, Abu Dhabi Polytechnic; Dr Todd Laursen, president of Khalifa University; and Shaima Al Mansoori, director of Education and Training at the Federal Authority for Nuclear Regulation (FANR) who delivered congratulatory speeches to the students, their families, and other guests.

 

“Developing a highly-skilled Emirati workforce to lead the UAE’s pioneering nuclear energy program has been a priority from the very beginning. Nuclear energy professionals require specific engineering and scientific capabilities, an unswerving commitment to safety and quality, and extensive training - not only to gain their qualifications but throughout their entire careers,” said Al Hammadi.

 

“Congratulations to our talented graduates who have demonstrated great diligence, commitment and passion for their chosen career paths in an industry that is not only a strategic contributor to the future growth of the UAE, but also plays a critical role in the future social and economic growth of our nation,” he said.

 

During the event, guests also heard a speech by Fahad Al Hammadi, one of this year’s successful Higher Diploma Nuclear Technology (HDNT) graduates of Abu Dhabi Polytechnic. 

 

The students received their graduation certificates as they are now official graduates of Enec’s Energy Pioneers programme.

 

The Energy Pioneers programme was established to ensure a pipeline of Emirati talent for the future of the UAE’s nuclear energy program. It aims to attract the best and brightest science students, engineering graduates and experienced professionals and train them to become leaders in the UAE’s growing nuclear energy sector. 

 

The Energy Pioneers will have an important role in the success of the nuclear energy programme in the UAE, where they will receive training of the highest international standards by the industry’s leading global experts. To date, Enec has awarded scholarships to more than 420 Emirati nationals in a range of programmes.

 

By 2020, Enec will need approximately 2,500 employees to power the UAE’s peaceful nuclear energy program and over 60 per cent of these roles will be filled by talented Emirati women and men, such as the students who have just graduated.

 

To meet that target, Enec offers a series of scholarships opportunities through its Energy Pioneers program.  The HDNT, bachelors and masters courses are offered by ENEC through the Abu Dhabi Polytechnic, Khalifa University and other international institutions. 

 

Through the courses, students benefit from hands-on, high-tech training and practical experience. In the third year of the HDNT course, students specialize in their preferred job stream, ranging from nuclear reactor operator, instrumentation and control technologist, mechanical technologist, chemistry technologist, electrical technologist or radiation protection technologist. 

 

At the end of the programme, students graduate with a diploma, as well as a Job Qualification Certificate (JQC). - TradeArabia News Service