20 new Engineering scholarships will be available to University of Aberdeen students thanks to the generosity of a leading international oil and gas operator.
Petro-Canada has donated £140,000 to the University over a four-year period, which will see the organisation support students undertaking degrees from the institution's School of Engineering.
Created in recognition of the need to foster new talent in the burgeoning oil and gas sector, the Petro-Canada Emerging Leaders Scholarship Programme will provide recipients with crucial financial support, mentoring and the opportunity to apply for industry experience through placements at the organisation's Aberdeen office.
The first round of scholarships will be awarded in November to four academically gifted students possessing outstanding personal characteristics who are beginning the second year of an Engineering degree. The deadline for those wishing to apply for these scholarships is October 24, 2008.
This is the first time Petro-Canada has established a scholarship programme with a UK Higher Education institution, which recognises the quality and calibre of the University of Aberdeen School of Engineering's programmes, teaching, research and graduates, and further emphasises the organisation's support of the University.
The company also contributed £100,000 towards the fundraising campaign to create the new University of Aberdeen library, in September this year.
Welcoming the announcement Professor Albert Rodger, Vice-Principal and Head of the College of Physical Sciences said: "The oil and gas sector is a booming industry which is continually developing and facing new challenges. Nurturing prospective new talent is therefore vital towards the sector's continuing success, and we are delighted to receive this strong support from Petro-Canada which enables the University to further develop its valuable portfolio of scholarships.
"Scholarships not only provide students with hugely beneficial financial support towards their academic career, they also create the opportunity for recipients to enhance their studies through potentially gaining crucial first hand industry experience. The donating organisation has the unique opportunity to invest in an individual they see as having the potential to contribute the skills and knowledge that will be invaluable to the future of the industry."
John Scrimgeour, Petro-Canada's regional manager for North West Europe said: "We run a similar scholarship programme in Canada where we have recruited and retained a number of outstanding students. This is the first time our Emerging Leaders Scholarship programme has been rolled out in the UK and we are delighted to be working alongside the University of Aberdeen to support engineering students to maximise their potential.
"We are continually looking to the future and attracting young and dynamic personnel is key to our continued growth and success. Indeed there is a skills shortage in the sector, but over and above that, we want to give gifted engineering students a helping hand to achieve their ambitions. We are investing heavily in the North Sea but as an international operator, Petro-Canada can also offer recipients potential global opportunities to advance in their careers."
For more information on the Petro-Canada Emerging Leaders Scholarship Programme visit http://www.abdn.ac.uk/engineering/vacancy.php#petrocanada or contact Jenny Styles, University of Aberdeen Development Trust on 01224 273597 or href="mailto:j.styles@abdn.ac.uk">j.styles@abdn.ac.uk</a>Â </p>