30 August 2018and finding solutions to the global
energy challenge, not to mention the
international exposure that the students
receive, opening them to a pool of new
opportunities. In 2018, Team ‘Megalodon’
from German University of Technology
(GuTech) proudly represented Oman
at the Shell Eco-marathon Asia 2018 in
Singapore. The team took third place
in the prototype diesel category and a
commendable 17th place out of 30 in the
prototype internal combustion class. The
teams were challenged to design, build
and test ultra-energy-efficient vehicle.
The Omani team competed against 122
student teams from 18 countries in Asia
and the Middle East. In the 2019 edition,
both GuTech and the Caledonian College
of Engineering will be participating.
In addition, Shell is the founding
partners of Outward Bound Oman
which was first launched in 2009. Over
3,000 young Omanis have benefited
from this one-of-a-kind experience.
Bio-diverse ecosystem
Shell Development Oman’s
commitment to the country extends
to promoting and sustaining its
biodiversity: helping preserve its
spectacular natural habitat. In
partnership with the Ministry of
Environment & Climate Affairs, Shell
Development Oman supported the
first full spring bird migration count
of the Wetlands Reserve in Al Wusta
Governorate which includes the Barr
Al Hikman peninsula. The survey
revealed that over 300,000 birds of
approximately 80 different species
have made the intertidal wetland
on the coast of Oman their home
for resting and feeding during their
annual migration. The survey was
supported, organised and conducted
by Wetlands International, a global
not-for-profit organisation dedicated
to the conservation and restoration of
wetlands. The key observations made
have contributed to the preservation of
Oman’s intricate, essential ecosystem
and shows just how far Shell’s essential
environmental responsibility extends.
In addition, Shell Oman has a track
record of supporting environmentally-
driven research programmes with
Environment Society of Oman (ESO)
like the Whale and Dolphin Research
Group, the Arabian Leopard Research,
the Egyptian Vulture Research Project as
well as the acoustic research of Arabian
Sea Humpback Whales.Future-ready
In the professional realm, Shell provided
internship programmes to introduce
Omani youth to the world of work and
equipping them with the necessary
skill-sets to make them employable.
There have been many occasions
where graduates from the internship
programmes have been recruited at
Shell Development Oman. Another
prime example is the ‘Shell chair’
which was a joint endeavor with Sultan
Qaboos University to develop research
capabilities in the field of Petroleum
Geosciences. The purpose of the chair is
to encourage Omani students to pursue
Master’s and PhD degrees in their
respective fields of study.For over 10 years, Shell has introduced
the ‘Shell Professional Courses’ that
are designed to empower individuals
with soft skills ranging from strategic
thinking and leadership techniques
to project management. This has
benefited over 3,000 Omanis from
the government, non-governmental
organisations (NGOs), the public sector
and the private sector.“We are also continuously supporting
different government entities on a
number of initiatives,” says Muna. “We
signed a Memorandum of Commitment
with the Ministry of Civil Services
to strengthen their HR processes
and systems; and with the Supreme
Council for Planning we are working
together on components that are
related to energy transition in Vision- In partnership with our joint
ventures, we conducted a training
for the Royal Oman Police along with
other government bodies on ICS
300, an emergency response system
that effectively manages emergency
incidents within the workplace.”She adds, “Our approach to
Omanisation at Shell is evident in every
investment we make. We have been
stakeholders in PDO for more than
five decades, more than two decades
in Oman LNG and six decades in Shell
Oman Marketing Company. All of
these companies have been recognised
for their efforts in ensuring higher
Omanisation rates and have been
supporting the government’s drive in
recruiting fresh graduates. The progress
our joint venture partners have made
is a testament to our commitment to
nurturing and developing the talent
pool in Oman. There are also a number
of Omanis in numerous Shell Group
companies around the world working
in management positions in The Hague,
Iraq, and Brunei to name but a few.”Commitment and contribution to
generate talent in Oman remains a
priority for Shell Development Oman.
“We are proud to see that many former
employees of our partners are now
leading the nation forward. Through
our programs and initiatives, we hope
to foster a pipeline of young Omanis
who are eager to work and contribute
to Oman’s journey towards renewable
energy and to the nation’s prosperity
and sustainability,” says Muna.Recently, Shell signed an MoU with
Oman Oil Company (OOC), the
Sultanate’s investment arm in energy
to enable secondment opportunities
between the two companies as part
of Shell’s commitment towards talent
development.“Our aim is to continuously deliver
social investment programmes that
build local capacity in different regions
in the Sultanate. We believe the answers
to tomorrow’s energy challenges lie in
the power of people’s ingenuity, and
that together we can make the future
today,” concludes Muna.COVER STORY