Abu Dhabi, UAE, March 14, 2018:  Abu Dhabi University (ADU), an internationally recognized academic institution for quality education and applied research, has signed a memorandum of understanding (MoU) with the National Petroleum Construction Company (NPCC), part of Senaat Abu Dhabi, to provide sponsorships, work placements and recruitment opportunities for their UAE national students.  

NPCC, a leading international EPC contractor, provides Engineering, Procurement, Construction, Installation and Commissioning services to Offshore and Onshore Oil & Gas sectors, and is headquartered in Abu Dhabi with offices around the region. 

Professor Waqar Ahmad, Provost and Interim Chancellor of ADU, inked the agreement with Ahmed Al Dhaheri, Chief Executive Officer of NPCC, in the presence of senior officials from the two entities. 

Speaking on the occasion, Professor Waqar Ahmad said: “Our partnership with NPCC reflects Abu Dhabi University’s vision to prepare and equip our students for future market demands.

In line with its commitment to advancing the UAE’s efforts to develop an economy based on knowledge and innovation, ADU is keen to expand its network of strategic partnerships and share its expertise and best practices.

At the same time, through forging synergies with public and private sector entities, the University seeks to provide its students with the opportunity to gain practical experience in their fields of study. Our collaboration with NPCC enables us to achieve both these priorities.” 

For his part, Eng. Ahmed Al Dhaheri, CEO of NPCC, said: “This MoU reflects NPCC’s drive to support young Emirati talent and empower them with the latest knowledge and tools, while also facilitating R&D and exchanging information with a leading academic institution.

We look forward to enhancing the practical knowledge of the oil and gas industry among ADU’s students and equipping them with job-specific skills in advanced engineering, fabrication and other disciplines. 

“We plan to double the number of our Emirati employees to 550 by the year 2021, which is a key pillar of our current strategic plan.”