Scottish university to advise Mexico on oil, gas skills development

ABERDEEN, Scotland -- Robert Gordon University (RGU) in Aberdeen, Scotland, has been awarded funding to create a skills development framework for the oil and gas sector in Mexico.
The university secured the funding, which will be delivered by the British Embassy in Mexico, from the British government’s Prosperity Fund.

The framework will provide recommendations on how to address the potential skills gap in the Mexican oil and gas industry over the next 15 years, both at graduate and vocational level.

Drawing on its expertise and experience of working both in the North Sea and internationally, RGU will advise the Ministry of Energy in Mexico (SENER) on appropriate delivery models to train and further develop the Mexican workforce, and to secure a pipeline of future talent.

Although Mexico has a long-standing track record as one of the leading hydrocarbon producing countries in the world, it is estimated that it will require more than 135,000 additional skilled people in the oil and gas industry over the next 15 years in order to meet the ambitious production targets set by the government.

Professor Paul de Leeuw, director of RGU’s Oil & Gas Institute, said, “The Energy Reform in Mexico presents huge opportunities for the Mexican oil and gas sector. RGU is delighted to undertake this important review on behalf of the FCO and to advise the Mexican government on skills development options for Mexico.”

RGU has also recently been identified as a partner university for Mexican SENER-CONACYT scholarships, enabling Mexican students to study oil and gas related Masters and PhD programs at RGU.