The ceremony marked the successful completion of the two-month summer internship programme.

Qatar Petrochemical Company (Qapco) has held a ceremony honouring its 70 summer interns and marking the successful completion of their two-month internship programme.

Qapco’s summer internship programme is a unique pathway between academia and industry and opens the door to a successful career in the industry, according to a statement.

The programme gave 70 talented students from Qatar and aboard the opportunity to gain “unparalleled exposure and significant industry knowledge”, thanks to the eight weeks they spent at the petrochemical plant, the statement adds. They were mentored by seasoned professionals and coached by a team of learning and development experts.

On the occasion, Qapco vice-chairman and CEO Dr Mohamed Yousef al-Mulla said: “With our Qapco summer internship programme, we hope to inspire, encourage and support a new generation of petrochemical experts and leaders. Practical internships are an essential learning experience that positively reflects on their educational and professional path.”

The ceremony recognised the hard work of the 70 interns and their dedication during their time at Qapco. Many interns shared some of the lessons they learnt at the plant and how their classroom knowledge had been enhanced thanks to the time they spent in the company.

The interns recalled that they had to prove themselves, through the different positions, departments and tasks they were assigned to, and that they learned a lot from it.

The ceremony was also attended by Abubakr al-Saiari, chairman of the Energy and Industry Sector’s Qatarisation Steering Committee.

In his speech, al-Saiari appreciated the dedication of the interns, and his advice and guidance was highly beneficial to the young students.

To celebrate the completion of the programme, the interns were awarded special certificates acknowledging their accomplishments.

Abdulla Ahmad Naji, Qapco’s Learning & Development manager, said: “We are proud to report that the 2014 edition of our summer internship programme was a real success.  Through the two months spent with us at Qapco, the interns gained a true understanding of how a petrochemical plant works.”

Naji also thanked Dr al-Mulla for his continued support to the education sector in Qatar and expressed gratitude to all Qapco managers, training specialists, subject matter experts as well as all staff members who have supported the summer internship programme.

Ali Khalid al-Samhari, a Qatari student studying Mechanical Engineering at Qatar University and who conducted his summer internship in the maintenance department, said: “I am proud to have interned at a company that plays such a vital role in the growth of our nation.”

Cameron Bruce, in his third year at Heriot-Watt, one of Scotland’s most regarded universities, especially in the field of chemical engineering, said: “I am very grateful to Qapco for having offered me such a stimulating opportunity here this summer.”

Qapco’s 2014 summer internship programme was highly popular among both male and female students and the company received a large number of applications from candidates in Qatar and abroad, reaffirming the preeminent position and reputation of the Qatari downstream sector on the global scene.