HE the Minister of Energy and Industry Dr Mohamed bin Saleh al-Sada recently presented ExxonMobil Qatar with the 2015 Qatarisation Certificate for the most improved organisation in the category of supporting student sponsorship.
Alistair Routledge, president and general manager of ExxonMobil Qatar, accepted the award on behalf of the company.
“We are honoured to receive this award that recognises our continuous efforts to promote Qatarisation nationally and in our business,” said Routledge. “For more than 20 years, ExxonMobil Qatar has proudly worked in partnership with the Qatari government to tailor local content to the specific needs in Qatar, and we remain dedicated to improving on these efforts in the years to come.
“We want to help ensure that Qatari students and young professionals are equipped with the knowledge and skills to thrive in a rapidly changing world. Human potential is a cornerstone to building a prosperous future for the country, and these individuals hold the key to realising such a future.”
In a statement, the company stressed that the Qatarisation rate at ExxonMobil Qatar was among the highest in the energy sector, currently standing at 60%.
As part of its ongoing Qatarisation efforts, the company launched a fully funded student sponsorship programme in 2006, the “first of its kind” in the industry. The sponsorship opportunities are offered to qualified Qatari students who are pursuing an undergraduate degree in engineering, geosciences, finance, marketing, information technology, accounting, business administration, environmental science, mass communication, international affairs and other related fields.
Sponsorships are offered without the obligation of employment and provide students with an opportunity to gain hands-on experience under professional supervision.  
Additionally, ExxonMobil Qatar is involved in the recruiting, hiring, training and development of Qatari nationals for roles within the company. Once recruited, employees receive on-the-job training throughout ExxonMobil’s global operations.
ExxonMobil Qatar supports a range of sustainable education and training initiatives for students and professionals to help build a stream of skilled individuals who can tackle the challenges of tomorrow, the statement notes. These efforts are made in pursuit of developing Qatar’s knowledge-based economy, a vision put forth by the Qatari leadership.