Oil and gas leaders share industry knowledge

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An esteem group from the oil and gas sector shared their experience with students at Heriot-Watt's Malaysia Campus last week.  

A total of 70 industry leaders, academics alumni and current students attended the Petroleum Revolution 4.0: Watt's Next? forum on 14 July 2018.

As part of the event, panellists gave their insight into the benefits of a career in petroleum engineering.

They also discussed the current challenges faced by the industry as well as the opportunities that are available to help prepare students for a career in petroleum engineering. 

Dr Khalik Mohamad Sabil, Associate Head for the School of Energy, Geoscience, Infrastructure and Society (EGIS) at Heriot-Watt University Malaysia, asked: “In an era where robots can do almost everything that humans can, will future graduates be ready to undertake the challenges in the petroleum industry?”

Mr Max Padolyak of Core Laboratories emphasised that with the adoption of technology “we are drowning in big data, but starving for knowledge”.

The development of tools for big data management, with the assistance of artificial intelligence, provides support for increasing operations, but human capabilities are still extremely essential in the decision-making process. Universities need to develop graduates with appealing soft-skills, including effective communications and critical thinking skills, as well as the ability to adapt to change and to constantly update and advance their knowledge and skills to meet industrial technological advancements.

Although renewable energy production will increase, it will complement the petroleum industry – which will remain the biggest energy supplier over the next 30 years – and not overtake it says Rohaizad Darus, President of Velesto Energy Berhad

Azmel Rasheed fomerly from Malaysia Petroleum Resources Corporation (MPRC) said: "Energy demand will continue to increase as it is driven by large population growth. Therefore, the future will require graduates to explore effective methods to lower costs and squeeze more value from mature assets, as well as discovering ways to exploit new remote and more difficult resources."

Heriot-Watt is developing graduates with the skills needed to meet the needs of the industry. Click here to find out more about courses.