Doha • RasGas Company Limited held a luncheon celebrating the successful completion of its Summer Internship Programme on August 10 at the Four Seasons Hotel, Doha.

The Summer Internship Programme was launched by RasGas in 2006 with the key objective of providing students with working experience to help them bridge between academics and real life applications.

This programme was also designed to help support the values and mission of the education reform in Qatar, strengthen the relationship between industry and universities and promote technical development of Nationals.

In his welcoming speech, Dr Mohammed S Al Saada, RasGas Managing Director, stated, “What the students achieved over the summer reflects the massive efforts they deployed within RasGas. The RasGas Internship Programme gives students the opportunity to better plan their future.” Dr Al Saada added, “this effort enhances the cooperation between industry and academic institutions, which benefits not only RasGas but the whole State of Qatar.”

At the event, a number of students recounted their experience at RasGas and spoke highly of the Summer Internship Programme. They noted that the Summer Internship Programme had been a productive experience and had allowed them to apply the skills learned at the university in real life situations.

One student added that the internship provided three important elements: technical training, professional training and personal development which in turn has enhanced her career opportunities.

To honor the students for their hard work over the summer, the celebration lunch was attended by key RasGas Senior Directors, Members of the University Advisory Committee, and Distinguished Guests from a number of participating higher education institutions, notably Dr. Jehan Al Meer, Director of the Higher Educational Institute (HEI), Dr. Hamid Al Midfa, Associate President of Qatar University, Dr. James Holste, Associate Dean for Academic Affairs of Texas A&M University in Qatar, Dr. Chuck Bowman, Interim Dean of Texas A&M University in Qatar and Dr. Chuck Thorpe, Dean of Carnegie Mellon University in Qatar.

In cooperation with Dr. Jehan Al Meer and her team of experts, RasGas has placed an importance on developing a qualified work force with excellent skills based on practice and learning from experience. The Higher Educational Institute sponsors students studying at universities in Qatar and overseas. RasGas has worked closely with the HEI to include overseas students in the Summer Internship Program.

This year, RasGas Summer Internship Program accommodated thirty university students studying in Qatar and overseas. The participations included a higher contingency of female students and a small number of non-Qatari students to join the program. The University Advisory Committee has indicated that the internship program is expected to grow even larger during the summer of 2007.