Robert Gordon University (RGU) and the Government of Mexico have signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) under which they will collaborate in areas of strategic significance in oil and gas.
The agreement, which was announced at Offshore Europe on Tuesday, September 8, will see the Secretariat of Energy in Mexico (SENER) and the university share experience in relation to energy policy and educational developments in support of the oil and gas industry in Mexico and the UK.
The MoU follows a state visit to Aberdeen by Mexican President Enrique Peña Nieto in March 2015, during which he visited Robert Gordon University and was provided with an insight into knowledge transfer and education for the energy sector in the UK.
The Director of RGU’s Oil and Gas Institute, Professor Paul de Leeuw, led a reciprocal visit to Mexico earlier this month where he was invited to deliver the keynote speech at the Sustainable Energy Fund Conference entitled ‘Innovation and new business opportunities in the oil and gas sector’. In his presentation he shared his insights on the opportunities arising from the deregulation of the energy market in the country.
During the visit, Professor de Leeuw met with a wide range of government organisations, research institutes and industry representatives to discuss experiences from the industry in North West Europe and to discuss emerging opportunities.
Commenting on the MoU, Mexico's Deputy Secretary of Planning and Energy Transition, Leonardo Beltrán, said: “We are delighted to announce the signing of this agreement with RGU. The university has a well-established reputation in oil and gas education and training and we look forward to collaborating in the future.
“Mexico and the UK are key players in the world’s energy industry and we are sure the MoU will prove to be a useful link for both parties to build on.”
Professor de Leeuw said: “I am delighted that RGU and the Mexican Government signed this MoU, which will see us work closely together and share experiences in the future. It is a transformational time for the industry in Mexico and we are pleased to be building on the links, which were established during President Peña Nieto’s visit earlier in the year.”
Principal of RGU, Professor Ferdinand von Prondzynski, added: “International links are very important for universities and so I am very pleased that RGU will be able to contribute to the discussions around the deregulation of the energy market in Mexico and help support the training of the next generation of oil and gas workers.”
The MoU will see the Secretariat of Energy in Mexico and RGU sharing knowledge and experience through meetings and conferences and seeking opportunities to support the training of Mexican personnel for the oil and gas industry.
The MoU will also see RGU included on the list of preferred universities for Mexican scholarships due to its oil and gas expertise.