DOHA: Abdullatif Mohammed Al Naemi (pictured), National Development Manager at ExxonMobil Qatar, denied that there had been a layoff of Qatari nationals working at the company.
In an interview with Al-Sharq, he said that ExxonMobil’s vision included increasing the rate of Qatarisation from its current level of 59 percent in the coming period. Al Naemi noted the great effort being made by the company in the field of training and education, in partnership with a number of Qatari agencies and organisations, in the framework of its social responsibility.
Excerpts from the interview:
Following the decline in oil prices across global markets, various energy companies throughout the world have carried out restructuring processes and reduced the number of employees. What has happened with ExxonMobil in this regard; have Qatari employees been dismissed?
For 130 years, ExxonMobil’s long-term business approach has enabled us to maintain strong financial results throughout business cycles. While we routinely evaluate our global portfolio for growth or restructuring, depending on the fit with strategic business objectives, we have not made any reductions in personnel. This can be attributed to a number of reasons including the fact that the company does not manage operations in Qatar. Rather, it only has a representative office in the State. Additionally, Qatari employees are valued members of our workforce, and their professional contributions are integral to the success of our business activities.
What type of training and education is directed at Qatari employees?
ExxonMobil Qatar takes great interest in investing in human resources. The relationship with future company employees starts from the first stages of education — we have developed a number of programmes in cooperation with local partners to encourage young students to take interest in science, engineering and other specialised fields. As for your question, as soon as a Qatari employee begins working with the company, he or she undergoes an intensive training and development process, especially as the company has 200 branches around the world, which facilitates the training and certification process.
What is the rate of Qatari-sation at ExxonMobil?
The rate of Qatarisation at ExxonMobil Qatar is among the highest in the energy sector, currently standing at about 59 percent. I would like to note that the company’s strategy is based on distributing employees among different departments and specialisations in the company, and Qataris are represented in nearly all of the company’s departments.
How does ExxonMobil Qatar support Qatari students within the national education system?
Every year, ExxonMobil Qatar provides internship and sponsorship opportunities to students from Qatari universities through its University Liaison Committee, established in 2006. These programmes help Qatar’s youth to have a better understanding of how their country’s natural resources are developed given the importance this industry plays in Qatar’s economy, as it heads towards accomplishing the objectives of the Qatar National Vision 2030. ExxonMobil Qatar shares the view that investments in these areas are essential to forging a knowledge-based economy.
What about the national education strategy the company introduced last year, and what it means for local education efforts.
Education plays a crucial role in the wider development of society, and as such, it is extremely important for us at ExxonMobil, as a committed partner in Qatar, to support any local efforts to strengthen education in our gracious host country. First and foremost, education is economic destiny — and quality education enables a conducive environment for young people to advance themselves and grow into capable adults who can lead the economy towards sustainable growth and prosperity.
Last year, ExxonMobil developed a strategy focused on education. Why is the company focusing most of its efforts on educational development and social development?
ExxonMobil Qatar is committed to the development of education in Qatar — particularly in the fields of science, technology, engineering and mathematics, in collaboration with key local partners, such as Teach for Qatar.
We strive to be part of the local effort to create an educational environment for students that is inspiring and interesting, and also provides an opportunity for them to develop their leadership skills. Over the past decade, through our partnerships with local educational institutions, we’ve succeeded in having a positive impact on more than 50 independent schools and six universities.
Why is ExxonMobil committed to supporting education in science, technology, engineering, and mathematics?
Improving educational programmes worldwide to enhance math and science skills is a priority issue for ExxonMobil. Science, technology, engineering and math skills are the fundamental building blocks of individual opportunity and economic growth, and they are critical to ensuring today’s students are prepared for the jobs of the 21st century. Our education initiatives are focused on three key areas: training highly qualified teachers in math and science; encouraging students from all backgrounds to pursue math and science; and graduating more students from high school ready for success in college and careers. We invest in education programmes that focus on inspiring students to pursue careers in science, technology, engineering and mathematics.
Who are ExxonMobil Qatar’s partners in the field of education? Can you tell us about the partnerships?
ExxonMobil Qatar has several education partners in Qatar, such as the one I previously mentioned, Teach for Qatar, a local non-governmental organisation that works to be part of the solution to educational challenges facing students in Qatar.
The partnership between ExxonMobil Qatar and Teach for Qatar comes as a result of both sides committing to filling the educational gap in Qatar, by contributing to the development of the independent school system.
I would also like to mention our partnership with the World Innovation Summit for Education, or WISE.
One of our key programmes is the Qatar University ExxonMobil Teachers Academy, which we jointly organise with Qatar University to help educators from Qatar’s independent schools (fourth to sixth grade) enhance their understanding of math and science content.
We also support the Qatar University Gas Processing Centre’s annual GASNA competition.
How does ExxonMobil support the efforts of educators abroad?
In 2007, ExxonMobil joined with other companies and foundations to initiate a national public-private partnership to meet the STEM challenge in the United States: the National Math and Science Initiative (NMSI). NMSI’s College Readiness Program provides training for teachers to help students master Advanced Placement courses in math, science and English. Another key NMSI programme, UTeach, encourages undergraduate math and science majors to enter the teaching profession by offering an integrated-degree plan, financial assistance and early teaching experience.
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