RGU to set new oil and gas institutes

Robert Gordon University in Aberdeen is all set to establish new International Institute for Oil and Gas, as part of university's strategy to build on its achievements in this sector and to develop its reputation as a global leader in oil and gas- related training and high value research directly relevant to the sector.

RGU, in developing its new oil and gas strategy, will invest £ 8 million over five years and will recruit leading experts with global standing in oil and gas to Aberdeen. Specific areas of focus will include brownfield development through enhanced oil recovery, asset integrity, subesa engineering and decommissioning, unconventional oil and gas, leadership industrial collaboration, oil and gas finance and economics and applied offshore healthcare.

Principal of RGU, professor Ferdinand von Prondzynski says "The university has an international reputation for focused and relevant engagement with industry. This investment, which reflects RGU's priority commitment of oil and gas, will secure the North-East of Scotland high value expertise that will support the industry in exploiting the oil reserves in the UKCS and in building up innovation and enterprise in the supply chain. We are keen that Aberdeen's oil and gas community supports us in this important new initiative, and I am delighted to announce the first significant donation £500,000 from the Wood Family Trust to our foundation for the new institute."