ENOC and BUiD partner on knowledge exchange ‘Green Trip’

Emirates Business

Highlighting its commitment to education and sustainable development, Emirates National Oil Company (ENOC) is partnering with the British University in Dubai (BUiD) as a sponsor and participant of the first Sustainability Summer School International Trip, a knowledge exchange initiative organised under the patronage of His Highness Sheikh Hamdan Bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Deputy Ruler of Dubai and UAE Minister of Finance and Industry.
Under the theme ‘Learning from international green practices’, engineers and managers from high profile organisations within different sectors in the UAE, including DEWA, Masdar, ENOC, Dubai Municipality and the Ministry of Public Works, amongst others, will visit Norway, Sweden and Denmark to explore their innovative green concepts, understand their impact on business strategies and results and formulate recommendations that contribute to the UAE’s sustainability agenda.
Commenting on the partnership, HE Saif Humaid Al Falasi, Group Chief Executive Officer of ENOC, said: “Innovation and technology are changing our world. It is our duty as business leaders to invest in innovative solutions that promote sustainability, improve business operations and ultimately contribute to the progress of our communities. At ENOC, we strongly support the Government’s sustainability strategy and efforts, underpinned by the vision for ‘a green economy for sustainable development’ announced by His Highness Sheikh Mohammed Bin Rashid Al Maktoum, UAE Vice President and Prime Minister and Ruler of Dubai. ”
Professor Abdullah Alshamsi, BUiD’s Vice Chancellor, said: “Organizing this trip is a testament to BUiD’s commitment to advance the sustainability and green agenda in the UAE and the region. The trip is intended to enrich the participants experience with the latest practices and knowledge in the field of sustainability in Scandinavian countries. Our partnership with ENOC will enable the participants to contribute to a greener community and inspire others to follow the path to sustainability in the UAE.”
BUiD plans to host a knowledge exchange seminar titled “Green Forum” to discuss the findings from the trip and formulate strategies that reinforce the UAE’s position as a leader in promoting sustainability and innovation.
Dr. Waddah Ghanem Al Hashmi, Executive Director, EHSSQ & Corporate Affairs at ENOC, added: “Our partnership with BUiD aligns with our commitment to building the next generation of talent. This trip will not only help raise the UAE flag in international forums, but will provide us with invaluable insights into international best practice on sustainability and the application of innovative solutions that promote sustainable development.”
The governments of Scandinavian countries have taken the lead on sustainability issues. The region is well known for path-breaking green initiatives, such as Vulkan in Norway, which has a local energy centre with 300-metre deep geothermal wells, and an office building with an exterior that is visually defined by its extensive solar water heating system; the Augustenborg eco-city in Sweden, as well as Fjärilstak och nektarrestaurang, which is a series of rooftop fields, with meadow seed mixtures and nectar flower gardens, to help promote the repopulation of butterflies; or the Middelgrundens Vindmøllelaug, an off-shore wind farm in Denmark.
Human capital development is a key priority to ENOC. The Group invests in programmes and partnerships aimed at developing a competent, skilled, engaged, and empowered workforce. The partnership with BUiD for the first green knowledge exchange trip highlights the organisation’s commitment to building an environmentally-conscious next generation of talent, focused on achieving sustainable development.