As part of the efforts to strengthen the partnership between the College of Engineering at Sultan Qaboos University, and the public and private sector organizations in Oman, a letter of agreement (LoA) was signed between SQU and Oman Oil Refineries and Petroleum Industries Company - Orpic for partial funding of the engineering design lab. This project aims to serve engineering students at the College of Engineering, enhance their innovation capabilities, develop students’ projects and prototypes and serve the community. The agreement between SQU and Orpic is facilitated by Jusoor, a non-profit Social Responsibility organization founded by Orpic, Sohar Aluminum and Vale.
The letter of agreement was signed on 28 June 2018 by H.E. Dr. Ali Bin Saud Al Bimani, the Vice Chancellor of SQU, and Dr. Hilal Abdullah Al-Hinai, GM, Corporate Support Services, Orpic. The ceremony was attended by Prof Amer Ali Al-Rawas, Deputy Vice Chancellor for Academic Affairs & Community Service, SQU, and Prof. Hadj Bourdoucen, Dean of College of Engineering as well as Orpic representatives.
The OMR 200,000 funded design lab by Orpic will allow students of the College of Engineering to develop their capabilities in the various engineering fields, enhance their innovative and design skills, and capabilities to implement models of engineering projects. Such skills are expected to contribute to the establishment of small and medium enterprises that will promote the development of the Sultanate’s economy and strengthen cooperation between the University and the industrial sector. The design lab will also contribute to serve the community service through developing teaching programs, working on R&D and offer training in engineering sectors.
Dr. Hilal bin Abdullah Al Hinai, General Manager - Corporate Support Services at Orpic, said that the signing of this cooperation agreement with the SQU is part of Orpic’s social responsibility program, which is based on the principle of implementing sustainable and public benefit projects. “The company focuses on projects that benefit all segments of society driven by its value to serve Oman and customers with pride. The engineering design lab, which is being established in cooperation between Orpic and SQU, will undoubtedly serve a large segment of students and provide them with a friendly environment for practical applications on the engineering design side”, he said.
"Our partnership with the SQU to fund the establishment of the Engineering Design Lab is vital cooperation which reflects the contribution of Orpic to the various fields of community service and to the overall development journey in the Sultanate of Oman. This also reflects the real partnership of the private sector with the government’s in several economic, social, cultural and sport areas together with other areas of necessity.” He added. Dr. Hilal Al Hinai pointed out that Orpic would continue its social responsibility program by which several social projects in the various wilayats of the Sultanate would be established based on an annual plan considering their priority and importance.