Objective
The primary goal of the ARA Academy is to ensure that technically competent employees are in each job position and to a provide a clear understanding (Map) of the competencies needed within each role and at each level of the organization.
In summary, the objectives of the ARA Academy are to:
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Better identify an Employee’s knowledge, skill & competency gaps
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Standardize the process of identifying relevant training and development needs
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Implement a system to support recruitment via defined selection criteria
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Provide organizational, business unit and individual competency status
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Enable the development and tracking of Individual Development Plans
Develop a competent workforce capable of performing work activities to the highest industry standards
Achievement of Competency is the basic principle on which the ARA Academy Competency Development Program is founded. The program not only ensures that each employee is fully qualified and deemed competent in their current job position, but also contributes to the ongoing learning and development of the employee.
The ARA Academy Competency Development Process consists of the following elements:
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Competency
Framework -
Learner
Assessment -
Development
Activity -
Learner
Reassessment
These critical elements act as the foundation of a systematic governance procedure which allows for the training and development of all ARA Petroleum Employees against a pre-defined standard that is also aligned with common international industry practices.
In addition to the continuous ongoing training of our employees ARA also selects high performing employees for higher education scholarships. Examples are below:
Mohammed Al Mandhari
Mohammed is a geoscientist at ARA Petroleum with a keen interest in integrated reservoir modelling. He holds a BSc in Geology and is currently doing his PhD research at Heriot Watt University in multi-scale characterisation of hydrogen storage in carbonate reservoirs. He has experience in exploration and production geoscience and his research interests include hydrogen storage in carbonate reservoirs, impact of heterogeneity on flow, and pore-to-field characterisation.
Further details of his research can be found at https://geoenergy.hw.ac.uk/people/mohammed-al-mandhari/.
Some testimonials from previous scholarship winners are below:
Alaa Al Lawati
“I am thrilled to have completed my Master’s degree in Commercial Law with Honors! My final project examined the regulatory framework of oil and gas exploration and production agreements, perfectly complementing my role as a Contracts Engineer in ARA.
With a strong engineering background, this academic journey enriched my understanding of the legal aspects of contracts, bridging the gap between technical and legal considerations.
I’m immensely grateful to ARA managers, my college supervisors, and my family for their unwavering support. Their guidance was instrumental in achieving this milestone, and I’m eager to continue contributing to the industry and growing professionally.”
Bassam Al Yahyaey
“It is an honor to have completed my Master’s degree in Engineering Project Management with Distinction from Coventry University. I’m proud to have received the Course Tutor’s Prize for achieving the highest academic performance.
The exceptional teaching staff at Coventry University provided invaluable support & guidance, helping me develop critical academic skills and overcome challenges.”
Maha Al Bahrani
“I’m proud to have completed my Master’s degree in Environmental Management from the University of Reading! It’s been a rewarding journey that deepened my passion for sustainability and enhanced my skills to support my work. My dissertation focused on the effects of oil and gas operations on indoor and outdoor air quality, using ARA E&P’s concession area as a case study. This research allowed me to explore real-world challenges and propose solutions to improve environmental performance in the industry. I’m thankful for this opportunity and am excited to apply what I’ve learned to make a meaningful impact and create a more sustainable future.”