Ghanaian Students Benefitting from Scholarship Programs

Two Robert Gordon University (RGU) postgraduate students are reaping the benefits of international scholarship schemes which will boost their career prospects.

Ghanaians Justice Ngoah (27) and Eugene Yeboah (29) have joined RGU for a years’ scholarship program, funded by the Ministry of Energy and Tullow Oil plc.

Both Justice and Eugene are Chemistry graduates from the Kwame Nkrumah University of Science and Technology in Ghana, but wanted to further their studies and apply their skills to the energy industry.

They are currently completing the Oilfield Chemicals route at RGU via a Masters Program in Instrumental and Analytical Science, which is highly regarded and involves close ties with the oil and gas industry.

Eugene, whose scholarship is funded by the Tullow Oil plc, said: “The Tullow scheme is aimed at helping to build capacity in areas where the company’s host countries, such as Ghana, have a skills gap in the oil and gas industries.

“I was really excited when they offered me a scholarship. The Masters course has already given me so much technical knowledge that I can use in an oil related field.

“It’s taken me three attempts to try to get on the scholarship programme and I’m so glad I didn’t give up. I am so happy and excited to have been given this opportunity and I’m really looking forward to taking back what I have learned to Ghana.”

Justice, whose scholarship is funded by the Ministry of Energy, said: “I decided to further my studies at RGU because of the close links the university has with the energy industry.

“I’m really happy that I’ve been given the scholarship and the opportunity to learn more about the application of chemistry in the industry.”

In addition to their studies, Justice and Eugene have also secured placement opportunities with leading oil and gas companies in Aberdeen.

Justice is working with Nalco Champion, an Ecolab company where he is putting his new skills into practice.

He added: “The course is going extremely well and the prospect of an industrial placement really helped me to focus my studies. It will give me a huge amount of experience required by the oil and gas industry, most especially in Ghana.”

Eugene works with Cabot Speciality Fluids, where he will learn about the design of environmentally friendly high performance drilling and completion fluids.

Craig McKenzie, Program Leader in MSc Instrumental and Analytical Sciences at RGU, said: “We focus on establishing professional relationships with our Masters Students, and work together on expanding their knowledge and practical laboratory skills in the context of their chosen careers.

“We give our students lots of care, attention and support and they have access to the established expertise of both the university staff and the industry specialists who teach on the course.

“They utilize the extremely well equipped and high specification laboratory facilities here at RGU. This ensures that they get the most up-to-date and realistic experience and ensures that they are ready for their future careers in the oil and gas Industry.

“There are lots of applications for scholarship programs every year and Justice and Eugene are two great examples that the process can be a huge success.”