Shell and Ministry of Higher Education sign an agreement for “Shell Ideas 360”
Aug 11, 2016
Muscat, August 11, 2016 - In line with Shell Oman’s commitment to corporate social responsibility and developing Omani talents, a memorandum of agreement has been signed between the Ministry of Higher Education and Shell to launch Shell Ideas360 competition for the first time in the Sultanate later in September 2016.
His Excellency Dr Abdullah bin Mohammed Al-Sarmi, Undersecretary of the Ministry of Higher Education, signed the agreement with Chris Breeze, Shell’s Country Chairman in Oman, and Mohammed bin Mahmood Al Balushi, Shell Oman Marketing Company’s Chief Executive Officer following a meeting held at the Ministry.
Shell Ideas360 is a global competition that invites university and college students from all around the world to create, share and collaboratively develop innovative ideas and solutions that tackle global challenges associated with energy, water and food resources.
Commenting on the occasion, HE Dr Abdullah Al Sarmi, Undersecretary of the Ministry, said: ““This agreement reflects Ministry of Higher Education and Shell’s commitment to support creativity and innovation among Higher Education Institution (HEI) students. This initiative will definitely encourage our creative HEI students to share their innovative and research ideas and compete with their peers locally and internationally.”
Chris Breeze, Shell Country Chairman in Oman, commented: “Shell is committed to supporting youth development and sustainability in Oman. This competition will prompt young Omanis to tap into their imagination and creativity in order to develop innovative solutions to the problems facing society now. Successful students will benefit from the connection with the competition mentors to help fine tune their ideas and in doing so develop their entrepreneurial and marketing skills as well as potentially contributing to sustainable development in the country. We are looking forward to the launch of this competition in collaboration with the Ministry of Higher Education and our partners in the Omani universities and colleges. “
Mohammed bin Mahmood Al Balushi, CEO of Shell Oman stated, Mohammed bin Mahmood Al Balushi, CEO of Shell Oman stated, “Shell Ideas360 is a global platform for young students from Oman to connect internationally in order to acquire competencies that will help their future beyond university years, such as in leadership, collaboration and presentation skills. Successful entries will have the opportunity to really make a difference in the world by turning their innovative ideas into reality. These ideas could also be potentially ‘investment-worthy' business cases creating successful entrepreneurs in Oman with the support of Shell and subject-matter experts and mentors, and we will definitely be hoping for successful stories from Oman”.
In addition to the prize scheme that will be awarded locally to the qualifying teams from Oman, the winning students will win a once-in-a-lifetime National Geographic Adventure. Moreover, the best ideas will be considered for funding by the Shell Game Changer programme, which has invested over $300 million to date, and worked with over 1,500 innovators, turning more than 100 ideas into reality.