Capabilities driving change: Oman Shell and SQU celebrate the conclusion of the second edition of Shell NXplorers Pro 2025/2026
Muscat - Oman Shell, in collaboration with Sultan Qaboos University (SQU), celebrated the conclusion of the second edition of the Shell NXplorers Pro Program 2025/2026 during a ceremony held at the Oman Institute for Energy, under the patronage of HE Mahmoud bin Abdullah Al-Aweini, Secretary-General of the Ministry of Finance. The event marked the culmination of a high-impact training journey, reflecting the program’s continued evolution into a more mature and influential platform for developing national talent.
The program builds on the legacy of NXplorers, first launched by Shell in 2018 in collaboration with the Ministry of Education. In its ‘pro’ edition, the program has been further enhanced to align with advanced stages of career readiness. This year, it trained 100 students from across the university’s colleges through a comprehensive learning journey that integrates academic knowledge with practical application.
The program follows a structured methodology that begins with exploration to deepen understanding of challenges, progresses through innovation to design effective solutions, and culminates in change through actionable steps that contribute to a more sustainable future. It also places strong emphasis on developing STEM capabilities, equipping participants with the analytical mindset and practical perspective needed to address complex, real-world challenges.
The ceremony featured an interactive exhibition of participants’ projects, showcasing a high level of insight and innovation. The projects reflected the knowledge and experience gained throughout the program, demonstrating participants’ ability to analyze challenges in depth and translate ideas into practical, scalable concepts with real potential for sustainable impact.
Commenting on the occasion, Al-Ahnaf Al-Zubaidi, Social Investment and Social Performance Manager at Oman Shell, said: “Shell NXplorers has never been a conventional training program; it was designed as a transformative experience, one that reshapes how participants think, redefines how challenges are understood, and empowers them to turn knowledge into meaningful, lasting impact. The program has evolved from a training initiative into a platform for impact creation. What we have seen in this edition reflects a remarkable maturity in thinking and a genuine ability among participants to translate knowledge into applicable solutions.”
Dr Khalil Al-Naabi, Assistant Director of the Center for Community Service and Continuing Education at Sultan Qaboos University, praised the strategic partnership with Oman Shell, stating: “This edition of the Shell NXplorers Pro Program represents a qualitative leap in the learning experience. Participants not only acquired knowledge but demonstrated an advanced ability to apply it in practical contexts within a stimulating and interactive learning environment. The quality of the projects we have witnessed reinforces our confidence in the capabilities of our youth and highlights the importance of collaboration between academic institutions and industry in preparing future-ready talent.”
The second edition of the program witnessed notable advancements in both its methodology and outcomes, contributing to deeper skill development, enhanced analytical thinking, and the ability to work effectively within multidisciplinary teams, aligned with the evolving demands of today’s workplace.
As this edition concludes, Oman Shell and Sultan Qaboos University reaffirm their commitment to further developing the program and expanding its impact, empowering a new generation capable of transforming challenges into opportunities and creating impact that extends far beyond the training environment.
About Oman Shell
Shell has been a partner in Oman’s development and progress over the last several decades. We have been providing pioneering technologies and expertise in the energy industry and creating value for the community. Shell is active in Oman across the oil and gas industry and is involved in joint venture and independent activities ranging from research and development, exploration and production to trading, retail and new energies. Shell also implements an extensive social investment program that contributes to the sustainable development of the country. Shell holds interests in Petroleum Development Oman (34%), Oman LNG (30%) and Shell Oman Marketing Company (49%). Together they represent a substantial part of Oman’s economic growth.
In January 2023, Oman Shell started producing gas from Mabrouk North East field in Block 10 in Oman. Shell holds a 53.45% working interest in Block 10, with OQ and Marsa Liquefied Natural Gas LLC (a joint venture between TotalEnergies and OQ) holding 13.36% and 33.19% respectively.
About Gift to the nation
The Gift to the Nation is a Shell tradition that began in 1995, built on a simple commitment, every five years, Shell launches a new initiative that contributes to Oman’s social and economic development. Each Gift is selected with sustainability and long-term value as defining criteria, ensuring the outcomes are meaningful, measurable, and built to endure.
Since its launch in 1995, Gift to the Nation has delivered a portfolio of initiatives spanning entrepreneurship, education, safety, and the energy transition. This includes the establishment of Shell Intilaaqah, the Geophysical Research Center at Sultan Qaboos University, the Shell Intilaaqah Enterprise Fund which evolved into the Nomou Oman SME Fund, the Road Safety campaign, the Solar into Schools initiative alongside the revitalized Shell Intilaaqah programme, and most recently the Green Hydrogen for Mobility project, including Oman’s first hydrogen station and cars.
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