ABU DHABI // Masdar Institute graduates are to become tomorrow's leaders in clean energy thanks to the university's close partnership with Irena.
Arslan Khalid, from Pakistan, is one of many to have done so. His masters in engineering systems and management set him up perfectly as a junior programme officer with the agency, where he has worked for nine months.
"The programme I took at Masdar prepared me for work at Irena. Not only the teaching, but also the research I did was very helpful in making me moderately successful at Irena," he said. "You get to interact with policymakers all over the world."
Ilham Talab, from Morocco, who graduated in mechanical engineering from Masdar in 2011, is now a junior professional associate.
"Irena and the Masdar Institute are both very similar in that you see people coming from all over the world to come together and think of solutions for the future. They are both platforms for people who really care to come together. Both offer amazing opportunities.
"I think we are lucky because we are at the point of time when both Irena and Masdar are happening in the same place so this gives us all a great opportunity. Masdar prepares us to understand the technical side, and Irena gives us the opportunity to take that knowledge and put it into action to solve real world problems."
Diala Hawila, from Lebanon, who earned a masters in engineering systems and management, is now a junior professional associate at Irena.
She did her thesis with Irena while studying at the Masdar Institute.
Ms Hawila said the UAE was making clear progress in renewable energy.
"The first proof of it is us, the graduates from the Masdar Institute. As we graduate one generation after another, we are building up this big network. We have people all over the place in the private sector and public sector working on different things so the industry is building up."
Every year Irena also offers 20 bright individuals the opportunity to gain the knowledge and skills needed to pursue a career in renewable energy through a scholarship programme.
"They are able to bring their specific expertise into projects and to add to Irena's value and that is really working very well. The capacity that they have at Masdar Institute to help us with the technology on various projects has proved to be a winning combination," said Adnan Amin, Irena's director general.
Dr Fred Moavenzadeh, president of Masdar Institute, said: "Masdar Institute is privileged to have such talented students who can effectively contribute to further developing renewable energy areas. Their specific research works will facilitate new clean energy innovations in the future."
