Several University of Akron officials were in attendance in Saudi Arabia (KSA) last week to honor the first-ever class of graduates in a new elastomer technology training program. UA and its research foundation partnered with ExxonMobil Chemical and SABIC to support the establishment of the Kingdom's High Institute of Elastomers Industries (HIEI) to train Saudi technicians to work in the Kingdom’s developing elastomers conversion industry.
Attendees at the graduation ceremony for High Institute of Elastomers Industries students last week.
More than 20 Saudi students with degrees in engineering, chemistry, physics and other science disciplines came to The University of Akron over a two-year period to be trained in elastomer technology within the College of Polymer Science and Polymer Engineering. The Saudis learned to become instructors in the HIEI for workforce development in this rapidly growing industrial sector. As a result of their training and teaching back in their home country, HIEI graduated 57 students last week in a ceremony attended by Prince Faisal bin Salman Al-Saud and Prince Saud bin Abdullah bin Thunayan Al-Saud.
Rewarding partnership
UA experts were instrumental in creating the HIEI world-class learning facility, including state-of-the-art laboratories, and comprehensive technical and English language training materials. Prof. Mark Foster, associate dean of the college and lead grant director for the project remarks, "I appreciate the outstanding efforts of our experts who have developed materials and trained instructors, workshop laboratory technicians, and technician trainees, especially those who have been at the Institute in Yanbu for extended periods of mentoring and training. The support of Prince Faisal bin Turki bin Abdulaziz Al-Saud, advisor to the Ministry of Petroleum and Mineral Resources, Prince Saud bin Abdullah bin Thenayyan Al-Saud, Chairman of the Royal Commission for Jubail and Yanbu, and Chairman of the Board of Directors of SABIC, and Prince Faisal bin Salman bin Abdulaziz Al-Saud, Governor of Madinah Province, has been critical in bringing the vision of Saudis trained for the elastomer industry to reality."
According to Nathan Mortimer, UA interim vice president for research and interim president of UARF, "The HIEI program offers much promise and potential. We at The University of Akron look forward to a lasting collaboration with the HIEI, SABIC, and ExxonMobil Chemical to realize that potential."