A record six postgraduate students at the University of Strathclyde have successfully been accepted into ScottishPower’s parent company scholarship programme, and will receive £1,200 per month over the next year to support their studies into low carbon engineering.
The Iberdrola Foundation (Fundación IBERDROLA) supports students in a number of countries across the world whose studies are linked to energy, particularly the development of renewable energy, environmental protection, climate change and energy efficiency. The students from Strathclyde have been invited to Madrid next week to be officially presented with their Scholarships.
ScottishPower recently announced investment of £5bn over the next ten years to upgrade the electricity network in Central and Southern Scotland, which could create up to 1,500 jobs. This comes at the same time when 4 out 5 engineers in the energy industry are set to retire over the next 15 years (Figures from the National Skills Academy for Power – NSAP), and the energy company is committed to inspiring new engineers to come in to the industry.
The six students accepted this year are studying a variety of subjects, ranging from Offshore Renewable Energy, Global Energy Management and Electrical Power Engineering. Of the five scholarships students from Strathclyde in 2011/12, four have now accepted full time roles in ScottishPower’s Graduate Programme.
Ann Loughrey , Head of Corporate Social Responsibility at ScottishPower , said: “The University of Strathclyde is one of the leading educational institutions in the UK for inspiring young engineers to grasp opportunities in the energy industry. Our industry needs creative talent to help us deliver substantial investments to decarbonise the way we generate and distribute electricity.
“The Iberdrola Foundation Scholarship programme is designed to support and assist the engineers of tomorrow. Planned investment from ScottishPower alone will create thousands of skilled jobs in the coming years, and we need to do all that we can to stimulate interest in careers in energy.
“We are delighted to welcome the students from Strathclyde on to this year’s Scholarship programme, and we hope that they all go on to have successful careers in the energy industry.”
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Offshore WIND staff, June 29, 2012; Image: universityfairs