Youth Programme

The World Petroleum Council recognizes the importance for the industry to attract and retain young talent, and has formed a Youth Committee with twenty young representatives of the World Petroleum Council’s National Committees to gain their input into World Petroleum Council’s strategy of addressing youth around the world.

The new Youth Committee was elected during the 2008 Council meeting and plays a major role in planning for the 20th World Petroleum Congress taking place in Doha in 2011. They also played a key role in the organisation of the 2nd WPC Youth Forum under the theme of “Energise Your Future”, in Paris, France, November 18-20, 2009. Members of the WPC Youth Committee contributed to the programme development and concept of an online network “Energise my Network” which will provide an ongoing networking opportunity for young people interested in the petroleum industry.

Vision

• Youth engaged in the petroleum industry to design a sustainable future

Mission

• Create and nurture a collaborative, global forum for young people to be heard
• Champion new ideas within the petroleum industry
• Promote a realistic image of the petroleum industry, its challenges and opportunities
• Bridge the generation gap through mentorship networks

Together with young people from Qatar, the World Petroleum Council’s Youth Committee is now actively preparing for the Congress. Building up on the great success of their programme at the 19th World Petroleum Congress in Madrid in 2008, and the more recent World Petroleum Council’s Youth Forum in Paris in November 2009, they are planning a range of activities for students and young professionals to attend during the 20th World Petroleum Congress and to engage with the high-level experts attending from the industry.

A Congress for the Youth: Students and Young Professionals

The 19th World Petroleum Congress in 2008 hosted the Youth Centre exhibition stand, where young people could attend presentations from young professionals, join technology tours around the exhibition, and meet other young people interested in the petroleum industry.

A highlight of the Congress programme was an innovative Special Session on Youth with the topic: Does the Petroleum Industry Need an Image Makeover? Three industry leaders joined this discussion with young people covering social and environmental issues, new technologies and future leadership.

The Congress in Madrid represented a unique opportunity for students and young professionals to meet and learn more about the Petroleum Industry. The Spanish Organising Committee offered 50 grants to promote international participation of young students in the 19th World Petroleum Congress. In addition, the Students Programme gathered more than 100 students from around the world, who received free access to the congress in exchange for helping onsite, providing them with a unique opportunity to play an active role in the Congress and engage directly with industry leaders. At the Youth Party, they all had a chance to come together in an informal environment and party with young people from around the world, who had joined the event in Madrid.

Call for Papers

As in the previous Congress, the World Petroleum Congress is now actively encouraging young people to submit abstracts for the 24 technical forums of the Congress. The Call for Papers opened in April 2010 and will stay open until the beginning of 2011. All young people, students, young professionals and especially women, are invited to present their technical and scientific research in the papers and posters of the Congress. As a result of the high level of submissions, the Spanish Organising Committee awarded a special prize to the best presentation from a young person at the Congress which was personally presented to the lucky recipient by King Juan Carlos I of Spain.