Certificates Awarded to YFEL Members for Successful Completion of Year-long Program
Abu Dhabi-UAE: 17 January, 2013 – Masdar Institute of Science and Technology, an independent, research-driven graduate-level university focused on advanced energy and sustainable technologies, honored members of the Young Future Energy Leaders 2012 program for successful completion of their year-long events.
More than 60 YFEL members received their certificates during a ceremony that was held in Yas Island, Abu Dhabi
His Excellency Sultan bin Rashed Dhaheri, Member of the Federal National Council and the Chairman of the Committee on Finance and Economic Council, who has reiterated his support to the YFEL program with a contribution of US$1 million for the second consecutive year, was present on the occasion. His Excellency Dr. Adnan Badran, President of Petra University, former Prime Minister and Education Minister of Jordan; Deputy Director-General of UNESCO, Member of the Board of Trustees of Masdar Institute, and Dr Fred Moavenzadeh, President, Masdar Institute, attended the ceremony.
Dr Fred Moavenzadeh, President, Masdar Institute, said: “The process of learning continues at every stage, from an academic institution to a professional organization, wherever an individual seeks to acquire additional skills. The achievement of these YFEL members reflects not only their commitment to learning but the support and guidance of the UAE leadership for capacity building. We wish these youth success in every assignment they take up in their career and we are confident they will effectively contribute to the advancement of the renewable energy and sustainable advanced technology sectors.â€
Dr Lamya N. Fawwaz, Executive Director, Public Affairs, said: “The dynamic outreach program has successfully developed another group of young leaders to contribute to future energy sector. We congratulate them for their commitment. These YFEL members have participated in key local and international forums on sustainable energy and advanced technology and interacted with government and industry leaders. They have acquired expertise through the year-long YFEL program and are now prepared to take on challenges in the clean energy sector.â€
Following a video presentation that highlighted the accomplishments of the YFEL 2012 program, certificates were awarded by Dr Fred Moavenzadeh. The event was also an opportunity for new YFEL members to interact with the senior members and learn about the annual schedule that helped them become more effective professionals and individuals. For the new YFEL members, the event marked the beginning of their year-long program that will help them develop into productive energy industry leaders of the future.
Various educational courses, networking activities and events marked the YFEL 2012 program. The annual schedule included participation in international new energy and advanced technology forums such as the Asian Future Energy Forum 2012 in Singapore, IEEE Technology Time Machine 2012 in Dresden, Germany, World Energy Forum 2012 in Dubai, and Abu Dhabi Science Festival 2012.
Inspired by the ‘Sustainability for All’ initiative floated by the UN Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon, a 10-member YFEL group has proposed an exciting off-grid solar power project designed to bring electricity to healthcare facilities in remote areas of the UAE. The proposal envisions three power-generating options, including a self-contained PV system, a hybrid system integrating PV with other available renewable energy, such as biomass, and wind, or a hybrid system using PV combined with a fossil-fuel engine generator.
During the year, YFEL members also participated in competitions and programs in North and South America, Europe and Asia. They include participation in the seventh edition of the “Total Summer School,†a Université Total corporate education and social responsibility initiative, and a six-week internship at the University of Edinburgh that focused on the implementation of CO2 capture processes on a Natural Gas Combined Cycle (NGCC) power plants.
Two YFEL members were also part of a group of five students to attend internships with Mitsubishi Heavy Industries and at JGC Corporation in Japan. Two other members were part of a delegation that participated in the Rio+20 Summit. Five members attended a course on hands-on renewable energy knowledge in Falera, a small remote village in the Swiss Alps, while another member participated in the International Hesselbein Student Leadership Summit 2012 in Pittsburgh, US, and the Helsinki Summer School for Transportation 2012 at Aalto University in Finland.
Nearly all the YFEL 2013 participants interacted with the 2012 YFEL graduates at the event, learning about their year-long experience that has earned them the distinction.
An outreach program by Masdar Institute, YFEL aims to develop tomorrow’s leaders in the fields of advanced energy and sustainability with various initiatives that educate, inspire and empower students and young professionals to become future leaders capable of tackling the world’s most pressing challenges.
