Prospects Postgrad UK 2007/2008 - (Page 19) www.prospects.ac.uk/PostgradUK ADVICE AND INFORMATION 19 UNIVERSITY OF ABERDEEN A PASSION TO STUDY During high school I used to enjoy mathematics, physics and electric circuits, which leaned me towards an electric engineering degree. After my first degree I went directly into the oil and gas industry, working for Schlumberger as a logging engineer. Almost five years later, I knew it was the right time to go back to university and take up a Masters. Although I went through the relevant training to become a proficient logging engineer, I felt that there were some areas of the industry where I lacked the necessary knowledge and expertise. If I wanted to remain in the business and be successful I would have to fill the gaps in my experience with a relevant MSc. Choosing the United Kingdom to do a course was straightforward because I had visited it a few times for training with my previous employer and had liked the experience. Furthermore, my then girlfriend, now my wife, was about to do her MSc in the UK. Gerardo Arteaga studied electronics and telecommunications engineering in Mexico. After a exciting career in the oil and gas industry he went on to study for an MSc in Hydrocarbon Enterprise (now the MSc in Oil and Gas Enterprise Management) in the Department of Geology and Petroleum Geology at the University of Aberdeen. Working as a Petroleum Economist, Gerardo now teaches current students on the programme. Given that Aupec lectures in certain topics on some of the University programs, I managed to come back to my British alma mater as an assistant lecturer. I took the opportunity to show the students how their profiles and the contents of the MSc are very relevant to my current position, that is, petroleum economist with speciality in oil taxation. For example, most of the students in the MSc OGEM have LEARNING NEW SKILLS professional experience in the oil and gas A typical day during the MSc started with industry or other relevant sectors and speak lectures at 9am. We would carry on from several languages. My employer found my 9am to 12 noon or 1pm, with at least one experience very useful and the fact that I could break in between. We normally had an hour speak Portuguese essential. I also identified for for lunch where we could eat indoors or sit the class those modules of the course that were outside when it is sunny. More often than and are of importance for my job. you might think! Overall, I enjoyed doing my MSc in As the MSc is arranged in modules, it is Aberdeen and so far my wife and I have settled usual that one or two weeks in a row are in well in the city and feel everyday more devoted to one topic; geophysics, geopolitics integrated with the British culture. There are etc. This is good to build up a steep learning plenty of things to do in and out of the city. curve and have plenty of interaction with the Professional bodies such as the Energy lecturers, who consist of a good mix of industry Institute, the Society of Petroleum Engineers, experts and the excellent University of and the American Association of Petroleum NECESSARY KNOWLEDGE Aberdeen academics. It is great to have Geologists organise periodic events and The MSc in Hydrocarbon Enterprise (now the them around to have our doubts and seminars of interest. MSc in Oil and Gas Enterprise Management) assignments clarified. at the University of Aberdeen immediately The Masters enabled me to complement my caught my eye. This was because its course engineering experience and to learn things program incorporated most of the aspects of from scratch to a good level in all areas, technology and business in the oil and gas including technical and commercial topics. It University of Aberdeen industry from a management perspective. To was because of the above and because of the King’s College, Aberdeen compound this it was based in Aberdeen, a exposure to the industry via the lecturers that I Scotland AB24 3FX place regarded in the industry as one of the got in touch with my current employer. Aupec, Student Recruitment and Admissions Service worldwide centres of development, which uses a consultancy in petroleum economics and +44(0)1224 272090/91 the most advanced tools and techniques benchmarking, offered me a position - months sras@abdn.ac.uk technical and commercial. before finishing the program! www.abdn.ac.uk/sras/international I had the chance to visit the University of Aberdeen some months before joining and received a lot of help. After contacting them through the internet, the University organised a guided visit and a meeting with the course director of my intended Masters. This helped me understand the course program and also feel more confident about the admissions process. http://www.prospects.ac.uk/PostgradUK http://www.abdn.ac.uk/sras/international
For optimal viewing of this digital publication, please enable JavaScript and then refresh the page. If you would like to try to load the digital publication without using Flash Player detection, please click here.