AUSTIN, USA -- At least 50 Guyanese trainees are expected to benefit from a series of oil and gas related courses that will be offered by the University of Texas – Petroleum Extension, in association with the Caribbean Learning Portal, and schooladviser.org.

The first course, which is part of a total of four short courses, will begin on February 13, 2017, and will conclude on March10, 2017.

The initial course will provide an insight into the foundation aspects of oil and gas exploration, and is intended to be part of a series of courses that will equip participants with some working knowledge of petroleum exploration.

A certificate from the University of Texas – Petroleum Extension will be issued to all participants upon successful completion of each course.

While major job opportunities are widely expected to become available in the local oil and gas sector when commercial export begins, Guyana does not have a qualified workforce in oil and gas to deal with such impending demand.

This is largely due to the fact that the sector is relatively new, compounded by the fact that Guyana does not have an internationally recognized training school catering to the oil and gas sector.

And while several efforts are being made by local stakeholders to develop an oil and gas training program, Guyanese have been somewhat reluctant to endorse this move, citing issues with international recognition.

But with the University of Texas being a leading international trainer in the field of oil and gas, the training and certification that is being offered to Guyanese by that institution would certainly address such concerns.

All of the courses will be conducted via distance learning, while local registration and facility support will be provided by schooladviser.org (A subsidiary of Caribbean Learning Portal).

According to the program’s local representative, Malika Callender, registration for the first batch of oil and gas trainees will commence on Wednesday, January 18, 2017.

She advised that interested registrants can make further inquiries by contacting her during office hours at telephone number: 226-4738, WhatsApp: +592-610-2273 or email: info@schooladviser.org

The initial registration fee is pegged at US$25, while each of the four certificate courses starts from around $180 and upwards.

However, five scholarships are available for qualifying students who may not be in a position to subscribe to the required course fees.

With each course averaging at about four to five weeks in duration, and being done mostly online, she suggested that all four of the oil and gas programs can be completed within three to four months.