The President of Hadhramout University, Prof. Mohamed Khanbash, signed the “Kafaa” Program agreement today. The program aims to qualify university graduates for employment in the oil sector. The agreement was held under the patronage of the Member of the Presidential Leadership Council and Governor of Hadhramout, Mr. Salem Al-Khanbashi. Representing PetroMasila (Masila Oil Exploration and Production Company) was Public Relations Coordinator Mr. Muadh Al-Attas. The agreement was also signed by Eng. Tareq Balkhashr, Executive Director of Hadhramout Foundation for Human Development.
The program targets students specializing in petroleum and chemical engineering. It aims to train 60 students from Hadhramout University across three consecutive cohorts, with each cohort receiving one month of intensive training. The initiative is designed to equip participants with advanced practical and cognitive skills, preparing them to engage efficiently in professional oil industry environments.
In this regard, Mr. Salem Al-Khanbashi praised the agreement, describing it as a qualitative step toward strengthening graduates’ capabilities and aligning university outputs with labor market demands in the oil sector. He emphasized the importance of partnerships between academic institutions and national organizations in preparing qualified cadres who contribute to the economic development of the governorate.
For his part, Prof. Khanbash expressed his sincere appreciation to Governor Al-Khanbashi for sponsoring the agreement, commending the role of PetroMasila and the Hadhramout Foundation for Human Development in funding and implementing the program. He affirmed that the “Kafaa” Program represents a genuine bridge linking petroleum and chemical engineering students with the needs of oil companies, by transferring them from theoretical knowledge in lecture halls to intensive practical training in real work environments, thereby providing invaluable field experience prior to graduation.
He further noted that Hadhramout University continuously seeks to expand cooperation channels with major companies operating in the governorate. He stressed that this agreement will not be the last, as similar training and qualification programs will follow in other engineering and scientific disciplines. He also highlighted the University’s commitment to monitoring the performance of participating students and evaluating training outcomes in collaboration with the oil sector, with the aim of continuously developing academic plans and ensuring the graduation of competitive and highly qualified professionals.
The signing ceremony was attended by the Vice President of Hadhramout University for Student Affairs, Professor Salem Al-Awbathani, along with a number of academic and executive leaders.
