As part of ‘Solar into Schools’ initiative, Shell Development Oman recently launched NXplorers, a global Shell educational programme in schools across Oman. The company worked together with the Ministry of Education and Engineering Village, a local SME, to implement the curricula in 10 current and future solar schools. The carefully developed programme has already benefitted around 600 students, and has equipped 20 science teachers and career advisors with the necessary information and methods to nurture the development of Omani youth.
NXplorers is a proven, innovative education programme for young people that focuses on finding innovative ways to solve food, water and energy problems. The curricula involves a complex problem solving methodology and integrates system thinking, scenario planning and theory of change. It also incorporates STEM learning techniques to help students visualize real life challenges and introduces skillsets needed to coach youth. It provides future scientists, engineers, innovators and leaders with practical tools to succeed in today’s world.
Muna Al Shukaili, GM – External Relations and Social Investment Lead at Shell Development Oman said, “When we first devised the Solar into Schools project back in 2015, as Shell’s fifth Gift to the Nation, we wanted it to be something that would create value for the country, have a long-standing impact and support diversification of the economy. In addition to supporting the budding Omani solar SME sector, one of the main aims of Shell’s Solar into Schools project is to enhance the focus on future energies, critical thinking and innovation in schools’ science, technology, engineering and mathematics (STEM) curricula. That is exactly why we launched NXplorers programme in these solar schools. We are helping to raise awareness about the Sultanate’s energy transition among school children to inspire them to think innovatively and aspire to drive change.”
In August 2018, Shaping Learning, Shell’s global and strategic training partner successfully trained a team from the Engineering Village, an Omani SME. They are now fully capable to implement NXplorers in solar schools across the Sultanate.
So far, five schools under ‘Solar into Schools’ initiative have been completed in Nizwa, Al Buraimi, Salalah, Sohar and Saham. In addition, Shell Development Oman signed further agreements with local SMEs to implement the project in additional schools across the Sultanate. By 2020, Shell aims to install solar PV panels in a total of 22 schools across Oman, with an average of one boys school and one girls school in each Governorate.
Shell is committed to supporting the Government and the people of Oman through sustainable social investment initiatives. The company continues to work with local SMEs within the renewable sector to do more than install panels, but raise awareness and make a real change. NXplorers is part of that movement, creating relevant and purposeful ways to give young people the tools and strategies they need to shape and create change.